The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-26
CITY IS
SHAKEN
EXPLOSIONS IN
JERSEY YARDS
ROCK new YORK
Thousands Rush to Streets
Fearing Another Disaster.
Sharp Blasts Like Cannon
Fire Make City Tremble.
FLAMES LEAP HIGH IN AIR
Blasts in Factories Destroy
Two City Blocks.
Scene Are Shattered.
ARMY STATION UNDAMAGED
Blasts in Factories Destroy
Two City Blocks.
Windows i'm Mile Radius OF
Scene Are Shattered.
ARMY STATION UNDAMAGEO
Embarkation Depot Nearby Es-
capped, Says War Dept.
Explosions Ceased at 3:15, but
Fire Reported Spreading.

I New York, March 26.-Terrific ex-
plosions in four-story brick struc-
ture in Jersey City today. beginning
shortly after 3 o'clock, shook both
Jersey City and New York. all but
causing a panic for brief time.
The structure, occupied by the Jar
Wis stores at Henderson and Thir-
teenth street covering nearly two city
blocks, was virtually demolished by
the explosion.
The explosions continued rapidly.
column of smoke was observed rising
in Jersey City.
Flames shot up with the smoke high
enough to be visible over the tops of
the buildings
The smoke and flames rose from
docks next to the Erie railroad ferry
where steamships load with ammuni-
ton.
Thousands Rush Into Streets.
Thousands of people in New York
rushed into the streets fearing ii
catastrophe like the Black Tom explo-
sion here two years ago. The detona-
tions were, however. not so violent
as on that occasion Roofs of New
York skyscrapers were quickly crowd
ed with people watching the fire.
The early report from Jersey CITY
weer that several freight cars loades
with ammunition had been blown UP
and that a number of buildings had
been destroyed or were on fire.
1t was impossible to get immediate
telephone communication with jersey
City to learn the details.
No Damage in New York.
While the explosions were enough 10
cause buildings in New York to trern-
BILE. no damage was done here far
as had been reported at $3.50 p. m
One report was that the explosions
occurred in train of freight cara
loaded with ammunition which has.
been run onto siding on Pavonia
avenue. Jersey City.
The Erie railroad offices here an
nounced that the explosions had oc-
Cured in their yards in Jersey City
but they had no details
big fire following the explosion
continued to grow. sprea ding south
from the zone. famed by northwest
wind.
Windows in Jersey city were report
ed shattered for radius of more than
a mile.
Started in Cold Storage Plant.
Later it was said at Erie railroad
headquarters that the explosion had
occurred in the plant of the Union
Terminal Cold Storage company. Jer-
water front and to the right of the
Erie tracks
All communication with Jersey City
failed ~..ing the explosions. Passen-
gers in the under the river tubes were
turned back.
At the port of embarkation in Ho-
hoken one telephone call was put thru
before all calls were refused. Any in
formation was denied.
Clouds of smoke and debris came
over the Hudson river into the streets
of Lower Manhattan. Throngs
crowded to the New York water front
Many wild reports were in circulation
Army Station Escapes.
Washington, March 26.-The war
department has been advised that the
explosion began in a car in the Lacla-
wanna railroad freight yards at
Hoboken. y j.
The army officer at Hoboken
making the report said no DANA 90
had been done to the army's s,reat ern-
barkation station nearby. and that the
/ extent of the damage in the railroad
yards was not evident
None of the governments great
projects in that vicinity has been en-
dangered or affected by the explosion,
the war department was advised.