McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1918-05-24
EXPLOSION WRECKS
MUN|T|0N PLANT
PLANT OF THE AETNA COMPANY
AT oAkDALE, PA, ENTIRELY
DESTROYED.
ESTIMATED LOSS $1,5OO,OOo
This 10 the Eleventh Explosion or Fire
Occurring In This Plant Since the
War Broke Out In Europe--cen-
sus OF Town Ordered.

Pittsburgh.-Five hundred workmen
In the explosives plant of the Aetna
Chemical Company. at Oakdale, six.
teen miles west Of here, were startled
at noon by report not much louder
than the crack Of a pistol. 1t 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 flame, the earth
heaved and rocked, and with a roar
that was heard for miles, the long fac
tory buildings we're hurled high into
the air, carrying with them ponderous
equipment and scores Of men. A great
cloud Of dust and smoke settled over
the scene and through its deadly
fumes torn and mangled forms fell
to the earth, many dead, but others
to meet their end in the flaming de-
bris.
The number of dead had not been
determined. State and county authori-
ties agreed it would reach 100 and it
was probable that it might be double
that number. Many of the injured,
some of whom were found as far as
half mile from the debris of the
factory, were brought to Pittsburg hos
pitfalls by special train and In ambu-
lances, all of them so badly hurt that
In only comparatively few instancea
we're physicians able to hold out any
hope for their recovery. The property
loss was estimated at $1,500, 900.
Immediately after the second explo.
sion the mass of broken beams and
twisted timbers broke out in great
blaze, while the highly inflammable
chemicals used in the manufacture OF
the factory's deadly products-T. N. T.
and T. N Added ample fuel to the
flames. Blast after blast followed as
the heat reached the tanks, each one
scattering embers and endangering
property in the entire community.
Noxious gases spread over the little
valley and surrounding hills, making
perilous the work of rescue.
Coroner Samuel c. Jamison ordered
a census of the town in an effort to
ascertain the number of persons killed.
The company opened an office and
through circulars distributed through.
out the valley called upon all survivors
to register without delay.
General officers of the company
from New York, it was stated, are ex.
pected here.
A detail of mine rescuers from the
arsenal station of the United States
bureau of mines arrived at Oakdale,
and, equipped with oxygen helmets,
were prepared to penetrate the dense
mass Of gas which still overhung the
site of the plant in search Of bodies.
Telephone and telegraph wires were
wrecked by the explosion and the
tracks Of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati,
Chicago & st. Louis (the Panhandle
Route) were blocked by falling build
ings. An employee fastened to Carne.
gle, four miles away, where wreck and
relief trains were hurried to Oakdale,
while every hospital in Pfttsburg sent
ambulances with nurses and doctors
Company guards, under the direction
of detail OF the state constabulary,
surrounded the burning ruins and were
later reinforced by deputy sheriffs
and large party of deputy coroners.