Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-11

Plans for a great Community funeral for
the victims of the disaster, including a pub
lie burial for the unidentified dead, We're
advanced today by Mayor Wesley s. Nc
Dowell of Chester. at meeting of the
Chester division of the State Committee for
Public Safety ana Defense appointed by
Governor Brumbaugh.
Mayor Mcdowell. who is chairman of the
committee, advocated the project. He said:
We should not drag out this horror
for several days Let us get it over
with as soon as possible. 1t will be
woeful spectacle and better finished at
once. Let us set one day for 1t.
Other members of the committee include
State Senator William c. Sproul, George
C. Hetzel Elwood ]. Turner, William A.
Byer and Charles B. Mould.
Undertakers in every village and han,-
let for miles around Chester and Eddystone
are taxed by the demand for collins. Out
side help surely will be needed to supply
the caskets.
The fragments of bodies that cannot be
identified will be buried at public expense.
Relief funds will be used for this purpose.
Several thousand dollars have poured
into the Mayors office at Chester for the
relief of families become needy through the
disaster.
TEN FEET FROM SCENE
The statement from Lester Moulton.
SnOD FOREMAN III tut HilSHiiB iooih VI o''
F." house. where the first explosion drove
him through the door, was obtained today
after he was discharged from the Taylor
Hospital. Ridley Park
He was only ten feet away from the spot
where the first explosion occurred, he de-
clared. 1t could not have been an accident,
but was the work of plotter, he said.
There was nothing in the room where he
and twelve girls were at work that could
have caused the explosion unless ii was an
unseen device, in his opinion.
Moulton. who liyes in Aberdeen. Md, re-
c<ived only minor burns and "A few cuts on
the head
II was only ten feet from the table
where the girls wipe off the shells when
the first explosion came" he said. The
fash right at this table There was
nothing there to cause an explosion posi-
lively nothing. There were twelve girls
working in the room, and all were killed.
There was flash and / was hurled under
a table This Is what saved me- | was
crawling my hands and knees when
second explosion drove me against wall.
The third explosion sent me through door.
NO ACCIDENT
THE thing happened too quickly for II
to have been caused by an accident. 1t was
done by plotter ! am convinced of that.
The thing was definitely planned l am
going back to work because | am not afraid
of any accidents happening at the place.
but ! am going TO work in a different de-
partment when l do go back. No one can
tell me that thing was an accident"
The supposed German sailor being de-
tained at the Philadelphia Hospital was ar
rested late Sunday, two days before the
explosion by a guard of the Eddystone
Ammunition Corporation The man was
crawling along the north fence of the plant
according to Captain -Heffernan, of the
Eddystone guards. He was locked up in
the guardhouse and preparations were be-
ing made 10 deliver him to the Federal
authc rites here when the explosion oc-
Cured s
The man. whose only name known is
Secko developed peeuliarities that caused
the belief that he was mentally deranged,
according to Heffernan. When he was
brought to Philadelphia he was taken to
the Philadelphia Hospital for a mental ex-
animation. Special Agent Garbarino went
to question the man.
Guards were increased today at the Ches-
ter pumping station and at the reservoir.
three miles outside the city.
GUARDS INCREASED
Many extra guards were sworn in today
by neighboring manufacturing companies.
The men were sent to Chester TO receive
the authority necessary Among the firms
were ,the, Federal Steel Company. with
twenty new mon, and the New Chester
Water Company. with hfteer new me-