The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-06
EfEAIED KETTLE CHEMICALS SAID TO HAVE CAUSED DSSII

About IL 40 A. NJ n Waterman en-
ployed by the owners OF munitions to
watch cars and barges containing their
explosives noticed IRE to the westward
Three other watchmen and the captain
OF one Of the barses were with him.
shells Hamper Firemen.
They made n quick examination Of the
car they found burning and hurried on
to the warehouse to send in the alarm.
The Jersey City and New York city fire
departments responded and efforts were
made to pull out cars OF explosives on
tho tracks. Va.
Meanwhile exploding shell and shrap-
mel fell among the railroad men and fire.
men. In their desire to get the cars
filled with explosives out OF the way lit
tie attention could be given to the FIRE
proper, which grew in intensity. with
shells exploding In an increasing num-
Der. These exploding shells also kept
the hremen from getting close enough to
the blaze TO use water.
The railroad yard. known as a dead
yard because of its incorporation at
night. was equipped with fire hydrants.
high pressure pumps. water mains and
storage tanks with capacity OF 100000
gallons Of water, but the presence Of exc
plosives and flying shells prevented the
Jersey City firemen and railroad en-
ployees from getting line of hose to the
pier.
While attempts were being made to
uncouple and pull cars of explosives
away and cut barges loose the first ex-
plosion took place at 2 :0S, followed thir-
ty-two minutes later by a second not so
violent as the arst one
The first explosion for a time disor-
ganized the work among the switch
crews, some OF whom were seriously in
jured. but the yardmen under the yard
master recognised and ten or fifteen
minutes after the first explosion had
four or five engines in operation.
The second explosion. at 2:40, was
about one-ffth as violent as the first
one. which threw to the ground onlook-
ers who were a mile away.
The courage of q telephone girl. Tes-
sic Mcnamara, coupled with Initiative
Of high order, kept down the toll of
death In the Kingsland disaster From
her window she saw wisp of smoke
curling from the caves OF a building in
the Canadian Car ana Foundry plant
known as No. 80. She knew No. 80 con-
tanned several hundred gallons Of gaso-
lene used for cleaning and polishing high
explosive shells stuffed with INT, and
in that building.
Plugging connections with thirty-siS
buildings as rapidly as 1t was humanity
possible to do. Tcssie safd as briefly as
possible: Fire in shed thirty-sure to
reach shell cars on side track-don't
wait a seoond--get the men OUT
Shell Goes Through window.
While she was telephoning shed thirty
burst into flames and men rushed out
making for the big gate on the Ridge
road.
Meanwhile the disaster was develop IN,
about her. Instead OF making a quick
getaway like the thousands she had
were still number Of buildings to be
heard from.
From her window she could see the
IRE grow in volume. 1t reached the cars
loaded with INT in bulk and the stuff
began to 60 of like frecrackers. The
flames were being carried to shed rs,
where there were $4,000 shells packed
but she kept plugging in. Before she
could finish the work one tremendous
| roar was heard, the force of which
reached even to New York city
Then a she'll tore through the window,
but she finished the last OF her calls,
| getting 400 men out OF danger and
| started for the door. When she struck
the air she tainted. NJ. d. Macarthur,
chief of the company's fire department.
found her unconscious on the ground
and saved her life by carrying her to
his automobile and taking her out OF
| danger.
When the fire and explosion at Kings
land were over the people went back to
shell riddled homes. The property loss
was estimated at $16.750.o00, OF which
Sl3.750.000 was a total loss. That no
| lives were lost was due to the heroism
| OF the girl at the switchboard.