Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-11-21
Many kilograms Read Into the
Records UphoIding Conten-
ton of Plant Manager
EIGHT MONTHS SUPPLY

Supported by an array of employe
witnesses, company officials, ordnance
officers and counselors, who packed
the council charmber in the city hall,
the T. A. Gillespie Loading Company,
builders and operators of the Morgan
shell loading,plant, this morning COM
menced the presentation of It's defense
at the United States senatorial inves-
tigation into the explosion disaster
OF October 4 and s.
As the investigation re-opened with
Senators Henry L. Myers and Joseph
s. Frelinghuysen, of the committee,
A. c. Hawley, an engineer of the fire
protection bureau of the National
Council of Defense, and former Judge
Adrian Lyon and Elmer III. Geran,
In attendance there appeared no sur
face indication of abated interest. The
dawn of peace, precluding the propa-
bility of operation of powder plants
on an extensive scale for many years
In the future, did not seem to moder-
ate the vigorous searching quiz of the
committee, and the company's equally
determined resolve to absolve itself or
ell suspicion of negligence as con-
tributing cause in the disaster was pro
ductive OF many SPARKS in the course
OF verbal clashes.
Fore more than five days, spear
over period of two weeks the hear
ing had produced a deluge of testi-
mony from witnesses brought forward
by the committee and the Perth Am
boy Council of Defense. The nature
of the testimony produced an impress
sion favorable to the operating
company, and ii was to Offset this that
the company secured the continuancs
of the hearing.
The company and its legal advisors
produced an enormous collection or
maps and correspondence, which was
repeatedly referred to in the course
of the testimony.
The hearing reopened with Il. a.
Yates, vice president and general
manager of the company. on the
stand. Mr.. Yates's knowledge of the
construction and operation OF the
plant has made him q valuable wit
ness in bringing out testimony from
all angles. Mr.. Yates took the stand
two hours before adjournment last
Thursday and continued to be exam
ined all day Friday. The company
lawyers, in their examination of Mr..
Yates this morning, indicated con-
tinued lengthy stay on the stand. The
witness was asked to continue his de-
scription Of the manufacturing pro-
cess.
Mr.. Yates declared that the con-
struction of Unit 6-1-1. where the in
itial explosion occurred. was COM
pleted the latter part of May and that
actual production started June IL
with an output of 21& shells. This
eventually was increased to an aver
age daily production of $500 shells
in that unit. This was the average
October 8. the day before the explo-
sion. Up to that time 1882 shells
had been loaded in this unit. but had
not received the booster attachment.
IL t.N nFaf ANTId
be made, the shells were placed in
storage houses.
Prior to the disaster but two acci-
dents had occurred at the plant, testi-
fed Mr.. Yates. One a minor explo-
sion. had occurred In the laboratory.
The other a fatal one. had caused the
death of a girl employe.
The company sought to particular
ly emphasize efforts made to secure
government troops for protection at
the plant. These efforts were made
by Mr.. Yates repeatedly several
months prior to the blast. Mr.. Yates
after writing on the matter to Wash
ington and receiving no reply, made
a trip there in person. He interview
ed Colonel Dixon of the Ordnance
Department, and was referred to Col
onel Horney. The company official's
efforts were fruitless No soldiers
were sent.
Instead, the company organized and
trained a corps of guards. The gov
ernment paid for their employ but the
company paid for half of the equip
ment. At this point Judge Lyon in
-quired as to the purpose of the COM
pany In seeking government troops
instead of guard protection.
Mr.. Yates, discerning the motive
of the question, replied that In
times such as these, there was more
than likely to be some weak link in a
chain of several hundred men, hastily
organized.
After the explosion several hun
dred troops were stationed at Morgan
through the efforts of the Perth AM
boy Council of Defense.
When the comany had in its mag
azine and buildings on October 4, a
total amount OF 7.69s.000 pounds OF
TINT, 1t was carrying a tremendous ex-
cess supply. Senator Frelinghuysen
described the situation as showed un-
| der" The fact was brought out by
the senator during an interruption OF
Mr.. Yates testimony. being produced
with the guidance of Frederick p.
Faulkes Of the company's counsel
The senator faced Mr. Yates with an
array OF figures compiled as the result