The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-04-12
~ DIE IN SHELL
PLANT EXPLOSION
IN PENNSYLVANIA
121 Others Wounded at Eddy
stone Factory.
CAUSE is STILL IN DOUBT
Thirty Thousand Shells Explode and
Women and Girl Workers Are
Blown to Atoms-PIotters
Are Suspected.

|
Chester, Pa, April 11.-One hundred
and twelve persons, most of them
women and girls, are known to have
lost their lives and 121 were injured
by series of terrific explosions in the
shrapnel building Of the Eddystone
Ammunition corporation at Eddystone,
one mile from this city. Many of the
injured were MORALLY hurt and 1t is
feared the final death list will reach $50,
willis some who were hurt probably
will be manned for life.
How any of the 300 or more en-
ployees in the building, In which were
stored approximately 10000 shells, es-
capped is almost beyond conception, as
there was scarcely fragment of the
structure left intact.
Fire Adds to Horror.
Fire added to the horror and most
of the bodies were so badly charred
that Identification 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 adj
vanced. Rumors of plots and arrests
of persons both inside and outside of
the plant were numerous, but all
lacked confirmation.
After spending several hours inves-
tgating they reported that they had
learned from officials of the corpora
ton who made an investigation that
quantity Of shrapnel had been placed
near radiator and the heat might
easily have exploded it. Their opinion
is that the explosion was purely acct
dental and they scout the suggestion
that it was the result of plot.
An official of the corporation, in dis
cussing the probable cause of the ex-
| plosion, declared that at no time did
he believe there was more than one
half ton Of powder in the building at
one time, and that this was never In
bulk.
The explosion, which was felt in
Philadelphia, distance of IS miles, oc-
Cured about ten o'clock in the morn
ing In what is known as the 40 F."
building Il two-story structure, rs by
300 feet.
Workers Chiefly Women.
In this building time fuses were pre-
pared, more than so per cent of the
workers being women and girls. Prob
ably fifty men and boys were employed
In the building at the time of the blast,
and the majority of them escaped.
| Great excitement followed the ex-
ploslon. A heavy pail of smoke dark
ened the entire town, which has
population of about 5000. This was
soon lightened by the flames from the
burning building
Rescue squads composed of other
employees at the plant were quickly
formed and call for assistance was
sent to Philadelphia. Chester, Whining
ton and other nearby points.
Militia Guards Plant.
| The entire Chester fire department
responded and ambulances from Phia-
delphia and Chester were soon at the
scene. A strong guard of Pennsyl-
vania militiamen and cadets from the
Pennsylvania Military academy was
thrown around the plant and everyone
except those assisting In the rescue
work were forbidden to approach.
Fifteen minutes after the explosion
| the bodies of the dead and injured
were being carried out.
Bodies Thrown 200 Yards.
Several bodies were fished out of the
marshes 200 yards from the sll-fated
building, and 1t is feared that others
| may have been blown into the river
still farther away. All were badly
mutiated and many were burned be-
yond recognition.
Some OF the injured were temporarily
cared for In buildings of the ammuni-
ton company. while scores of homes
at Eddystone and nearby towns were
thrown open to others.
Braves Flames Ten Times.
Capt. Walter Wilhelm, vice president
of the Eddystone corporation and for
merly National Guardsman, dashed
through smoke and flame into the
wreckage no less than ten times, each
time carrying someone to safety.
So serious was the danger from
exploding shrapnel that the trolley
lines were tied up for more than an
hour.
Throughout the afternoon and until
late hour last night Chester present
ed pathetic scene. Thousands of
friends and relatives of the victims
were surgIng through the streets In
nm effort to locate their loved ones