The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-10-05
OVER 100 Die
IN EXPLOSION
IN WAR PLANT
Terrific Explosion in New
Jersey Munition Factory
Shakes New York.
(By Associated Press)


NEW YORK, N. Y, October g.
After more than eighteen hours OF
terror, with scenes graphically re-
sembling those in war devastated
France, a dozen towns in northern
New Jersey were in shattered con-
dition, as a conse .uence of the muni-
ton disaster which shattered the dis
trict last night with trail of tremen-
dous explosions and raging fires which
continued throughout today.
At the $1S,000,000 she'll making
plant-one of the greatest industries
of it's kind in the world-of T. A. Gill
lespie & Co., situated at Morgan, N.
j., as one of a community OF manu-
factures producing ammunition for the
American and allied armies, an ex-
plosion from an unknown cause scat
tered firebrands among tons of T. N.
T., the most powerful explosive
known.
Detonation followed upon detona-
ton and these repeatedly shook the
terrain for radius Of fifty miles. This
territory included New York city,
where buildings were shaken and glass
shattered, much as the Black Tom Is
land explosion in the harbor rocked
the metropolis two years ago.
PERTH AMBOY, N. j., Oct. s.
While unofficial estimates placed the
number of fatalities in the explosion
at the T. A. Gillespie & company's
plant at Morgan, N. j., at 1877, an
officer of the Gillespie company ex-
pressed the opinion that the death
list would prove to be much smaller.
Explosions followed by fire. which
last night destroyed a number of the
buildings of the great shell loading
plant of T. A. Gillespie & company at
Morgan near here, with the probable
loss Of many lives of workmen, con-
tinued at frequent intervals during the
early morning hours, eliminating at
400 a. m with terrific blast which
blew. one of the few remaining ware
house magazines to dust. Large guam
titles of trinitrotoluol, one of the most
powerful explosives known, had been
stored in this magazine. The force
Of the explosion rocked the surround
ing country like an earthquake, wreck
ed light buildings, shattered thou
sands of window panes and caused a
panic among the residents in score OF
towns.
South Amboy, five miles away, felt
the greatest force of the explosion and
the military guard ordered everyone to
leave the town, as a precaution. The
residents, most of whom had been in
terror throughout the night, did not
need formal urging and the roads to
nd wore
packed with people, all hurrying to
escape the danger zone. Earlier IN
the evening, powerful shells Of various
calibre destined for use Of the allied
armies had been hurtling through the
town.
Property Loss Heavy.
Various units of the New Jersey
state guard were called upon to pro-
tect the homes of people who had fled.
Until dawn today firemen, guards
men and rescue parties were unable to
approach the ruins of the plant and
search for bodies Of victims, on ac-
count of the ever present danger OF
exploding shells and ammunition.
Official of the company were unable
to give an accurate statement as to
the number of employees in the plant
or the loss of life. 1t was stated that
more than 1000 men composed the
night shift. At an early hour today
only nine bodies had been recovered
and sent to the morgue at South Am
boy. Officials declared that it might
be several days before the death toll
would be known definitely.
The cause of the disaster is not
known but several investigations were
under way today. Rumors were circu
lated that spies or alien enemies were
responsible. But these were prompt
ly discounted by officials.
The extent OF the property loss has
not yet been estimated by the com
pany officers. The plant is said to
| have been valued at $1s,000.000. The
| wrecked buildings can be replaced.
Continued on page seyen)