Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1918-11-14

stopped bHOEiiys Auc OAhCiaAs VI 1'
plant have recently said that thes
could say nothing on the matter Of re-
construction as affected by the sign
ing of the armistice until they heard
from Washington.
Another outstanding feature of the
reconvening of the hearing was the
fact that on October 2, two days be-
fore the explosion at the plant, duly
accredited representative of the fire
prevention bureau of the Council OF
National Defense had an extended
conference with Colonel w. C. Spru-
ance, Jr.. of the ordnance corps at
the Gillespie plant. in the course of
which the former found fault with
several construction features at the
plant and made recommendations for
the installation of safeguards, inciud-
ing automatic sprinklers. but investi-
CATION developed that there had been
absolutely no compliance with these
recommendations.
Every danger incident to the loca-
tion of the Gillespie Loading Com
pany plant at Morgan, where the
great disaster occurred October 4.
will be removed shortly. This action
may take the form of a complete
abandonment of the plant for shell
loading purposes: at the very least
conditions will be such as will mee'
with the complete approval of the
Perth Amboy Council of Defense. one
of the leading spirits behind the
United States senatorial investiga-
ton.
This information was authoratively
given in the closing minutes of this
mornings session In the City Council
chamber, which marked the eontin-
uance of the hearing adjourned last
Saturday. 1t was -sss.sss.sqallted by Col
onel Ralph Cruise of the Ordna1Ns
Department. The announcement con-
cluded three hours of testimony.
dwelling principally on the fire-fght-
Ing facilities and safeguards employed
at the plant on the night of the dis
aster.
Colonel Cruise declared that an
order had been received from Wash
ington halting all reconstruction work
on the shell-loading units. But, he
added. all labor had been diverted to
buildings still necessary. The depart
ment. too, was now employing every
effort to safeguard conditions. Dis
continuance of the shell-loading oper-
ations, the colonel indicated, mini
mized the danger.
Judge Adrian Lyon, speaking for
the Perth Amboy Council of Defense
which he represents at the hearings
said that as soon as Official ipforna-
lA aA Nf II
ance of shell loading OPERATORS at
Morgan and /. was definitely deter
m:Eed that dangers such as RAD been
ir force at the plant before he ex-
plosions had been eliminated once
and for all, the interest of the Coun-
Gil of Defense in the matter would
cease.
But, he added, the continued use
of the plant cor the storage of shells
not exactly come within the coun-
ellis understa Of safety and he
asked Col Cruise how soon all mur5-
tions would be removed to which tdp
latter replied: I'm very brief period"
The possibility of an abrupt termin-
alton OF the investigation was shat
tered when Senator Frellnghuysen
declared 1t would go ahead with all
was not alone to look after precau-
tionary measures. The committee, he
indicated. proposed to determine, II
possible. the causes of the diseaster.
and to employ its findings in the bet
terment of conditions in other munI-
tions plants throughout the country
TIE dawn of peace did not seem TO
affect the vigorous prosecution of the
famous investigation. Senator Fre-
linghuysen's examination of wit
nesses precluded the possibility of
pacific and abrupt termination of the
hearing in the light of the worldwide
developments In turn, he questioned
during the early hours. Colonel Spru-
ance, A. 6. Hawley, Engineer of the
Bureau of Fire Prevention of the
Council of National Defense, and Rob-
ert Eldredge. superintendent at the
plant.
Colonel Spruance and Mr. Hawley in
testifying in the order named ex-
pressed opposite views on the possi-
bilities of the automatic sprinkler as
safeguard in munition plants.
Mr.. Hawley. in answer to Senator
Frelinghuysen's question. said that IN
the opinion of colleagues of the bureau
and himself. a large part of the plant
might have been saved had the sprink-
lers been installed. The chances, how
ever, would have depended largely
Continued on page So