Evening journal., 1917-04-16
PAY EDDYSTONE
CLAIMS Readily
Plan ofAmmunition CorpOr-
alton, According to At
torney's Announcement
9ROBERS FAIL TO
FIND ANY CLUE

Investigations 20 discover the cause Of
he explosion that wrecked the building
d the Eddystonc Ammunition Corpora
ION still are proceeding with thorough
aess. Captain Walter NJ. Wilhelm. vice.
president and general manager Of the
company. stated on Saturday there was
40 reason 20 depart from his theory
that the explosion was caused by plot.
-As soon as have conclusive evidence
I shall be only too glad to make a pub
lie statement he said.
Many Of the tales Of suffering and
narrow escapes again were recounted as
the relatives and friends Of those IN
iurcd. killed or miss ne attended the
first of the many hearings that wilr
come before Referee William j. Scott,
of the Worlgmen's Compensation Board,
held in Chester City Hall.
AR. Scott asserted that he could say
nothing rs 70 the policy that would be
pursued in awarding compensation.
"This is going 20 be a big problem,
he said. "and win require careful in
Vestiration The claims viii amount 20
large sum, possibly half million dot
lars"
Announcement has come from the
company, through Attorney A. i.
Gcary. that all claims that arc justifiablo
win be paid promptly. ave are taking
oil testimony in triphcste, 10 give Mr..
Scott copy of all we do. We will not
quibble on small points and il a person
is missing We shall assume that he IL
among the I'm identified dead. provided 1t
is evident he was within the building"
Seeks Aid Of consuls.
On account OF the different nation
alities OF the persons injured and the
fact that many had dependents in
their home countries, Mr.. Geary has
asked the consuls of the countries rep
resented to communicate with him or
send representatives. that their coun-
trymen may be fully protected and
that they may obtain authoritative
information about those still abroad.
A coroner's inquest will be held
next Wednesday in Chester. Testi-
mony will be taken from as many Of
the survivors as are able to attend.
In this way II Is hoped to establish
beyond doubt the exact spot at which
the first explosion occurred. Survivors
examined by the fire marshals dis
agree to a considerable extent on this
question.
officials OF the company say that
the Pennsylvania State Police, who
we're assigned TO duty at the plant
few DAYS ago, will start today to weed
out all employees at the institution
who are under even the slightest sus-
IL
20 Jump on Saturday. II being esti-
mated that at least $4,000 was In the
hands OF the treasurer. Charitable
organizations are rushing their prep
srations to care for the injured as
'oon as they leave the hospital. Every
ase. both in Chester. and In this city
being investigated.
Governor Brumbaugh, Of Pennsyl
vania, made a thorough inspection yes
terday Of the three new buildings Of the
corporation which will replace the pa
vllion destroyed.
81 believe that the lessons taught by
this terrible explosion have been taken
10 heart" the executive said, after
Captain Walter NJ. Wilhelm, general
manager Of the corporation, pointed out
the Unprecedented safeguards which
have been provided for the shrapnel fill.
srs when they resume work this morn
ing.
The buildings are about oue-third the
size of the pavilion that was wrecked
In place of composition board partitions
there are saud-flled walls which divid,
the places into small chambers, wher,
only a few persons can work at time
Rubber mats were being adjusted TO thu
floors and a seres of chutes installed TO
the handling Of powder and shells.
Captain Wilhelm explained that a re
currence Of an accident of such a whole
sale nature would not be possible il
The new buildings. lie told the Cover
nor that the corporation has employee
the most expert engineers 70 lay out
system Of workshops which will provid
the maximum safety for the employees.
Every building where the hazardou
work OF rolling black-powder pellet
and filing shrapnel will be continue
is bomb-proof, there being a foot q
sand between the metal-sheathe
walls.
Care In Future Employment.
In addition 20 the safety precal
tions taken in the new buildings, Cal
I1ln Niutlll iulu Nut kDNtIAOI lud
great care will be exercised in tn
matter of future employment. The S,
cret agents of the corporation hav
been for the last three days invest
eating the qualifications of the me
and women who seek the position
held by the victims of the explosion
The personal Investigations have Pon
50 far as TO determine the ancestry o
..Tlie workers in an effort to eliminat
entirely any person who is of Tel
tonic extraction.
The Notwithstanding system ha
been entirely changed since the plan
suspended operations on Friday morn
ing. Under the new conditions onl,
a small supply of black powder vii
be permitted inside any one of tn
bomoproofs where the shrapnel load
ing and pellet rolling are done. Thi
powder will be taken from the mai
magazines, about half mile from tn
plant to base storage shack. whic
Is also built in the latest bomb-proo
method.