New-York tribune., 1918-10-06

tire was a community housing thou
sands of workers, consisting of large
shacks or dormitorfes. This mush
room village had its motion picture
theatres and other amusement centres.
The first explosion occurred in Unit
Gil. Here "boosters," the detonating
mechanism used in exploding shells,
are manufactured. Seven thousand
pounds Of INT went up here. Shortly
afterwnrd the adjoining units, 61-2,
I'LL and 71-2, caught fire and exploded.
Firemen from the plant, supported
by workmen and the military guards,
pitted their puny efforts against the
conaagration, ignoring the explosions,
which sent missiles of many tons
which sent missiles soaring over their
heads. One Of these early detonations
was so powerful that the windows of
passing train were shattered and every
light in it extinguished instantane eous-
ly. Physicians and ambulances were
rushed from South Amboy and other
cities and added their endeavors to
those Of the workmen who stuck to
their posts, giving ground only when
scorched out, The grounds about the
plant were Uttered with human as we'll
as inanimate debris.
Fireman Killed at Post
A train filled with explosives was on
q siding at the plant when the fire
started A railroad foreman who real
lied the added peril to the fire fight
ers In that concentration OF powder
coupled an engine to the train and
started to pull 1t out. After he had
got the cars in motion q shell frag-
ment drove through the engine cab,
killing him. With the dead fireman
OH the floor Of the cab the train rolled
gently out OF the Immediate danger
zone and WAS stopped by another train
man, who saw that the engineers seat
was empty.
| Beyond the hereic line Of fire Aght-
ers WAS another of guards, who had to
use their utmost efforts to prevent the
wives Of workmen from hurling them
selves into peril Of death to search
for their husbands. A trestle leading
from Perth Amboy to a point near the
plant was jammed with hysterlcal
women. who were denied nearer ap-
proaeh,
The plant hospital soon became Allied
beyond It's capacity and the ambu-
lances hurrying other victims to the
City Hospital at Perth Amboy filled
that institution. A hotel In that city
was turned into temporary hospital
to handle the overflow. Army sur
geons were sent from the base hospi-
tai at Colonia, N. j., and many Of the
injured were taken there.
A heroine Of the disaster was a
plucky telephone operator who stuck
to her switchboard within half a mile
of the first explosion. plugging in calls
for assistance while she'll fragments
and larger debris rained about her
hut and every pane Of glass In the
structure was shattered.
South Amboy was virtually deserted
by dawn, so far as its own inhabitants
were concerned, while schools, thea
tres, halls and other public places
were filled with refugees from places
closer to the point Of danger,
Scarcely q pane Of glass survived in
Perth Amboy, and its occupants con
sisted largely of remnant of the
Home Defence Corps which had rallied
to guard the exposed buildings and
their contents. Mayer J., P. Ten
brock Of that city ordered all
saloons closed and directed the public
to keep within doors. Similar cond-
tions prevailed at North Amboy and
! Sewaren.
The Central Railroad OF New Jersey
was compelled early to suspend pas
! senger traffic beyond Sewaren