The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-05-19
100 TO 200 DIE
IN INT BLAST
AT PITTSBURG
Volcano Like Explosion
Rocks Plant-Fire and
Fumes Fatal.
RED CROSS PARADE HALTS
Nurses Rush to Hospitals
Women in Costume Help
Police.
RED CROSS PARADE HALTS

PirrsBURG, May 1S.-Probably two
hundred men were killed to-day when
an explosion Of INT demolished the
plant Of the Aetna Chemical Company
at Oakdaie, on the Panhandle division
Of the Pennsylvania Railroad. sixteen
miles from this city.
Five hundred workmen in the plant
were startled at noon by a report not
much louder than the crack Of a'pistol
It came from the soda house. but they
knew its deadly import. and as one man
they rushed for the nearest exit. Before
they could gain the open the very air
seemed to burst into flames. and with
roar that was heard for miles the
long factory buildings were hurled high
into the air, carrying with them ponder
GUS equipment and scores Of men.
A great cloud of dust and smoke
settled over the scene and through It's
deadly fumes torn and mangled forms
dropped to the earth. many dead, but
others to meet their end In the flaming
debris.
Blown Far Away.
"ouy W Shc bbJusSus SoihS "a "hS"
were found as far as half mile from
the remnants Of the factory. were
brought to PittsburG hospitals by special
trains and in ambulances during the
afternoon and early evening. all 30 badly
hurt that In only a comparatively few
instances werc physicians able to hold
out any hope for their recovery.
The property loss was estimated 1t
$780, 900.
Immediately after the second explo-
sion the mass Of broken beams and
twisted timbers broke out In q great
blase. while the highly infiammable
chemicals used in the manufacture Of
the factorys deadly products-TNT
and TNA-added ample fuel to the
flames. Blast after blast followed As
the heat reached the tanks. endangering
property in the entire community. Sox-
ious gases rose from the burning mass
and spread over the little valley and
surrounding hills, making perilous the
work OF rescue.
Telephones wrecked.
Telephone and telegraph wires were
wrecked by the explosion. and the tracks
Of the Pittsburg. Cincinnati Chicago and
ST. Louis Railroad the Panhandle
route) were blocked BY the falling build
ings. An employee hastened to Carne-
gle, four miles distant. where wreck
and relief trains were quickly made up
and hurried 10 Oakdale, while ever!
hospital in Pittsburg sent ambulances
with nurses and doctors.
Company guards. under the direction
OF a detail of the State constabulary.
surrounded the burning ruins and were
later REINFORCED by deputy sheriffs and a
large party OF deputy coroners.
For a time II seemed as though II
would be impossible to reach the
wounded because Of the heat, the con-
stantly widening zone Of gases and the
danger from explosion. But the nurses
and doctors were not to be deferred
One young nurse. Miss Meryl Aschel-
man Of New Philadelphia, Ohio. a MEM
Der Of the stan OF st. Johns Hospital.
Pittsburg. who was among the first to
answer the call for help. was perhaps
fatally injured, Other rescuers were
caught near a little stream into which
acid and oil had poured, 1t exploded
as they crossed and a number are
thought to have perished Sheriff WILL
lam s. Haddock almost lost his life dur:
Ing one Of the late explosions. A heavy
piece Of steel blown from the wreckage
passed close to him and the force OF the
blast threw him to the ground. He was
badly bruised. but continued his work.
Throughout the afternoon the fire
burned. Each succeeding explosion re.
duced the blazing pile as embers and
chemicals were widely scattered. Soon
Continued on Seventh Pagc