The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-01-20
Fire Starts in Plant and a Few
Minutes Thereafter Explosion
Occurs; Three Rows of Houses
in Neighborhood Demolished.
REMARKABLE HERoIsM Is
DISPLAYED BY CHEMIST
Attempts to Combat Blaze While
Advising Others to Seek Safety !;
Is One the Victims; King Has
Expressed His solicitude.

London. Jan. 20.--The explosion In
a munitions factory near London last
night involved practically an the ex-
plosiyes In the factory. which was
destroyed entirely. The effects were
felt at great distance and three
rows of small hOdses in the neigh
bUrhOod were Amos, demolished.
Between thirty ana forty bodies
have been recovered thus far and
about 100 persons are reported to
have been Injured seriously.
The following official announce
ment in regard to the explosion was
given oIt here to-day:
"-.t about o'clock last night IRE
started AZ factory in the east OF
London, near the river. which was
employed on refining explosives For
tunately a Jew minutes elapsed after
the commencement OF the fire before
the explosion occurred, during which
interval many operatives were able
to escape
THE explosion appears To have
involved practically all the explos-
ives in the factory. which was itself
completely destroyed. Fires were
caused In ncighboring warehouses
and factories. one Of the largest of
which was an Important four mill.
The explosion was felt for great
distance. Three rows OF small
houses in the immediate neighbor-
hood were practically demolished and
considerable damage was Uccasloned
to other property
An engine from the local fire sta
ton had reached the spot and was
playing on the hre when the explos-
ion occurred The engine itself was
destroyed, but only two hremen app
pear To have lost their lives. The
Chief chemist and number OF work
ors were killed 5y the explosion.
"Thc chief chemist. Dr Angel,
while advising operatives to seek
safety, himself went TO the IRE ard
attempted 10 combat Il.
Number OF Dead Unknown.
| The number uf persons killed
either in the factory or In the neish-
| boring houses has not been ascertain
ed. The casualties. however. owing
tu tho warning. are not nearly 80
heavy a. az first anticipated. Up 30
the present between thirty aud forty
bodies have been recovered and 100
| persons are reported to have been
seriously inju~,d.
| The borough authorities have ar
ranged FOR immediate relief for
those requiring II and funds are be-
ing raised for this assistance.
OWNS To the effects of the eX-
ulusiun all communication with other
districts was broken OF tor time.
Local assistance was immediately
forthcoming. but owing 90 lack OF
communication assistance from the
metropolitan dre brigade could not
be obtained Immediately. within
half an hour, however. ample assist
ancc was nforued.
we are informed 10y the ministry
lof munitions that the accident will
makc no practical difference 20 the
output of munitions. The minister
with the chief officers ot the oxplos-
ives supply department. visited the
scene this morning and every ehOri
Is being made to deal promptly with
the unfortunate effects uf the eXplo'
zion. The King also has expressed
his solicitudc Tor the victims ant
their families.