Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-11-07

Il
Senator Frelinghuysen began by
explaining the investigation and the
grounds for it.
| Adrian Lyon was the first witness
called. He was sworn by Senator
Frelinghuysen, VINO presided. He
appeared for the Perth Amboy Coun-
Gil of Defense as chairman OF the ex-
ecutive committee and also as It's
/ attorney.
The judge explained. In starting his
testimony, the location of Perth Am
boy IN relation to the Morgan plant.
he gave the geographical location of
many towns and cities adjacent to
( this city.
'"rne Perth Amboy Council of De-
fense," he said. "by reason of the ex-
plosion, passed resolutions which l
| shall read. This council was organ
ICED at the outbreak of the war for
protection of Perth Amboy, it's citizens
and the surrounding community and
In the line of its duty it called the at
| tention of the United States Senate to
the explosion and the destruction fol-
| lowing it,
The Judge then read the resolution
recently passed by the Council of De-
fense. He said that many other mu-
| inequalities had adopted similar reso-
| lutions. Judge Lyon then read re-
sumo of the explosions and the conse-
| quent damage.
"One very significant fact" said
| Judge Lyon, was that at 10 o'clock
| October all were told to leave tho
plant as 1t was thought the fire was
| over. No precautions were taken and
at O'Clock Saturday morning the ex-
| plosions started again and The more
serious occurred after that hour"
He told of the deaths and suffering
that occurred from influenza, brought
on by exposure due to the explosion.
He said that the shell loading plant
| was so constructed that when one of
the thirteen units exploded the others
went until they were all consumed.
| He told OF the fortunate fact that the
wind favored the city and the flames
| did not reach the forty-six magazines
on the banks of the Cheesequake
| creek, each containing minimum OF
10000 pounds OF explosives.
He then claimed that the T. A. Gill
! lespie Company had not told the truth
| when making statements as to the
| safety of these magazines. He called
/ attention to the fact that the company
/ had given a statement to the EVEN
| ING NEWS saying the magazines,
| they thought, were safe.
The Judge said he went into the
densely populated section in which
the plant is situated and to learn how
many persons might be affected by
recurrence of an explosion at Morgan.
The Council of Defense asks that
there be no unnecessary exposure to
danger" he said. There is no call
for such tremendous plant and for
such large quantities of explosives In
one locality.
The explosion occurred because of
an accident" he continued. "If by
negligence then the company is unfit
to keep the plant. but If without neg
| ligence, as they will contend. then,
such steps should be taken to isolate
/ that plant"
| The Judge said there was negligence
| there and cited instances OF II. The
plant was carelessly guarded he de-
| clared. It was possible three days
afetr the explosion for someone to en-
was referred to and employment of
allen enemies was criticised. Tho
disaster. the Judge contended. might
have been averted after 10 o'clock by
proper steps.
damage has been done and cannot
be undone: lives have been lost: prop
erty has been destroyed. but the i'm
portant thing is safeguarding the fu-
ture. Not in the minds of some ex-
pert, but In way to convince the peo-
ple of this community so that they
can be assured that Ii Is safe place
to live in and we ask the especial
consideration of the committee and
that they, to the extent OF their pow
er, see to IT,"
Senator Frelinghuysen asked II any