The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-03-27
Windows Broken in Many
Buildings; Blazing FagOts
Blown Across River.
lNCENDIARISM HINTED
Chambers st. Ferryhouse
Set Attire by Flying
Embers.
DAMAGE Is S1,5OO.OOO
Many Injured by Falling De-
hris-NO Fatalities
Reported.

tApi"sicns ana fire rivaliing the Black
.om upheaval in destructiveness and
opular excitement on both sides OF the
''udson but causing no loss OF life
'eVastated Ave acres OF the Horseshoe
"!strict Of Jersey City close 20 the Ho-
?oken line yesterday afternoon
The ancient six story building Of tho
jarvis Warehouses, Inc. about a quarter
x mile from the r've". aud four
mailer buildings which were part Of the
same plant were blown TO fragments
which flames consumed all but the
bricks.
The main structure was Crainmcd with
Naluable merchandise, including a lot OF
chemicals. much of which was owned by
pr consigned y the United States Gov
ernnent for shipment abroad II was
"Fecked by series Of five explosions
which flled the air above a cons, d.. ra BILE
part Of tho waterfront with t,y.ne bricks
md tinbers which were preceded and
followed by fire.
Fiery brands. lifted on hign by the
'oncussion, were seized ~ a wind that
was blowing forty-two miles an hour
ear the ground ana much harder up
loft, and carried across the Hudson,
citing FIRE 10 the Chambers street ferry
mouse OF the Erie Railroad and the
ighter Congress At its pier and alightng
7nong scampering feet OF Manufacturers
IN streets and City Hail Park.
Erie shops Destroyed.
The por,h side repair shops OF the
Eric Eailroad. separated from the Jarvis
warehouse only by narrow thorough
are, Twelfth street, were. Ike the ware
..ouse. entirely destroyed. with thirteen
.-comotives and much machinery.
In the repair shops ten girls who had
gently taken the places of wargoing
.eH, we're working in overalls. They
nd the other employees OF the railroad
nd ATTY men working in the .ktrvis
warehouse. beat the flames by being spry.
About twenty persons We're cut by flying
-!ass. embers Or bric.is. and eleven OF
'hen we're treated at st. Francis Hos
!,al. Jersey city.
The destruction also included eight
>'eish, cars on sidings to the north and
outh Of the Jarvis warehouse.
The property loss is estimated at
$1,000 distributed as follows:
Jarvis warehouse and contents.
,!)oo,o0o; none Of II insured by tho
1arvis Warehouses, Inc. some Of it pos
ib,y insured by the individual owners
" the stored merchandisk.
Er!e repair shops and contents. $780,
oNu
Burned freight cars and contents,
100000
The damage to the Eres ferry prop
cry was fixed at $4,000
The Government. through the De-
p1rtTent Of Justice and the army and
usoil h,,ra ha
city authorities and railroad detectives
3egan at once a sizzling inquiry into the
'aGse o. Il ALL
hooert NJ Jarvis. Jr.. and Edward j.
Jarvis. respectively president and secre-
'a'y o' their company. insisted that
'hs'e was no powder OF any sort or any
other substance commonly known as
an explosive within the three acres Of
ground space which their treasure house
'oyered
= Is known that thcre was an un-
Nsial.y large quantity of camphor stored
y The Jarvis plant. Insurance men
who handle risks and knew of the pres
ence of the camphor among the great
variety o. stocks in the warehouse ex-
0ressed the belief last night that the
" N""c -" us origin in an eN-
p!os!on Of the camphor.
Police Issue Statement.
The Jersey City police issued a state
'nent last night in which the theory Is
advanced that the fire and explosions
we're due to gas generated through the
NiHing o. chloride of potash and lime.
th's theory apparently is the result of
ne investigation conducted by the army
and the navy intelligence bureaus in
'ooperation with the police. The police
ieport follows:
Fire started In shed .. attached to
ne six story brick building occupied by
,Ae Jarvis Warehouse Company II is
believed that II started Through the in
= foduc'ion OF organic matters or gas
'Hrough the mixing OF chloride Of potash
ana lime II spread 70 part OF the
.h'on Terminal Cold Storage plant and
'he repair shop OF the Erie Railroad
r'!ndhonse. In which there were .air-
zen locomotives. Damage considera-
h,e"
II Vas at hrst reported that there was
cnlorste OF potash. Used in making ex-