The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-10-10
MANY ARE KILLED
when u. s. War
PLANT BLOWS UP
Hundreds Slain and Many Miss
ing After Explosions at
Morgan, NJ J.
MORE THAN 1oOAR INJURED
Entire Factory, Which Loaded Shells
for General Pershina's Forces, Is
Destroyed-Property Loss
Put at $4,000, 900.

Perth Amboy, n. j., Oct. with
flames raging among the buildings
where explosions occurred all night
Icing at the great shell loading plant
of 4. A. Gillespie X Co., at Morgan
n. j., Indications more than IL hours
after the first defamation were that
Perhaps scores of persons had per-
t-bed. OF the company's 1000 night
shift employees only 1O1 had been def
nitely accounted for.
Another terrific explosion of T. N.
Il. magazine occurred at 10 90 a. m.
Buildings rocked in Perth Amboy.
Persdps in party Of 10 refugees
arrivindat one of the towns said that
the first explosion occurred Saturday
night when they saw an airplane
lowering over the Gillespie plant.
While unofficial estimates placed the
number of fatalities at 1877. an officer
of the Gillespie company expressed
tie opinion that the death list would
prove to be much smaller.
The unofficial figures were based
upon statements of persons who de-
clared that "a men persisted in the
first explosion Friday night, and that
% firemen. including their chief,
named Donohue, and is guards at the
Gillespie plant. were blown to pieces
when one of the buildings exploded
at n. m.
Fire and Expressions Cont nue..
Intermittent explosions of the wreck
ed muntion buildings are continuing
and fire is still raging In some of the
buildings
The last heavy explosion, which
rocked northern New Jersey and
was distinctly felt in New York city.
occurred at a. In. this morning. A
warehouse magazine containing a
large quantity of T. N. T., blew UP at
that time. Several lesser blasts shook
th< surrounding country between Ave
and seven o'clock. -
Marines Ordered to Scene.
The commander of the Department
Of the East took charge of the entire
situation A company of coast guards
from New York and marines from sta
lions in this district were sent to the
Morgan vicinity to REINFORCE the
troops from Camp Vail.
According to Perth Amboy authori-
ties, Arthur III. Stanton of that city,
superintendent of the building 81, has
been identified as one of the dead.
Railroad Fireman Dies a Hero.
Another of the dead is said to be
a railroad fireman who died under he
roic circumstances. A trainload of ex-
plosives, ready for shipment to the
American overseas forces, was stand
ing on a siding in the yard of the plant
when the first explosion rocked the
countryside. Realizing the danger, the
fireman backed a locomotive to the
train, coupled the cars and started to
haul them away when fragment Of
sfell struck and killed him.
Members Of Families Hurt.
Until the military authorities took
charge, families of the employees In
the blazing and blasting plant lowered
in the vicinity. recklessly waiting for
word from loved ones. Many of these
are said to have sustained shrdl huuu
from the munition fragments and 9TH
er debris.
Reports received In Perth Amboy
said that practically the entire plant
of the company was wrecked or dam
aged. One hundred and fifty build
ings compose the plant, which occu-
pies practically the whole town Of
Morgan. The estimated, value Of
equipment and buildings is SIS, 100000.
All roads to the devastated scene are
guarded by troops from Camp Vail.
A young woman telephone operator
at the plant is credited with saving
many lives. Her office was about a
mile from the fire. While shells ex-
ploded about her she stuck TO her post,
calling ambulances, physicians, fire
men and soldiers. Though windows
n. the building were broken and her
life several times endangered, she re-
fused 20 leaye-her- post
Exploding Shells Cause Panic.
Within radius OF almost ten miles
Of Morgan buildings and the ground
were dotted with empty shell-casss and