Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-05-24
EXPLOSION WRECKS
MUNITI0N PLANT
PLANT OF THE AETNA COMPANY
AT OAkDAlE, PA, ENTIRELY
DESTROYED.
ESTIMATED LOSS 81 500, 900
This 10 the Eleventh Explosion or Fire
Occurring In This Plant Since the
War Broke Out in Europe-cen-
sus Of Town Ordered.

Pittsburgh-Five hundred workmen
In the explosives plant OF the Aetna
chemical Company. at Oakdale. six
cen miles west OF here, were startled
Il oon by a report not much louder
than the crack Of a pistol. II came
from the soda house but they knew It's
deadly import. and az one man they
rushed for tho nearest ext Before
they could gain the open the very air
seemed to burst into flame, the earth
heaved and rocked, and with a roar
that was heard for miles. the long fac.
tory buildings were hurled high into
the air, carrying with them ponderous
equipment and cores OF men. A great
cloud OF dust and smoke settled over
he scene and through it3 deadly
fumes torn and manRled forms fell
to the earth. many dead, but others
to meet their end in the flaming de.
bris.
The number Of dead had not been
determined. State and count author.
lies agreed 1t would reach 100 and II
was probable that It might be double
that number, Many o. the injured,
some OF whom were found as far as
half a mile from the debris of the
factory, were brought to Pittsburg hos.
pitfalls by special train and in ambu.
l%ances, all Of them so badly hurt that
In only comparatively few instancea
were physicians able to hold out any
hope for their recovery, The property
loss was estimated at 81, SOC, 600.
Immediately after tho second explo.
sion the mass of broken beams and
twisted timbers broke out in a great
blaze, while the highly inflammable
chemicals used in the manufacture OF
the factory's deadly products-T. N. 4.
and T. N. Added ample fuel to the
flames. Blast after blast followed as
the heat reached the tanks, each one
scattering embers and endangering
property In the entire community
Eoxious gases spread over the little
Valley and surrounding hills, making
perllous the work Of rescue.
Coroner Samuel c. Jamison ordered
a census Of the town in an effort to
ascertain the number of persons killed
The company opened an office and
through circulars distributed through.
out the valley called upon all survivors
TO register without delay.
General officers of the company
from New York, II was stated, are ex.
pectcd here.
A detail Of mine rescucrs from the
arsenal station of the United States
bureau OF mines arrived at Oakdale,
and, equipped with oxygen helmets
were prepared to penetrate the dense
mass Of gas which still overhung the
site OF the plant in search OF bodies,
Telephone and telegraph wires we're
wrecked by the explosion and the
tracks OF the Pittsburgh. Cincinnati,
Chicago 4 st. Louis tthe Panhandle
Route) were blocked by falling build.
lngs. An employe fastened to Carne'
gle, four miles away, where wreck and
relief trains were hurried to Oakdale
while every hospital In Pttsburg sem
ambulances with nurses and doctors
Company guards, under the direction
of a detail of the state constabulary
surrounded the burning ruins and wer,
later reinforced by deputy sheriff.
and a large party of deputy coroners