Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-04-12
'ALL READY TOBLOW UP
Letter Found Indicating That Ex-
plosion at Eddystone was Result of
Plot-Suspects Arrested.

Chester, Pa, April PA state
ment made yesterday by high offic'
ial of the Eddystone Ammunition
Corporation placed the blame of yes
terday's disastrous explosion, the
worst in the history of the State, on
a disloyal employe, who is thought
to have sacrificed his life with the
116 known dead, most of whom were
girls and young women.
Many Arrests Made.
This amazing development late to-
day spurred on the investigation OF
the catastrophe already under way
by Federal, State, county, local offic-
ials and officers of the company.
Numerous suspects were rounded up
here, in Philadelphia and Villa Nova,
Pa, and in Camden, N. j., and in
(, each case the disposition of the pris-
oners was placed in the hands Of ag-
ents of the Department of Justice at
Philadelphia. The arrests so far, how
ever, have apparently furnished no
tangible clue to the perpetrator Of
the alleged plot if such was the case.
Bomb Made From Shell.
The statement of the company's re-
sponsible representative, who de-
clined to permit the use Of his name,
said the tragedy "was the result Of q
diabolical plot conceived in the degen-
crate brain of demon in human
guise," and that the triple explosion
was due to a bomb manufactured from
a shell by one of the employees. Be-
yond this information the official re-
fused to disclose further details
which would tend to more thoroughly
clear the exact cause of the disaster
1t is known, however, that Federal
agents were last night concentrating
their efforts at running down the clue
to the explanation of the explosion
from this angle. 1t is pointed out by
those familiar with the explosives
manufactured at the plant that it
would nave been possible for work
man to carry on plot in the midst of
unsuspecting employees, particularly
the women engaged in the packing of
time fuses in the structure which was
wrecked.
Unless the bomb was timed, it was
explained, the plotter must have met
the same fate as the rest of the vic
tins.
Only 80 identified.
The number of known dead announ-
ced late today by Captain W. NJ.
Wilhelm. vice-president and general
manager Of. the company, after
fairly complete canvass of the lists
of employees and the victims, was
placed at 116, and of these 50 had
been identified. Identification is pro-
ceeding slowly because of the charred
and mangled condition of most of the
bodies in the Chester Morgue. Unof-
fetal reports of missing today placed
the number at SO, but it is thought
many of these will have been ac-
counted for wien the great excite
ment and confusion attached to the
disaster calms down. Between 60
and 7O,injured were still in hospitals
here and at Ridley Park, near the
scene of the explosion.
Enemy Aliens" Blamed.
The present belief that the eXplos-
ion was deliberate on the part Of a
fanatic or an employe who believed he
was doing patriotic duty for a for
eign nation now at war is shared by
Alba B. Johnson, president of the
Baldwin Locomotive Works, which
owns the buildings occupied by the
Eddystone Ammunition Corporation
and Samuel NJ. Vauclain. president OF
the corporation.
In statements today each expressed
their conviction that the catastrophe
was the work Of enemy aliens II
carrying out fendish scheme"
Company Investigating.
Mr.. Johnson believes the explosions
were caused by a bomb or time clock
Mr.. Vauclauin asserted the act wa
zone of some maliciously inclined
person or persons"
Captain Wilhelm in statemen
last night said:
''We are making a careful invest
cation. | do not wish to discuss q
length the results of the investigatio
at this time. When the company
satisfied that the facts have been full
determined in arriving at a conclusio
as to the cause of the tragedy
complete statement will be fortl
coming.
Suffice it to say for the preser
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