New-York tribune., 1918-01-27
10 die, 7Hurt
In Explosion
AtNavalPo ost
Two of Ten Buried in Ruins
Signal They Are
Alive

NEWPORT, r. l.. Jan. 26.-Thrcc
bombproofs at the naval torpedo sta
tion here were wrecked by an explosion
of illuminate of mercury late to-
day. At least ten civilian en-
ploycs were killed and seven were
injured, one probably fatally. Ten
others were buried in the ruins of the
heavily concreted structures, and little
hope was expressed that many of them
would be removed alive. Captain Ed
ward l.. Beach, commandant Of the
station, said none of the survivors was
able to give an account of what had
happened, but there was no doubt, he
asserted, that the explosion was acci-
dental.
Late tonight a rescue party heard
volces in the ruins Of No. bombproof.
pipe was sunk to the spot and it was
learned that two men were alive They
were given stimul~nts and nourshment
through the pipe and derrick was i'm
pressed into service TO relieve the
heavy debris over them.
BY midnight ten bodies had been re-
covered. Eight of them wcro identi-
fed
The explosion occurred in bomb
proof No. 2, used as drying room for
detonators after they have been filled
with illuminate of mercury. The de-
tonators are designed for setting off
the high explosive in torpedo heads.
Only enough explosive is kept on
hand to meet the demands for the day.
any surplus being removed each night
to the magazines on Rose Island, a
mile away. The shelters arc built for
ploslons which may occur are thereby
localized There are eight bombproofs
on Goat Island, where the torpedo sta
ton is located, and the explosion was
of sufficient force to wreck only Nos.
1 and 2
That the loss of life in the bomb
proofs was not greater was due to the
fact that at noon about half of the
usual number of employees in the three
shelters had been transferred tempo
rarily to the primer department.
The big shops, where hundreds of
workers are engaged in the manufact
ure of torpedoes, are located only a
few hundred feet away. One building
devoted exclusively to women workers,
was only 100 feet from the bombproofs.
The terrific concussion threw most Of
the girls into Mysteries, and many Of
them tainted. When it was seen that
their building was not harmed and that
none of them was hurt they were quiet
ed and went on with their work
The discipline of the large force of
marine guards and seamen on the
island was up to the best traditions Of
the service. The thin blue vapor ris-
ing from above the wrecked bomb
proofs had not been dissipated by the
brisk breeze when the fire whistle was
sounded summoning tho islands fire
department and guards.
The fire which resulted from the ex-
plosion was slight and was quickly ex-
tinguished. Led by Captain Beach in
tenant Commander Hamilton Glover,
the marines and bluej jackets attacked
the heap OF demolished masonry and
timbers even before the flames were
put out. Some of the dead were SO
badly mangled as to make identitica-
tion difficult. They were extrcated
with difficulty from beneath heavy con-
crete blocks. Other victims were bur-
led deeply in the ruins and it was i'm
possible to reach them for hours.
A double Gordon of armed guards
was thrown about the island, and every
one trying to approach faced at least
three bayonets. 1t was reported at
first that scores of the girls employed
in the shops had been killed, and the
excitement among their relatives here
ran so high the guards had difficulty
in handling them.
So far as could be learned, the
amount of explosive in the wrecked
bombproofs did not exceed 1926 pounds.
Strict regulations against accommodating
large stocks Of dangerous chemicals
near the torpedo factories are rigidly
enforced There is a daily inspection
of the bombproofs, and the officer de-
tailed to this work had finished his
examination to-day only few hours
before the explosion.