Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-03
Fire in Explosives Plant
Near Syracuse Ignites
TrinitrOtOluOl.
EIGHTY INJURED,
SOME FATALLY
Fifteen Buildings of Great Munitions
Establishment Wiped out-Night One
Of Terror For People Living in Village
Flee From Scene With Children and
Household Goods-No Evidence Of
lneendiarism.

]
of forty-seven victims Of the explosion
of ct. N. T." which wrecked the plant
! of the Semeth- Solvay Company at
Split Rock, just west Of this city, last
night, had been received at the county
morgue at noon today.
A report from split rock said iLat
fifteen more bodies had been taken
from the debris, bringing the total OF
dead to sixty-two. Other bodies, it was
said, may still be in the ruins.
Figures furnished today by Semeth-
Solvay officials gave the number Of
dead as sixty-flve, Forty nine bodies,
they stated, had been recovered.
Syracuse, N. Y, July Forty five
were killed in the explosion Of trini-
trotuluol at the plant Of the Semet-
Solvay Company, at Split Rock, just
west Of this city, last night. Fortytw
and there are three more in the ruins
The number Of injured are at least
eighty Most. ot them are at 1ocal. l.hos-
lpitals but many we're taken TO their
homes or removed quickl. from the
scene of the disaster. Several Of the
injured are expected to die.
At least half of the great munitions
plant was wiped out by the fire and
series of explosions which followed
Ten buildings were destroyed and the
property damage will exceed S1,o00.000
Fire which preceded the explosion
l?veled three buildings.
The explosions rocked this city
Plate glass windows were broken, and
residences swayed. causing their oc-
cupants to rush into the Streets
Every ambulance was rushed to
the scene, and squads of police hur-
ried to the plant to preserve order.
The output of the Semet- Solvay
Company is largely "T. N. T." a
powerful explosive used in the manu-
fature of munitions.
More than 5000 men are employed
at the plant, virtually all of whom
reside in this city.
Entire City Shaken.
The explosion occurred at g.: 80
o'clock and shook the entire city. At
least fifteen buildings Of the great mu-
nitions establishments were wiped out.
A fire preceded the explosion by. forty :
five minutes or more. When the fire
broke out hundreds Of the workmen
left but others remained to fight the
flames, and many Of these fell victims
OF the blast.
The night was one Of terror for
many. A general exodus followed the
explosion. Besides the fleeing work
men many families moved away from
the scene. Some pushed wheelbarrcws
containing their children and a few
| household goods. In the nearer zone
women were in Mysteries, fleeing along
the roads. While last night 1t was
thought the number Of dead was con-
fined to half dozen, daylight wit
messed the sight Of full disaster.
No Evidence Of Incendiarisn,.
Six Of the bodies were identified. Ac-
! ccrding to the statement OF E. l..
Pierce, vice president of the company,
the fire started in one Of the towers OF
the T. N. T. plant but the cause has
not been ascertained.
While there were rumors. of incen-
diarism and also that the fire was
started by German spies, it was stated
today there are no facts to confirm this
theory.