Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-05

tolC 1Or t11Cy MILES.
Detona ton followed upon detonation
and these repeatedly shook the terrain
for radius OF fifty miles, this terri
tory including New York city, where
buildings were shaken and glass was
shattered much as the Black TONI
Island explosion in the harbor here
rocked the metropolis two years ago.
With the situation at Morgan this
afternoon such that firemen, soldiers.
sailors and civilian workers found it
impossible to penetrate to q zone within
two miles of the Gillespie plant. no def
mite estimate could he made of the num-
her of persons who perished last night
and in the early morning hours.
The flames burned unornoSed at the
Gillespie shops and were threatening
with destruction two other great nIu-
milton plants in the vicinity.
Unofficial estimates place the dead
ut upward Of 10, based upon state
ments of persons who claimed they
knew of the destruction of various
groups of employees and tir"men dur
ing certain periods of explosion. The
night shift was known to number
".ot0 persons, and the ones accounted
for this afternoon We're numbered
only in scores. While it WIS consid-
cred possible that the loss of life
would be found to be reckoned by the
hundreds, officers of the Gillespie
company expressed opinion that such
an estimate at this time would be eX-
aggeration.
Like Echoes of Artillery.
To residents of NeV York. jersey
City, Newark and adjoining districts
the continued rumbling of explosions
seemed as the echoes of an artillery
battle not far distant. This illusion
was heightened by the appearance
during the forenoon today OF scores of
refugees who poured into the cities in
search of shelter and food. Men. wom-
en- and children. frightened and ex-
hausted, entered New York by ferry
and subway.
Many panes of glass were broken in
business and residential districts in
Manhattan and Brooklyn. The dam
age in Staten Island was reported
especially severe.
The Atlantic division of the Amer
Jean Red Cross. receiving estimates
from its agents at Perth Amboy. y. j..
that approximately 1000 persons
were refugees, and that onefourth of
these were in need of food. dispatch
cd ambulances, motor canteens and
automobiles containing physicians.
nurses and social workers into north
ern New Jersey. Headquarters was
established at Perth Amboy. with re-
lief workers prepared to erect tent
colonies for the homeless or to ar
range with New York hotels to throw
wishes and other food was served to the
hungry.
Various Estimates of Life Lost.
PERTH ANIBOY, y. j., October 81
Beginning at 10 o'clock last night ex
llosions occurred all night long at the
shell-loading plant of T. A. Gillespie &
Co.. at Morgan, n. j. While unofficial
estimates placed the number of known
fatalities at 137 at 1880 am, an Off
Ger of the Gillespie company express
ed the opinion that the death list
would prove to be much smaller.
The unofficial figures were based upon
statements of persons who declared that
ninety-four men perished in the first
explosion last night and that twenty
five firemen. including their chief, named
Donohue,' and eighteen guards at the
Gillespie plant were blown to pieces
when one of the buildings exploded at
3 am.
Say Workers Escaped.
Another semi-official estimate placed
the death list at fifteen, with declara-
force except few in the building where
the explosion occurred fled from the
works ahead of the succeeding blasts.
The American Red Cross has begun
relief work among refugees and injured.
Thousands Hurried From Home.
Fremen were fighting the flames.
and scattered shells were exploding
and all energies were devoted to
averting a worse disaster. The task
Of trying to learn how many were
killed and who were saved had to be
left in allegiance. Thousands of peo-
pie had been hurried away from
Morgan and surrounding towns dur
ing the night. leaving many communi-
ties today virtually without resident
populations, and it was considered
probable that with these went many
of the Gillespie employees as yet un-
accounted for.
Telephone communication with Nor
gan was suspended by the repeated
coucuSsions, and this situation made
tho obtaining of adequate details al
most impossible. Military guards were
thrown around the plant, and all
newspaper men were barred from the
vicinity Of the explosion. The COM
pAMy's officials were engaged this
forenoon IN raking almost futilely
amid the confusion to determine the
whereabouts Of the employees. No ex-
animation Of the ruins has been made.
Here aad there q body was drawn out.
fhe injured were being cared for in
pU61o 6QQ6tn1S and at pEaVato homes.