Evening star., 1918-07-03
FIRE AND BLASTS
KILL 65, |NJURE 80
TrinitrotoIuoI Wrecks Half of
Big Munitions Plant Near
Syracuse.
MILLION PROPERTY LOSS
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SYRACUSE, N. Y, July 3.--Sixty-
five men were killed in an explosion
of trinitrototuol at the plant Of the
'Semet-Solvay Company, at Split Rock,
just west Of this city, last night
Forty-nine bodies have been recov-
cred.
The injured number at least eighty
Most Of them are in local hospitals,
but many were removed to their
homes in the rush to remove them
quickly from the scene of the dis
aster Several of the injured are ex-
pected to die. At least half of the
great munitions plant was wiped out
which followed. At least ten build
Iinss were destroyed and the property
damage will exceed $1,O0O,O00.
Rocks Business Buildings.
Terrific conclusions from the explo-
sions of the powerful war powder
rocked large business buildings in the
center of this city, smashed plate
glass windows and caused a panic in
the residential portion of the town as
If 1t had been shaken by an earth
quake.
The explosions followed fire that
had raced beyond control and spread
to the 1T N IT, watts. Two of these
let go, burying many workers under
an avalanche of debris and scattering
the flames to adjoining buildings.
volunteer f1remen were powerless to
stay the progress of the flames. Aid
was sent from Syracuse, but at mid
night the water system broke down.
A shift of 500 workmen was in the
plant when the fire broke out. The
workers made efforts to subdue the
flames, and later in speeding to safety
were caught in the first Of the ex-
plostons. Men were hurled in all di-
rections. Two who were caught be-
tween burning buildings were blown
through wall. Still alive when pick
ed up, there was not a shred Of cloth
ing on their bodies.
Workmen's Homes COLLAPSE,
The second big explosion followed
fifteen minutes after the first, and the
combined force of the two crumpled
buildings in the vicinity. The homes
of workmen across the road from the
plant collapsed, and burning timbers
were blown to the roofs of buildings
across the railroad tracks, which d.
vide the plant in half.
Worknen and their families fed
across fields in indescribable con-
fusion. A woman, hysterical, was
seen carrying tiny kitten clutched to
her breast.
James Russo and Arthur c. Good
feiiow were analyzing samples in the
plant when the cry of fire" called
them to building No. 1. OF their ef-
forts to subdue the flames. Goodfellow
said:
Russo grabbed hose. I endeavor-
ed to help him. The smoke was so
thick it was impossible to see much.
and little explosions kept letting 70
inside the building. We tried the hose
but could do little good. There wasn't
enough water to be of any use.
I'VE knew that big explosion was
coming. and we turned and ran for
our lives down the hill. We were Just
at 1t when the big blast let go. It
knocked US both fiat on our faces"
Ambulances Delayed.
A telephone message from Split Rock
brought the first word of the accident
to the city. 1t reached police head
quarters in the form Of a request for
Oil lie dHOulanceS ana all the police
men who could be spared The shock
of the explosion. a few minutes earlier,
had tied up all the phone lines caus-
ing delay before the ambuIances
were on the way
Both fire and explosions, according
to workmen who escaped without In
jury. were confined to the east side
of the plant, which is made up of
about fifteen buildings, including the
Offices and laboratories.
There are three of the T. N. T.
plants, in the first of which the flames
originated. Next to them are six
plants in which nitric acid is
handled. Beyond them. only hun
dred yards away. are four plants in
which picric acid is handled, all of
these clustered together on the south
side Of the railroad tracks.
Most of the small explosions were
due, according to workmen, to the
contact of flames with small "nitre-
fiers" or "pulverizers"
No Evidence Of Incendiarism.
According to the statmeent of E, l..
Pierce, vice president Of the Semet-
Solvay Company, the fire started in
one Of the towers of the T. N. T.
plant, but the cause has not been as
certained.
While there were rumors of in
cendiarism, and also that the fire was
started by German spies, 1t was stat
ed today that there are no facts to
confirm this theory. although. an in
vestigation will be made.