The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-10-05

There were explosions followed by fire, which lasted all night, and des- troyed number of the buildings Of the great shell-loading plant of A. A. Gillespie & Co.,, at Morgan, near here, with the loss of lives of workmen.j variously estimated at from 25 to 100, continued at frequent intervals dur ing the early morning hours, .culmi- hating at a. m. with a terrific blast, which blew one of the few remaining magazines to dust. Large quantities of trininitroluol-T. N. Tone of the most powerful explosives known, had been stored ip this magazine. The force of the explosion rocked the sur- rounding country like an earthquake, l wrecked light buildings, shattered l thousands of window panes and caus- ed g. panic among residents in a score I of towns.
 South Amboy, five miles away, felt | the greatest force of the explosion and the military guard there ordered everyone to leave the town as a pre- caution. The residents, most of whom had been in terror throughout the night, did not need formal urg- ing, and the roads to Perth Amboy | and other towns were packed with 1 people, all hurrying to escape the 1 danger zone. Earlier in the evening i powerful shells of various calibres, l destined for use of the Allied armies, had been hurting through the town. Various units of the New Jersey State Guard were called upon to protect the 1 homes of people who had fled. T,fiI i ,le
 men and rescue parties were unable to approach the ruins of the plant and search for bodies of the victims on account of the ever-present danger of exploding shells and ammunition. It was said that more than 2,0o0 men composed the night shift. Esti-
 mates of the loss of life ranged from
 25 to 100 and upwards.
 Nine bodies were recovered and
 sent to the morgue at South Amboy.
 Officials declared it might be several
 days before the death toll would be
 known defiitely.
 The cause of the explosion is not | known. Rumors were circulated that
 spies or alien enemies were responsi- ble but these were promptly dis
 counted by officials.
 The extent of the property loss has
 not yet been estimated by the com
 pany officers. The plant is said to
 have been valued at $1S,00O,000.
 At g a. m. the dead and missing
 were estimated at between 80 and 115
 persons.
 Buildings are being blasted to stop
 the spread of flames which were said
 to be raging in some of the buildings at 9:3O a. m. At that hour only 101
 of the company's 2s00o night sniff
 employees had been accounted for , Scores of injured have been sent tc hospitals at Elizabeth and Railway z While unofficial estimates placed the number of known fatalities at 13I . at 10:S0 a. m., an officer of the ) hGillespie company expressed opinion that the death list would prove to be , much smaller. The unofficial figures were based upon statements of persons who de. l clarod 94 men perished in the frs t explosion last night, and that 25 fire l men, including their chief, named !, Donohue, and eighteen guards at tht 3 Gillespie plant were blown to piece: l when one of the buildings exploded r at a. m.
 k Another semi official estimate ) placed the death list at ten, with z declaration that the entire working
 force, except 8 few fled ahead of the
 succeeding blasts.
 The American Red Cross has begun
 relief work among refugees, and in 7 jured.
 The explosion was like many of tn, previous explosions distinctly felt ir New York, 20 miles distant and, wal even reported to have been felt as fal . away as Isip, L. l., 50 miles from the scene.
 The city again was shaken at 10:3i
 o'clock with a series of explosions
 The explosions were plainly felt il j. New York city. Long Island anc . points along the New Jersey coast s Flashes of light could be seen man! , miles away. Many persons believe. I an enemy fleet was bombarding tn f coast and eesieged police stations ant . newspaper offices with telephon
 calls.