Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-10-06
PERTH AMB0Y DEATH
LIST PUT AT FIFTY
Army officer Estimates Casualties In
Munltion Plant Disaster; In
puTJNd WIN Number i5O.
PROPERTY LOSS $4,000, 900
Danger Of Gr,Ytcr Devastation Prom
Explosions Nav Relieved Ovcrj
jurcd VIII Number $50.

PERTH AMBUY, N. j., oct. B.
Army officers investigating tho ex-
ploslUn which wrecked the great
shell loading plant OF the 7, a. Gil
lespio Co. Rt Morgan. estimated to-
night that the dead would number
not more than 30 and tho injured
l50. The property loss probably Will
approximate between tlb,000,00
and sac, ,000. .00U.
Late today II was believed dan
ger Of greater devastation by the
blowing up OF stores OF trlnitrOtoluOl
was virtually over All that II left un-
exploited is buried In underground
CalssonS along tho bank OF CHEESE
quake creek. or is loaded ON four
barges tied up at the company docks
along hatIstream.
Army officers reported after a
reconnaissance by airplane that the
location OF the boats and stOrehOuses
is such that they believed there was
slight probability 1t would be ex-
pioded either by fire or conoussion.
With the passing of the menace OF
an explosion around the plant, the
problem Of caring for the homeless
became serious.
South Amboy, a town OF about l0,-
900 population, four miles north OF
Morgan. was virtually wrecked by
the series OF blasts. Scarcely q
building in 4. remains habitHbie,
Many were unroofed and the walls
OF others blown In, while every pane
of glass was broken. More then 400
citizens decided to spend the night
there, however.
The Red Cross has established
headquarters at Perth Amboy. Am
balances from New York and New
ark, with corps OF doctors and nurses,
arrived to taks charge OF the sltua-
ton. Central depots were opened In
churches, schools and other public
buildings. Commandeered Automo-
biles and cars driven by members OF
the women's motor corps from New
York and New Jersey were sent out
to pick upV fleeing refugees and
bring them back to the depots for
shelter. Tho city and all the terri
tory around Morgan was under mar
tial law.
Major General G. c. Williams.
chief OF ordnance OF the United
States army, arrived here tonight to
conduct rigid investigation into
the explosions and fire, which de-
molished tho plant.
General williams was accom-
panied by Captain Wilson, also OF
the ordance department, and Lieu
tenant NufilIze, a French ordnance
expert Upon their arrival they went
into conference with the army Off
GERS already here. General Williams
declined to make any statement until
he had gone more deeply into the
circumstances surrounding the dis
ast er.
Late tonight the flames, which
have been sweeping the buildings
of the Gillespie plant, appeared TO
he under control and there seems no
danger that they viii reach the
trinitrotuoul stores remaining un-
touched There have bcrn no serious
explosions since early In the after
noon and no additional damage has
been done since then. Army Off
GERS declare that the danger Is vir-
tually over and they hope tomorrow
TO begin r. Systematic search OF the
ruins for the bodies OF the victims,
j. w. Faust, assistant director OF
civilian relief Of the Red Cross. es-
tlmated that more than 1000 persons
had hEcn made homeless by the hail
Of shells and the force OF the ex-
pIosions. He believed between forty
thousand and fifty thousand more
had fled from their homes fearing
disaster.
After an intermittent lombard
ment lasting nearly ~ hours, the
people housed here and ir other
near by towns. settled down tonight
20 fitful slumber. Many Of them had
undergone most Of tho horrors Of
actual warfare and their nerves were
shattered. Not few were suffering
from n form OF shell shock The day
was as much OF a nightmare as the
night which preceded II.