The Washington times., 1918-05-19
AETNA EXPLOSION
MAY CLAIM DEATH
TOLL OF OVER 100

OfAhDAA4flf "a Nay lb.-bGLN zen
so and 100 persons were killed and
more than 200 were injured in a series
OF explosions which wrecked the
plant OF she Aetna Chemical Company
here yesterday.
The number OF dead and injured
will not be accurately known until
reports are assembled from the hos
pitfalls and morgues. 1t is known.
however. that when the eoncussion
from an exploding soda tank caused
the trinitrotoluol plant to let 80 a
vast quantity OF that high explosive.
not one OF the $50 workers there es-
capped death or injury.
Caught By Debris.
Later. when sheds housing the even
more powerful trinotroulouI ammonia
blew UP, between seventy and eighty
rescue and Red Cross workers were
caught by flying debris
Marilyn Ashelmap. OF Mercy Hos
pital. Pittsburgh. was among these.
She was hurled to the ground as she
ministered to dying negro taken
from the blazing ruins. Before she
could recover she was struck by a
piece OF red-hot steel. which almost
severed her right leg. Brader Hurst
a newspaper reporter, was the first TO
reach the injured nurse. As he stoop-
ed to lift her he was showered with
debris hurled by anoSher, but minor.
explosion. He escaped with serious
lacerations and burns. They were
taken to a frst-aid station together
the girl pleading that she be saved
for service abroad. the reporter in
sisting that he be taken to a tele-
phone instead OF to a hospital.
sBatehed From Flames.
Half a hundred OF the injured were
snatched from the flames that quick
ly ate through the masses OF debris
Many or those trapped IN the wreck
age could not be reached, while others
were pinioned by Wrenched and twist
ed steel so that they could not be
removed. Death ended the sufferings
OF several OF those before the eyes
OF helpless rescue crews.
Fire spread in every direction i'm
mediately following the first eXplo-
sions, and the resultant destruction
Of houses and other property added
from 5000. 900 to 100000 to the loss
Several hundred OF the residents Of
IOakdale were made homeless
The fire in the ruins OF the plant
was still burning at a late hour last
night. and Il is feared that a number
of tanks containing T. y. T. in cars on
a siding near by would explode II the
heat became too great.
A cannon was placed on hill near
by, and shots were fired at the tanks
to pierce them and thus allow the actc
to run out
Braving the dangers Of the deadly
sulphuric acid fumes which permea-
ted the air for a half mile around the
plant following the explosion, women
Of the various Red Cross organization
from the neighbering towns perform
ed heroic work among the wounded.
Thrown over wide Radius
Dead and injured were thrown over
a wide radius by the force OF the ex-
plosion. Scores were so badly hurt
that wheelbarrovs, handcarts' ana
even children's express wagons were
commandeered to take them to the
score or more Of first aid stations
ouickly established in drug stores,
physicians' OFFICES. and private resi-
dences hurriedly thrown open.
Fire attacked the debris immedi'
ately after the blast and threatened
TO wipe II out entirely. Rescue
parties worked feverishly amid the
ruins in an effort to save many bodies
from incineration and the wounded
from death.
Two cars OF physicians and nurses
from Pittsburgh were rushed to the
scene on a special train within an
n our after the plant went up.