New-York tribune., 1918-11-09
Jersey Shell Plant Owner
Declines Direct Replies
in Senate Inquiry
Cars of Explosives
Left Outside Mill
Witness Declines to Con.
meet Alien Enemy With
Explosions

DO you know a man named Odcn-
dahI?o
The second days session of the SEN
ate investigating into the Gillespie
ulunition plant disaster Of October 1
and was drawing TO its close yester-
day afternoon as Senator Henry S.
Myers, of Montana, presiding officer,
leaned across the table and launched
that question
At the time Thomas A. Gillespie,
guiding genius of the biggest shell
loading factory in the United States,
was in the witness chair For three
and a half hours he had been under a
ceaseless grilling as to all the most
intimate details OF the great factory
whose explosion spread it's toll Of
havoc and destruction over a circum-
ference OF forty miles. And at length
the matter Of enemy aliens had come
ip.
local attorney, Charles B. Rose
produced list of ten men Of enemy
nationality, who, according to the rec
ord of the Perth Amboy draft board,
had been employed at the Gillespie
plant. At least two of these, Rose de-
clared, were inspectors
"But there were other inspectors
there, were there not?" asked Senator
Myers.
"Three hundred and fifty of them,
ranI,a1 Mr. C.il1oc Mo uEnuo M in
spectors, permanently stationed at the
plant"
Given Wide Latitude
just so,- said the Senator. "And
these government inspectors had pretty
could go about where they pleased and
90 what they pleased at your factory,
couldn't they?"
"Why, yes; they naturally were given
nretty wide latitude"
precisely. And how about them as
regards nationality. Mr.. Gillespie
We're any of them enemy aliens, by
any chance? ?"
"Really, sir, | don't know that can
say as to that
And then Senator Myers leaned fox
ward and brought out his question
about a man named Odendahr---a gov
ernment employe from the War Depart
ment, he intimated, who for weeks be-
fore the catastrophe had free access to
toe property Mr.. Gillespie admitted
that he had heard the name and that he
Rad heard since the explosion that the
man in question was an enemy alien
"Well, couldn't such q man, With
such opportunities. if he had been anx-
he United States couldn't he have
brought about this explosion which has
caused so much destruction and suffer
ing and has so shocked the country 2
persisted Senator Myers
Refrains from Direct Reply
fhe crowded room sat forward
pie, however, was unwilling to COM
nit himself The other inspectors
would have detected such an attempt
ae thought. Besides The thing would
be difficult TO accomplish without the
yacrifice of the conspirator's own life
And it was rash 10 make unsubstanti-
ated insinuations. For his part, Mr.
Gillespie affirmed, he has no theory
AS to hove the explosion occurred
And there the matter rested --7for the
time being. Ii is expected. however
that it will be further developed wher
the committee reconvenes this morn.
tons pointing to the presence OF enemy
3gents are promised
Meanwhile, though. tie Perth Anbo,
Council of Defence, which is pressin.
the charges against the Gillespie off
clals, cliNgs to its theory that careless
ness is solely to blame for the Who'll,
disaster.
Several witnesses appeared yesterday
Who told of inadequate policing ar.
engagements at and about the plant and
VI unauthorized persons being per
Nlltted to wander there apparently al
VII. The point is also made that tho
powder magazines were not constructed
II safe materials. and that secmingl,
my stranger who wished to go TO q
little trouble could gain access to them
laslng up the matter of guards
When Mr Gillespie went on the stand
Senator Joseph S. Frelinghuvsen-
who chiefly conducted his examina
non for the committec-elicited the
Information that the property of the
plant covered 2,200 acres and was
guarded by a staff of $50 men. who
each ''o''
Shipping Facilities Crippled
At the time the explosion occurred
ne witness stated, the company was
- ~'%i~iA 0SAS P'toSUIc from INT
government, which had sent in al
Urgent call for i5-mllimetre shells
70 cornpilcate things, the concern's ex
port shipping facilities had been Grip
pled fos zine days. During that period
70 was developed, quantities Of INT ane
'matol had been pouring into the plant
20 that the problem OF storing then
'ad become exceedingly difficult Wher
me blow-up occurred, he admitted
here were three freight cars contain
lng 10000 pounds of amatol standing
cut IN the open.
Did these explode ?" asked Senate,
trelinghuyseu.
"Wen, they were not there in tn,
morning" returned Gillespie.
As matter OF fact, they had n,
business to be there at the time the,
we're, had they?"
For moment the witness hesitated
finally he declared that to answe,
shat question in public would hardl,
be proper, but that ne will be glad t.
go into th matter when the committe,
enters into executive session.
On mos technical points Mr.. Giles.
pie refer ed the committee TO his corps
Of experts. That he himself is in nc
sense an c1pert in explosives he had
no hesi.ancy in admitting. He said
that when the war trose out he went
70 Washington To ''sec II he could man.
M ;nt, HI .o,.n