The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1917-04-12
Officials Arrest Pair
And Work On Sus-
picion Oh Intrigue
DEATH LIST IS 122
With Nearly $50 Young Wo.
men and Girls lnjured-Bo-
dies In Delaware River.

Chester, Pa.-President AL
ba Johnson, of the Baldwin Lo-
comotive works has changed his
theory that the explosion was
due to accident, after visit to-
day to the plant. He now joins
with S. NJ Naclain president of
the Eddystone Ammunition
corporation, that plotters caused
the explosion.
The police have released the1s
two suspects, father and son
named Cohen arrested last night
The Chester police say that if
the explosion was the work of
plotters, whoever caused it have
died with the rest.
Chester. Pa.-With 122 dead and
between 125 and $50 injured. the
majority girls and young women,
the authorities today turned their
efforts toward placing the blame for
the explosions yesterday at the plant
oil the E,ddystone Ammunition COR
poration.
Alba B. johnson, president of the
Baldwin Locomotive works, which
owns the Eddystone works, asserted
the disaster probably was due to an
accident or carelessness.
Opposed to this was the signed
statement by S. w. Vanclaim, head
OF the munitions company, in which
he said:
I'VE are unable to account for
the eNplosonin any way, other than
the act of some maliciouslwy inclined
person or persons"
While the police force REFUSED to
discuss the arrest OF two suspects
last night, after investigation was
instituted, to volunteer information
secured from papers found on one of
the prisoners. The men under ar
rest, father and son. the latter g1v-
ing Philadelphia, are said to be
aliens.
Although the police and company
officials worked throughout the
night, attempting to establish the
Identities of the dead, they were
hampered by the conditions of the
bodies. Some of the victims, COM
pany officials believe, were blown in
the Delaware river, SO that the exact
count of the death list may never be
possible.
Llttlc Powder On Hand.
An official OF the corporation, in
discussing the probable cause of the
explosion, declared that at no time
did he believe there was more than
one-half a ton OF powder in the
building at one time and that this
never was in bulk.
"The powder was kept in maga-
zine on the banks of the creek"
this official said, and was carried to
the building in cans and that hold
about two gallons From these cans
it would be distributed to the work
ers. who used guages to fill the
shrapnel shells So far as we have
learned there We're only three ex-
plosions Two of these were COM
paratively light but the third was
terrific, so powerful that boat
house $50 yards away was demolish-
ed"
The explosion occurred about 10
O'Clock in what is known as the 10-F
building, a two-story structure Is
by 300 feet. In this building time
fuses We're prepared, more than 80
per cent of the workers being wom-
Ell and girls. Probably fifty men
AMI boys We're employed in he build
ing at the time OF the blast and the
majority Of them escaped.
Armed Guards Surround Scene.
Great excitement followed the ex-
plosion. A heavy pail of smoke
darkened the entire town. which has
population of abou 5000. This
was soon lighted by flames from the
burning building. Rescue squads
We're quickly formed and call for
assistance was sent to Philadelphia,
Chester, Wilmington and other near
by towns. The entire Chester fire
lances from Philadelphia and Ches-
ter were soon at the scene. A strong
guard of Pennsylvania militiamen
and cadets from the Pennsylvania
military academy was thrown around
the plant and every one except those
assisting in the rescue work were
forbidden to approach.
Fifteen minutes after the explos-
ion the dead and injured were be-
ing carried out. Several bodies
; were fished out of the marshes 200
yards from the building and it is
: feared that others may have been
J blown into the river still farthe.
away.