New-York tribune., 1918-10-09
Perth Amboy Defence
Council Charges Careless
ness in Previous Work
Resolution Is Adopted
Munition Plant Operating
Company to Build Units
Further Apart

Faulty construction and incompetent
management are blamed in resolutions
adopted by the Perth Amboy Council
of Defence for the explosions last week
in the government shell-loading plant
1t Morgan, n. J.
4 joint committee formed by the
Council of Defence and the Board of
Trade, representing the citizens of the
devastated villages, have protested for
mally against the restoration of con-
dtions which they say led to the
catastrophe. The action of the civic
bodies followed the introduction of a
resolution in Congress by Representa-
tive Thomas J. Scully, Of the Sd Dis
trict of New Jersey, demanding an i'm
mediate Federal investigation of the
explosion.
Criticism was directed against the
oyercrowding of buildings in the plant
and the practice Of storing huge guam
titles of TINT" in close proximity to
working units. Stories of carelessness
in guarding the plant and in the IN
discriminate hiring of labor are cur
rent among citizens.
Want Plant Conditions Changed
The resolutions adopted by the Coun-
ell of Defence and Endorsed by the
Board Of Trade read:
"Whereas great disaster has
overtakcn this community through
the destruction of the munitions
and whereas It
has been alleged, and circumstances
seem to indicate. that said disaster
was due tc faulty construction and
incompetent management, therefore
be it resolved that the Perth Amboy
Council of Defence register its en-
phatic protest against the reconstfuc-
lion and operation of the plant un-
der the conditions "hlch niaue 'io
disaster possible
A reply on behalf of 7. A. Gillespie
&, Co., operating the plant under gov
crnment supervision, was made by
Robert Elridge, vice president and
general manager.
"Ihe defence committee has been Ill
informed" he said. 81 don't remember
issuing passes to any of the gentlemen
Of the council, and | don't understand
how they have been able to form their
opinion. The plant was built and con-
Quoted along lines adopted by the Al
lied governments after long expert
cnce in such work. And we have al,
wavs worked under the direct control
of the Ordnance Department.
More Bodies Are Found
It was reported unofficially that the
Gillespie Company has purchased al
a Of ClsOllnQ 2lC
that the reconstructed units will be
erected at considerable distance from
each other.
Three badly charred bodies were
removed form the smoulderlng ru1hs
yesterday. This makes total o1
thirty-eight recovered.
]. w. Edwards, chief examiner FOL
the United States Employees Compen-
sation Commission. tonight gave GU
an official list of identified dead. II
follows:
David Zimmerman. Brooklyn; Johr
Miller, Newark; Roy 4. Hickerson
Brooklyn; Henry c. Byrnes, Old Bridge
\. j.; Wilfred Cole, Roselle Park, n j.;
Albert James, Woodside, Long Island
Mr.. Edwardss list also included the
name of Patrick McGraw, of Newark;
who died in a hospital of pneumoni;
Lcfore the explosion.
Mr. Edwards predicted that few othe1
victims ever would be identified eXcep
by elimination.
The majority of the refugees o
South Amboy had returned to thei
homes last night. Householders were
forbidden to have fire in their homes
to turn on gas or electricity
Thousands still are being fed by th'
Red Cross Canteen Service.
Would Make United States Pay
The work OF restoring South Ambo.
was assumed by the Red Cross. Th'
George A. Fuller Company, Of New
York, has been engaged and will luml
The rehousing job in a general con
tract. Representative Scully, through
his congressional resolution will en-
deavor to charge the United State
government for the rehabilitation eX
pense.
''I feel that it is unfair and unjus
:hat persons living in the vicinity o
such plants as the Morgan plant shoul'
have to suffer, without recompense, th
loss incident to such accidents" h
aid. "That loss, in my opinion. shoul,
be born by the entire country"
Danger of the spread of Spanish in
nuenza, which was aggravated by tn
rigors of exposure during the gene ra
exodus from the stricken communities
WAS said yesterday to have been ma
terially reduced by the efforts of th
Perth Amboy Board of Health. Betweci
800 and 400 patients are under medica
treatment. Only few new cases wer,
reported.