Evening star., 1918-05-19
Flames Add to Scene of Hor-
ror Caused by Success
Sive Blasts.
PARTS OF BODIES FOUND
AT POINTS A MILE AWAY
Disaster at Aetna Chemical Works,
Sixteen Miles From Pittsburgh,
Entails Loss of 81, 500, 900.
By the Associated Press.


PITTSBURGH, Pa, May 1s.-Prob-
ably 200 men were killed today when
an explosion of 7. n. T. demolished the
plant Of the Aetna Chemical Company
at Oakdalc, On the Panhandle divi-
sion of the Pennsylvania railroad, six
teen miles from this city.
The first report was not much louder
than the crack of pistol. 1t came from
the soda house, but the workmen knew
its deadly import, and as one man they
rushed for the nearest exit. Before they
could gain the open the very air seemed
to burst into fame, the earth heaved and
rocked. and with roar that was heard
for miles, the long factory buildings
were hurled high into the air. carrying
with them ponderous equipment and
scores Of men. A great cloud Of dust
and smoke settled over the scene and
through its deadly fumes torn and man.
gled forms dropped to the earth-many
dead, but others to meet their end in the
flaming debris.
The number Of dead had not been de-
termined tonight, and it was possible
that it would not be known for days, If.
indeed, it will ever be known. Many Of
the injured. some Of whom were found
as far as half a mile from the rem
nants of the factory, were brought TO
Pittsburgh hospitals by special train AMI
in ambulances during the afternoon and
early evening, all OF them SO badly hurt
that in only comparatively few in
stances were physicians able to hold out
any hope for their recovery. The prop
erty loss was estimated at $500. 900.
Blaze Follows Second Explosion.
Immediately after the second ex-
plosion the mass of broken beams and
twisted timbers broke out in a great
blaze. while the highly inf1ammable
chemicals used in the manufacture Of
the factory's deadly products-T n 7
and T n Added ample fuel to the
flames. Blast after blast followed az
the heat reached the tanks. each one
scattering the burning embers and
endangering property in the entire
community. Noxious gases rose from
the burning mass. and spread over the
little valley apd surrounding hills.
making periIous the work Of rescue.
Telephone and telegraph wires were
wrecked by the explosion and the
tracks of the Pittsburgh. Cincinnati.
CnicdSO ana oI. LOUIS RAILROAD \lnS
Panhandle route), were blocked by
the falling buildings. An employe
hastened to Carnegie, four miles dis
tant, where wreck and relief trains
were quickly made up and hurried to
Oakdale, while every hospital in Pitts
burgh sent ambulances with nurses
and doctors. Company guards, under
the direction of a detail of the state
constabulary, surrounded the burning
ruins, and were later reinforced by
deputy sheriffs and large party of
deputy coroners.
For a time it seemed as though it
would be impossible to reach the
wounded because of the heat. the
constantly widening zone of gases
and the danger from explosion. But
the nurses and doctors were not to
be deferred, and aided by the officers
could. One young nurse, Miss Meryl
Aschelman Of New Philadelphia,
Ohio, a member of the staff Of St.
Johns Hospital, Pittsburgh. who was
among the first to answer the call for
help. was. perhaps. fatally injured.
little stream into which. acid and oil
had been poured. 1t exploded as they
crossed. and a number were thought
to have perished. Sheriff William S.
one of the late explosions. A heavy
piece of steel blown from the wreck
age passed close to him and the force
of the blast threw him to the grohnd
He was badly bruised, but continued
his work.
Many Bodies Consumed.
Throughout the afternoon the fire
burned. Each succeeding explosion
reduced the blazing pile as embers
and chemicals were widely scattered.
Soon after o'clock an explosion,
1nndar and nnwarfI1 than
since noon, swept away the remnants
of the fire and practically cleared the
blackened space. Many bodies were
consumed in the flames. the authori-
were SO tossed about. the coroner's
deputies said. it would be impossible
to identify such portions as might be
eventually found.
Among the dead Coroner Samuel C.
Jamison found was Samuel Dtehl. as
berg plant of the Aetna Company,
while John B. Johnston. superinten-
dent of the Oakdale plant, was among
the badly injured.
At the stations of the interurban
street car lines and at the Pennsyl-
Gus communities for fifteen miles on
either side of Oakdale were assembled
women with the headdress and cos
tunes of Red Cross workers on their
way to Pittsburgh to participate in |
a monster parade.
News of the explosions flew from
borough to borough, and as with one |
impulse the thought was inspired that |
the Red Cross workers were needed |
at Oakdale more than at Pittsburgh. |
all thoughts of parade, |
the women flocked to the afflicted |
area by automobile and by trolley, |
ready for any sacrifice or service for |
which they might be called.
And these women lent valuable aid |
in bringing order and system out of
the chaotic condition among the |
panic-stricken families Of workmen.
Nurse Badly Injured by Blast.
Answering the first call for hospital
aid and ambulances went a corps of |
nurses and physicians from st. Johns
Hospital, located in the southern part
Of the city, nearest one to the road
to Oakdale. One of the nurses, HeryI |
whose home is in New /
Ohio. was acting as a
stretcher bearer. carrying a wounded
man to the ambulance, when one of
the explosions came. She was thrown
to the ground and the patient on the
stretcher was killed. When help
Miss Aschelman it was found
that one leg had been blown of
Scarcely one who lived through the
explosion is able to. tell a coherent
story of the happening. H. H. Canaan.
(Eontinusd on Fourteenth PaGe.l