The Washington herald., 1918-03-27
JERSEY CITY
SHAKEN FROM
BIG EXPLOSION
Six Buildings Wrecked with
Great Property Loss by
Terrific Blasts.
BELIEVED ACCIDENTAL
BELIEVED ACCIDENTAL
No Lives Lost in Collapse Of
. Structures Containing
High Explosives.

New York, March 26.-A mysterious
explosion which wrecked six build
ings in Jersey City this afternoon
town New York was still unexplain-
ed at a late hour tonight, although
it had been ascertained that no lives
age will be considerable.
All Escape Death.
Many persons were injured, al
though none seriously.
The best explanation OF the origin
of the explosion was afforded after
an investigation by the Naval Intel
ligence Service. They found that the
which contained four carloads OF
chlorate of potash and ninety barrels
of peroxide OF hydrogen although
there were in the buildings fifteen
drums Of chloride of lime.
According to one employe Of the
shed fire was discovered just outside
the back walls. The flames spread
and the first explosion. which was
heard for a radius of twenty miles,
occurred. Two other explosions fol-
lO"tu All tnllTe DlOCh was
soon gutted and thirty freight cars
of the Erie Railroad were consum-
ed. A work shop of the railroad was
demolished by the explosions. thirty
women workers making their escape
with the male employees.
Wreckage particles were hurled
afar, some dropping in New York.
windows Shattered.
Throughout lower Jersey City prac-
tically every window pane was shat
tered and at places the streets were
two inches deep with glass.
The investigation Of the explosion
continued late tonight with every in
dication that It was accidental.
Director General McAdoo. OF the
Railroad Administration, kept the
wires hot late last night trying to
learn the details of the big explosion
in Jersey City. Neither the officials in
charge of the Erie Railroad proper
ties nor the regional director in New
York. however, could give him any an
formation showing that the explosion
was in any way connected with the
operation Of the railroads.
I'VE can only learn that the explds-
ion took place in the Jarvis yards. -
said Mr.. McAdoo. THE Jarvis yards
are, 1 think, private yards. Goods
stored there are not in the jurisdiction
of the Railroad Administration
Meager Information.
When asked what progress was be-
ing made on the problem of moving
munitions to the seaboard at points
that would not endanger Greater New
York. Mr.. McAdoo' replied that atten'
tion is being given the matter. Some
progress. it is known. is being made
Practically no allied munitions are go.
ing through the port of New York and
most of the navy supplies are being
handled elsewhere. 1t was said in the
War Department that the explosion
might be due TO army st rage, but ne
definite announcement co;lld be had or
that point.
Naval officials tried to obtain infor
nation on the explosion, but the Jer
sey City operator on Tong distance
tainted from the shock stress of ex-
citement. All that the navy could learr
was that the explosion took place II
Warehouses behind Erie piers.
The property damage was esti'
mated tonight as between $1,000. .00(
and $2.000.000. The warehouse re-
Gently had been turned over almost
completely for the storage of wal
material destined for Europe.
The police and property owner:
/ inclined to the belief that the ex.
plosion was due to the bomb. Ed
ward ]. Jarvis declared the blow
up could have been due to nothing
but bombs