Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-21

while advising operatives to seek
safety. himself went to the IRE and at
tempted to combat 1t.
The number of persons killed either
In the factory or in the neighooring
houses has not yet been ascertained
The casualties, however, owing TO the
warning which the people had by the
outbreak of the IRE. are not nearly SO
heavy as at first anticipated. Up to the
present between thirty and forty bodies
have been recovered, and about 100 per-
sons are reported to have been Sc
riously injured
from the London fire brigade and q
number of ambulances. The police ana
municipal authorities found temporary
accommodations for those whose homes
had been damaged.
Big Contributions for Relief.
Certain firms generously sent large
contributions to the minister of NUM-
tions with a view to their being used
for the benefit of the sufferers. and the
local government board has undertaken,
in conjunction with the local authori-
ties. to see to the application of any
funds raised in this way. In the mean
time the minister has requested the
borough authorities to arrange for the
provision of immediate relief for those
requiring it.
lowing to the effects of the explosion
all communication with all other dis
tricts was broken on for n time Local
assistance was Immediately forthcom-
ing but, owing to lack OF communl-
tan fire brigade could not be obtained
immediately-the fire not being In the
London fire brigade area. Within half
an hour. however. ample assistance was
afforded from all quarters
Will Not Affect Output.
I'VE are further informed by the min
istry of munitions that the accident
will make no practical difference to the
output of munitions. The minister.
with the chief officers of the explosives
supply department, visited the scene
this morning and every possible enort
is being made to deal promptly with
the unfortunate enects OF the explosion.
Both last night and this morning
the king made inquiries as to the ex-
tent of the damage and loss of life. ana
has expressed his solicitude Tor the
victims and their families. The minis
ter of munitions on behalf OF the gov
eminent. has requested the local au.
thorities and those in charge OF reiief
operations to convey his deep sympathy
with all those affected.
Curious Minor Effects.
The Evening Standard says:
The minor effects of the explosion were
curious While many windows quite near
At hand escaped, others at considerable
distances away were broken Here and
there, there were rushes of women to
places Of shelter. and theater attendances
were in some degree affected
De- oil
The explosion brings the realities OF
war to the very hearthside Of this coun-
try Let us remember the victims have
Is honorably as il they had fallen in
charge over the top
There was no loss Of American life or
property as q result Of the explosion, so
TAR as had been ascertained this evening.
Heard Many Miles Away.
The explosion not only was heard with
in a radius Of many miles from the scene.
including London and suburban towns,
but II shook buildings and broke windows
q long distance away. In normal times a
panic probably would have resulted in the
thsaters where the audiences were just
assembling. and in other public places,
but the population in this case was re-
mArixably cool
The general character of the explosion:
London. was q roar Of short duration. as
though . vast reservoir Of gas had been
limited and consumed in one burst Of
Sish into the air and then quickly sub
dded. Eyewitneeees in suburban towns
said tho flame had disappeared full
minute before they heard the roar which
accompanied it
Wiped or Foundations.
rv-> =, a h~,t->,, ,,,t vv,rra <har a emo ~ a,
Of an hour before the explosion. and fire.
men were on the spot fighting It, The
day shifts OF workers in the neighbor-
hood were with their families at their
evening meal As swiftly as a battieship
IL wrecked by a magazine explosion the
chemical works were virtually wiped on
their foundations and with them the flour
mills adjoining and blocks Of workmen's
dwellings.
Heavy clouds of smoke and flame
rose to great height throughout the
night. but the worst of the destruction
had been accomplished in the minute
Of the explosion. Many military ambu-
lances arrived quickly on the scene.
but organized rescue work was impos-
sible for time.
American Business Mans Story.
An American business man who was
q witness of the disaster gave the fol-
lowing account of II to the Associated
Press:
II had been on business visit to the
chemical works and was leaving in the
direction OF the suburban station late
IN the afternoon. when a policeman on
duty outside the gate called my atten-
ton to a small fire that had just start
ed inside the huge Enclosure. which en-
braces numerous buildings. huts and
tanks DESTROYS of seeing how the fire
department here would cope with q
blaze in an evidently difficult location.
decided TO wait few minutes.
by $3.50 o'clock fire apparatus had
begun arriving from the outside. in adj
dftion to the brigade maintained within
the plant Although ] was watching
from a point some distance outside the
plant. IL soon became evident to me that
the flames were gaining on the fight
ers and the alarm began to be spread
along the streets that the fire might
involve neighboring plants.
Describes Explosion.
Il had waited nearly half an hour.
fnterestedly watching the gradually
Increasing activity of the f1re-fghters
when the explosion came. followed i'm
mediately by a flare Of flame. To me
the explosion seemed to come from
everywhere around. The sound IL is