Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-10
EDDYST0NE INDUSTRY
WIPED OUT BY
EXPLOSION
MANY IN HOSPITAL
HEAVIEST DISASTER BEFALLlNG
AMERICAN MUNITIONS CON-
Germ OCCURS THIS MORNING IN
PENNSYLVANIA.

Philadelphia. April 10At least fiji
ty men were reported killed and over
300 injured at 10 O'Clock today in a
series OF disastrous explosions at the
Sl5oO,GGO plant of the Eddystone Am
munition Corporation at Eddystone,
near here
1t was the heaviest disaster that has
befallen an American ammunition
plant since the outbreak Of the world
war.
The entire plant, worth millions OF
dollars. is threatened with destruction
by fire.
Eight or nine of the buildings were
blown up, according to an observe.
who witnessed the explosion.
Hospitals at Chester, were choked
with injured. Relief parties we're
made up in Philadelphia. Word is
awaited by the Department of Public
Health and Charities and the Penna
Railroad to send physicians and med
ical supplies from here.
The origin of the explosion is a
mystery. Department Of Ju tice
agents and twenty city detectives un-
der Lieut. Emmanuel were rushed TO
the scene in motor cars as soon as
tho news reached Philadelphia.
Many were killed outright. Many
were said to have been blown to bits
Many bodies will never be identified.
Mangled pieces of bodies were found
as far as half mile from the center
Of the explosions.
William Iekraft, secretary OF the
baldwin Locomotive Works, which
fcoutrols the Eddystone Ammunition
Corporation said the first explosion
occurred in small outbuilding for the
loadirg of shells. known as Building
f."
Asked IL the explosion was the work
OF plotters he replied: I'VE have no
knowledge at present how the explo-
! sion occurred"
/ Washington T. G., April l0-Efforts
of advocates OF the Volunteer sys-
TEN" to force compromise which
will nullify the selective conscription
/ feature Of the new army plan prob
ably will fail President Wilson let
| it be known today through admins
tiation leaders that he cannot approve
any action which will slow up the
war preparations of the nation He
has made up his mind, his advisers
say, that the volunteer system will
not furnish the number or uality OF
men that this nation must have at
once to be a real factor in the world
war
1t is understood to be the intention
CT the President to cndeavor to win
over the opposition through series
of personal conferences, He held the
first of these yesterday with Chair
man Cent of the House military af-
fairs committee and today talked
things over with Representative An
thony of Kansas and other advocates
Of the volunteer plan.
Administration leaders who have
canvassed both Houses of Congress
are convinced that the plan advocates
by the President will carry by sub
etantial majority in both Senate and
House. But it Is hoped to prevent
any extended debate as the Admins
tration is very anxious to get the
work of raising the army under way
as soon as possible,
Meanwhile the volunteer plan in
operation for the navy Is working out
we'll. The fact that it is recognized
everywhere that for the first year at
least of the war the navy will bear
the brunt OF any fighting that takes
place has stimulated recruiting every
where. This week every community
in the country is working oyertim'
assisting in the recruiting movement
and the response admittedly is graft
flying to officials. The legislation ~
creasing the enlisted personnel OF tNe
. Navy to 10000 men and the marine
corps to 30,QG9 will probably be
passed by both the Senate and tho
House by the end of the weelt ana
tie recruiting officials OF the Navy
are already ready to take advantage
; of It.
The department of justice TO-DAY
clamped the lid down on the opera
tions of it's secret agents. 1t Is ex-
pected that fully 1000 arrests will b.
! made very soon. II Is the intention OF
the department to withhold informs
tons regarding the arrests. The rea-
son for this is obvious Some Of the
men who will be taken into custody
have been plotting against the United
States ever since the European war
began.
!