Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-01-12
GIANT MUNITIONS
PLANT DESTROYED
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE
fugitiyes said some of them might
perish from the cold.
James j. Kelly, warden of the Snake
Hill penitentiary. about mile from
the scene Of the explosion, said that
the detonations were felt violently at
the prison.
The prison building which contains
219 prisoners was severely shaken. he
said, and he felt alarmed for its safe
~. All the glass in the prison win
dows had been broken. The prisoners
having well and arrangements we're
being made to remove them should
the detonations last much longer.
LOO In Plant.
Approximately l,4O0 men were en-
ployed in the plant, which comprised
between forty and fifty buildings and
covered about eighty acres of ground
No munitions We're manufactured at
Kingsland. but the plant was used
for the filling of shells. the chief con
stituent used being trinitrotoluol, one
OF the most powerful explosives
known.
While it was estimated that nearly
five hundred thousand shells eX-
ploded. priminG fuses or caps had not
been attached to them and Conse-
quently their detonation did not cause
the havoc that follows their explosion
when used on European battle fronts.
The roar of the shells. which sounded
Ike cannonade from heavy guns,
was heard for miles, however. and
the conclusion shook buildings within
a wide radius of the plant
Magazines Safe.
Two big magazines in which were
stored trinitrotoluol, nitric acid,
picric acid and powder were not
reached by the flames and it was be-
lievod tonight they were not in
danger.
Kingsland, Rutherford and other
places nearby were filled tonight
with refugees who had fled from
their homes In the vicinity of the
plant. a dozen persons were arrested
at Kingsand on charges of petit lar
ceny and orders were issue by Sher-
M Coulter of Bergen county to the
guards sent out by him in all dlrec-
tions to shoot looters.
Thomas j. Huckin. county prose-
cutor. and his assistants. began
tonight an Investigation to fix respon-
sibilitv for the disaster. 1t was said
at the offices OF the Canadian Car x
Foundry Co. that their investigation
had not been completed and no state
ment would he issued until tomorrow
Tho fire. which began at $3.50 p. m,
was still smouldering late tonight In
the ruins. Shells exploded almost con-
tinuously until 1880 o'clock, but after
that hour the detonatlons We're only
Intermittent.
The fire, which led TO the disaster
started in what was known as build
ing No. 80. where shells We're being
cleaned with denatured alcohol Tho
,,.g - "a tod ia hu
electric wires on the ceiling became
crossed and a picco OF blazing insula-
ton fell into the alcohol.
Wind Fans Flames.
A high northwes. wind caused the
flames to spread rapidly thru the
fllmsv structures that made up the
plant. The company's fire brigade
tried vainly to check the fire and with
In few minutes warning was given
and the employees fled for their lives
There was a literal reign of terror
thruout Union township In which the
plant is located. Sheriffs, deputies
and police from kingsland, Lyndhurst
Rutherford, East Rutherford and 9TH
or places surrounded the plant and
grad ually spread out for distance OF
two miles In all directions warning
the residents of their peril.
Within an hour after the fire start
ed the highways were filled with refu-
rees, men. women and children. Many
OF tho women carried babies in their
arms. while others pushed baby car
riaCes.
Most Of the refugees made their way
to kirgsland and Lyndhurst. Y
The company has had a contract
with the Russian government which
had been nearly completed and It had
been the intention to abandon the
Lingsland plant In about a month, 1t
was said tonight.