Evening journal., 1917-01-13
z killed, 8 HURT
IN POWDER blows
THAT RIP Haskell
lcontInued rrom FIrst Page.l )

Continued From First Page.)
dangerous. There we're a number
OF minor injuries consisting OF bruises
and scratches, but aside from the
two they required slight medical at
tention
"The investigation into the cause
has gone far enough 10 convince the
officials that there was no incendiar-
ism or malicious action on the part
of any one. The operation OF a
sweetie barrel frequently produces
static electricity and this has always
been one of the greatest dangers TO
be guarded against. Overheating Of
bearings has caused similar explos-
ions before and on some occasions
small foreign substances in the pow
der have been the cause OF similar
trouble.
"The Haskell plant manufactures
nitroglycerin smokefess powder which
under certain conditions, does explode
and for this reason the accident at
Haskell. unlike similar accidents at
Carneys Point, shook the surround
ing territory.
REPORTS made to the company's
heado. srs indicate that the explo-
sion was more spectacular than harm
ful to surrounding territory. The
most serious damage, in the immedi-
ate neighborhOod, was the loosening
OF joints OF water, stream and other
supply pipes In the Pompton Lake
section. Most Of the houses in the
villages surrounding the powder
works belong to the company and the
damage to them was not great Win
dows we're broken and plaster broken
on the walls, but none was so badly
damaged that It cannot be easily re-
paired.
AS soon as the report OF the ex-
plosion reached headquarters. off,
cials left for the scene and every ef-
fort was made by the Haskell officials
TO ascertain tho exact damage and TO
care for any possible sufferers. The
fire department OF the plant was in
service at once and checked the
spread OF the flames so that almost as
soon as the explosions had ceased the
fire was under control.
"The police arrangements we're so
complete that II was possible 70
allay excitement very quickly. so that
there was very little sign OF panic
either In the works or in the village
while the amount OF powder der
stroyed-about 100000 pounds. was
large, this loss will not intefere ser
iously with the deliveries under the
contracts held by the company
"Tabulations made by the company
show that the percentage of loss and
the number OF fires and casualties suf-
fered at the various plants since the
making OF war munitions began Is
no greater than before the war. These
figures indicate that reports OF IN
cendiarism due 10 war feeling have no
foundation in fact In addition TO
this very thorough Investigation OF
every FIRE and explosion has shown
that In no case could the cause be
traced 10 anything other than the or
dinary hazard OF powder making.
There was one case, early On the war
period, however, which was traced TO
the malicious act OF one operator who
sought revenge on another, and there
by caused an explosion Of a glazing
barrel. which cost the operator HIS
life
Printed reports that these 100000
pounds OF powder we're ready 10 be
shipped TO the Allies last night carry
their own denial A large quantity
OF this powder was in tho blending
towers and dry houses, which means
that Il was in process OF manufacture
and was far from being ready for
shipment"