New-York tribune., 1918-10-06
Continued from page 1

yesterday that twenty-five firemen,
twelve marines and ten coast guards
had lost their lives in the first great
explosion. One of the bodies recov-
cred wore the tattered remnants OF
coast guard uniform. The head and
both legs are missing.
The fire then got completely out OF
the hands of those who were fighting
it. At 4 a. m. she'll soaring up like
a great rocket from one flaming build
inc crashed in through the roof of
warehouse where several hundred
pounds of INT were stored. This thun-
derclap was heavier than the first, and
caused additional damage and probably
further loss of life.
Just what transpired thereafter is
not certain, for the Gordon of soldiers
surrounding the burning factory was
drawn tighter and no one was allowed
to pass through, except fire fighters and
rescuers.
All Rush for Safety
These soon had to abandon their
efforts entirely. Building after build
ing became o mass of cracking fame.
The heat was terrific, and at last the
order was given to withdraw all men
to points at least two miles from the
plant.
There they waited, while the fusil-
lade of bursting shells quickened into
drum fire and the flames reached high
er and higher. Arwarehouse filled with
nine-inch projectiles caught fire. and
heavier voices mingled with the chorus
of six and three inch shells.
The flames continued to spread, but
there was nothing to do but wait. AT
1O:09 they reached one of the supple
mentary INT magazines. This was
the worst conclusion Of the day. 1t
boy and other nearby communities.
Buildings in lower New York City
rocked and quivered. Employees in some
Of the older structures were told to
leave. Windows were punched in for
nearly fifty miles around.
While the military authorities were
preparing to order an evacuation Of all
towns within the ten-mile zone. an
other explosion came at 10:3O. When
the order was sent out, it was found
that most of the inhabitants of the
threatened area were in flight already.
Wires were down and Morgan was
cut off from the outside world. The
New York & bong Branch Railroad
was blocked, and residents of Mata-
wan, Perth Amboy and other towns
fed by this road were obliged to take
to the highways in their flight
The pail of fame-shot smoke over
the plant became heavier and wider.
Urged on by the wind. the fire was
At a pier beside this creek barges
loaded with INT were tied up. In a
magazine built into the bank was an
enormous quantity Of INT, the heaviest
explosive known. If the fire kept work
ing in that direction the authorities be-
lieved that it would be only matter
Of few hours before bursting shell
would be responsible for a disaster be-
side which the damage up to that time
would be insignificant.
Still, there was nothing to do but
wait. Nothing human could have lived
in the blistering heat area about the
fire, even if he had been able to es-
cape the shells, which were dropping
like rain.
Other Plants Threatened
There was additional danger, for
the bursting projectiles began to fall
uncomfortably near the Hercules pow
der plant, mile away, and were
edging in toward the factory of the
California Loading Company, two miles
off.
At noon came the last Of the mighty
earthquake blasts-another TINT store
house. This completed the wreck that it's
forerunners had begun in South Amboy
and Perth Amboy. The South Amboy
Hospital, jammed with the injured who
had been brought there during the
night and early morning, had to be
evacuated. Windows and doors had
been blown in and it was feared that
the entire structure might collapse.
By this time South Amboy was prac-
tically deserted. So great had been the
burden placed upon the bridge over the
Raritan during the previous twenty
four hours that it was feared it