Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-03

there can be no gas in the pipes. but it is
possible for gas to back in when the tur-
blnes are idle. to lac driven back immc-
diatcly when they resume operations
This condition could not however, in the
opinion of the management be reSpon-
slblc for the explosion. for the reason
that the only resistance against pressure
was cardboard in the safety valve
LOWER PART OF TOWN sHAKEN
The entire lower section Of the city
was shaken by the explosion and many
persons were awakened from sleep VIM
dows were broken in buildings in the
immediate vicinity At the plant the
force of the explosion was - great that
il burst in doors and windows in nearby
buildings and dill other similar damage.
At the time &c the explosion only one
Of the two blowers was in operation and
il was most seriously damaged, but as the
steam feed pipes % the other one wore
shattered. the second one cannot bc
operated even il il Is in shape, until
steam connection can bc made
Notified Of the explosion Immediately
after it had happened, General Manager
rived ut about 5 45 o'clock. ana III at
skilled men with which II make repairs
hoping 70 have the plant ii Shapc to
resume operation before the reserve
supply was exhausted. but early this
afternoon it. was feared this could not
he accomplished and the cofsTlunlty
was warned To get along without gas
tonight.
The company was fortunate III one thing
For the past few days Frederick Eberle OF
the Terry Steam Turbine Co. of Hartford,
Conn. has been at the plant going over the
turbines. and he had concluded this work
last night, finding them in excellent con
dition, and was to have gone back TO
Hartford today, but on account oi the eX-
plosiOn he remained and directed the work
of repairs to the turbines
II Wilmington IS without gas tonight ii
viii be the first time for 80 years and the
first time within Mr.. Schutt's - wears
experience in the business that any Of the
company properties has failed Ia its
supply, which failure, however, IS due to no
fault OF the company.
Air Schutt managed 10 yet sufficient
help to have the work done aS expeditions
" as possible and before daylight men
were busy clearing up the debris and a.
soon a. tins was done steamiltters. car
pcnters, machinlsts, DC, were at work
on the turbines and connections, aud also
on the building with view to replacing
the roof
SUBURBAN PPLY SHUT OFF.
In order to conserve the storage supply
on hand for general city use the company,
is soon after the explosion Is possible
shut the gas of from New Castle, klsmere
Brack-Ex and all other suburban places
to which the mans are laid.
Some Of the large city consumers in
Guiding the Joseph Bancroft & Sons Co,
the PITitics Co and the Pusev q Jones
Co. were also cut out Tor the day This
service will be restored a. soon q, the plant
resumes operation,
General Manager Schutt was myst.fied
in his efforts 10 solve the problem Of the
explosion There had been no threats or
intimatlOn that anything Of the kind was
II there was plot the piotter>. who
were German synp4thizers.
may have had one Of two objects in view
They may have thought The putting Of the
gas works out OF commission would cripple
a number Of government industries. or
they NAV have thought that the explosion
would have been followed BY fire
whereas there was no FIRE which would
have been dangerous TO the Harlan ship
yard. which Is Just across Justison street
While the turbine room was enclosed by
I stout brick wall, the force Of the explo-
sion was such as To cause the wall to bulge
seriously Between - and 20 men are
employed at the gas works at night, but
lone, as far as could be learned today,
lad seen any suspicious characters about.
Instead Of two turbines the company
lad expected 10 have three BY this time.
me in reserve. which was ordered last
November but because Of war business.
has not been possible to deliver il