Middletown transcript., 1917-04-14
l12 KILLED AND : :.
12| ARE INJURED
Scores Of Girls Die in Eddystone
Shell Factory Explosion
FIRE ADDS TO THE HORROR
Thirty Thousand Shells For Russian
Government Explode In Big Factory
In Which More Than 800 Persons,
go Per Cent. Women and Girls, Are
At Work-Shoek Felt In PhiIadel-
mia,

Chester, Pa. One hundred and
twelve persons, most of them women
and girls, are known to have lost their
lives, and 121 were injured by a series
of terrific explosions in the shrapnel
building of the Eddystone Ammuni-
ton Corporation, at Eddystone, one
mile from this city. Many of the in
iured were mortally hurt, and it is
feared the final death list will reach
$50, while others probably will be
manned for life.
How many of the 800 or more en-
ployes in the building, in which was
stored approximately 10000 shells,
escaped, is almost beyond conception,
as there was scarcely a fragment of
the structure left intact. Fire added
to the horror, and most of the bodies
were so badly charred that identifca-
ton was impossible.
In the absence of any official state
ment many theories as to the cause
of the disaster, one of the worst ever
experienced in this section, were ad-
vanced. Rumors of plots and arrests
of persons both inside and outside of
the plant were numerous, but all lack
ed confirmation.
Twenty Philadelphia detectives
were sent to Eddystone soon after
the explosion on. a rumor that it was
the result of a plot. After spending
several hours investigating they re-
ported that they had learned from
officials of the corporation who had
made an investigation that quantity
of shrapnel had been placed near a
radiator and the heat might easily
have exploded it. Their opinion is
that the explosion was purely acci-
dental and they scout the suggestion
that it was the result of plot. A
canvass of the police stations in the
vicinity and inquiries among officials
of the company failed to reveal that
any arrests had been made.
Accident, Says Official.
One official Of the corporation in
discussing the probable cause of the
lieve there was more than one-half a
ton of powder in the building at one
time and that this never was in bulk.
1.-The powder was kept in a magazine
on the banks of the creek" this on
cial said, "and was carried to the
building in cans that hold about two
gallons. From these cans it would be
distributed to the workers, who used
gauges to fill the shrapnel shells. So
far as we have been able to learn
there were only three explosions.
Two of these were comparatively light,
but the third was terrific, so power
full that a boathouse $50 yards away
was demolished"
The explosion, which was felt in
Philadelphia, distance of Is miles,
occurred about 10 o'clock in what is
known as the "1O-F" building, two
story structure. rs by 800 feet. In
this building time fuses were pre-
pared, more than 80 per cent Of the
workers being women and girls.
Probably so men and boys were en-
ployed in the building at the time OF
the blast and the majority Of them
escaped.
Alba B. Johnson, president of the
Baldwin Locomotive Works, insisted
that the explosion could be traced only
to an accident or carelessness on the
part of the persons within the build.
ing. He ridiculed the idea of German
plotters, saying that 200 armed guards
picket the plant day and night and
that no plotter could have had access
| to the building without the knowledge
OF Capt. Walter Wilhelm, the general
manager and vice-president of the
| munitions company.