Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-19
TWO HUNDRED ARE DEAD
IN THUNDER0US BLAST
Explosions in Oakdalc, Pa, Rock
Earth for Several Miles as
Flames Burst Forth.
MANY TORN AND MANGLED
Pondcrous Equipment Is Hurled
Through Air, Along With Bodies,
Many of the Latter Dropping Into
Secthing Mass OF Wreckage.
IBy Associated Prcss.1

fBy Associated Prcss.1
PITTSBURGH. PA. May 1s.-Prob-
ably 200 men were killed to-day when
an explosion OF T. y. T. demolished the
plant Of the Aetna Chemical Com
pany. at oakdale. on tho Panhandle
division OF the Pennsylvania Railroad.
sixteen miles from this city. 1t oc-
CURED in the soda house. Before the
employees could gain the open. the
very air seemed 10 burst into flames.
Tho earth heaved and rocked. and with
"a roar that was heard for miles. the
long factory buildings were hurled
high into tho air. carrying with thee
pondcrous 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
dropped TO the earth. many dead. but
others TO meet their end in the flaming
debris.
Many OF tho injured. some OF whom
were found far as half a mile from
the remnants of the factory. were
brought 10 Pittsburgh hospitals by
special trains and in ambulances dur
ing the afternoon and early evening.
al! OF them SO badly hurt that in only
a few Instances is hope held out for
their recovery. The property loss was
estimated Al sl.500.Q00.
Immediately after the second cxplo-
sion the mass OF broken. beams and
twisted tinbcrs broke out in a great
blaze. which the highly innamma bile
chemicals used in the manufacture of
the factory's deadly products-T. y. r.
and 7. y. Added ample fuel to the
af la fol
the heat reached the Tanks. Nox ious
gases rose from the burning mass and
spread over the little valley and sur
rounding bills. making perilous the
work of rescue. Telephone and tele-
graph wires we're wrecked by the ex-
p,oson. and the railroad tracks were
blocked by the falling buildings.
IURRIEDLY MAKE Up
TRAIN CARRYING RELIEF
An employee FASTENED to Carnegie,
four miles distant. where wreck and
relief trains were quickly made UP
and hurried TO oakdale. while every
hospital in Pittsburgh sent ambulances
with nurses and doctors. Company
guards and State constabulary sur
rounded the burning ruins and were
later re-enforccd by deputy sherins
and large party OF deputy coroners.
Throughout tho afternoon the fire
burned. Each succeeding explosion re-
duced the blazing pile as embcrS and
chemicals were widely scattered. Soon
after 6 o'clock an explosion louder
and more powerful than any since
noon swept away the remnants of the
fire and practically cleared the black
cned space. Many bodies were con-
sumcd in tho flames. the authorities
declared. while parts OF others were
! so tossed about. the coroner's deputies
said. 1t would he impossible to identify
| such portions as might be eventually
| found.
At the stations OF the interurban
| street car lines and at the Pennsyl-
vania railroad stations OF the various
communities for fifteen miles on either
| side of Oakdalc were assembled wom-
en- with the hcad-dress and costumes
of Red Cross workers on their way to
| Pittsburgh TO participate in monster
parade. News of the explosions few
from borough TO borough. and. as with
one impulse. the thought was inspired
that the Red Cross workers were need
ed at Oakdale more than at Pittsburgh.
Abandoning all thoughts of parade. the
women focked to the afflicted area by
automobile and by trolley ready for
any sacrifice or service for which thcy
might be called.
And these women lent valuable aid
in bringing order and system out of
the chaotic condition among the panic
| stricken families of workmcn 4
| Scarcely any one who lived through
the explosion Is able to tell coherent
story Of the happening.
H. ii. Cannan. an employee. was eat
ing his lunch with several other work.