Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-03-15
ONE MAN killed
IN POWDER BLOW
CCOntInued From Pago onel

Continued From Page One.)
house Of George Shaney, which also
is located near the plant, had the
shutters torn off and practically every
pane Of glass in the building broken.
Curious effects of the explosion
we're produced Christ Church. which
is located only a short distance up
the hill from the corning house. was
apparently not injured I'm the least
and yet the saloon of Patrick Dough-
erty. probably a quarter of a mile
away. in Henry Clay village, had tho
front nearly torn out The windows
OF the second story were smashed,
even the sash being carried away.
On the ground floor the shutters
were torn off and the glass broken.
The sash also in many places was
torn away. Heavy boards nailed over
the lower part OF the window we're
driven into the room and wood splint-
ers and glass scattered everywhere.
Curiously enough. the wooden shut
ters were smashed inward the glass
all thrown into the street.
Henry Clay postofiice, only a few
feet from Doughertys saloon, was ap-
parently not injured in the least.
Here and there IN Henry Clay village
glass was broken out by the Jar, but
none were badly damaged except those in
direct line of the explosion up the val
ley of the creek In Breck's Lane most
OF the houses had windows broken.
A curious effect of the explosion was
shown in damage to a trolley car of the
Wilmington and Philadelphia traction
Company, which had just left Henry
Clay and was proceeding over the hill
leading into the woods Just beyond. The
car was about opposite the scene Of the
explosion, hut out of the direct line be-
cause of the emincnce between the carl
track and the corning house.
Tho car rocked. throwing the mo-
tOrman to one side and releasing the
brake handle. This swung back and
struck the man in the stomach, nearly
knocking him from the car. Two OF
the large glass windows designed to
resist jar from the motion OF the car
were completely smashed out
The mOtOrman, George Richards
was not injured. aside from the tenn
porary knockout.
Trees in the vicinity of the plant,
especially along the side OF the hill
above the place where the explosion
took place. were uprooted by the
force and the debris scattered over a
wide area
Airship Reports Again.
With the explosion today came a re-
port about an aeroplane having been
seen passing over Wilmington this
morning sometime before the explosion
occurred. Several persons telephoned toI
THE JOURNAL office that they had
heard reports about an airship havingl
passed over the city toward Philadel-l
phia some time before the powder eX-
plosion, but reporters were unable 10 To-
cate anyone who actually saw an air
plane.
Public Buildings Rocked.
The explosion shook the big Munich
pal Building to fits foundations. The
Municipal Court was in session when
the roar and shock created temporary
confusion in the court room. The audi
ence, attorneys and police rose as one
man, and many OF the former started
! for the doors with a rush
A glance out OF the windows on the
north side of the room. from which
direction the sound seemed to come,
showed great clouds of steam rising
from the plant OF the New Castle
Leather Company, and gave everyone
the impression that the explosion had
occurred there. The sound, as heard
in the court. resembled the crashing,
rumbling roar of boiler explosion
and collapse Of a large building, much
more than the usually clear-cut de-
tonation Of an exploding powder mill,
Judge Churchman permitted those
who so desired TO leave the court
room. the excitement subsidized, and
the trials proceeded.
Operators in the telephone exchange
were practically swamped during the
excitement. thousands of calls pouring
in. The private exchanges in the du-
Pont Building, the police station and
the newspapers were taxed to the
limit. Hundreds of these calls we're
from out of town.