Palisadian., 1925-02-13
TT. lee CATASTROPHE
WARNS HEART OF BORO
Continued from page 1


the brain. He will recover, it is re-
ported.
Leonard Merkle was severely cut |
about the head. He is in Englewood |
Hospital.
George Merkle. brother, was in
Hackensack Hospital with a deep |
cash over the eye.
Grant Van Dyne, superintendent of |
the Evans Laboratory, of Bergen |
Boulevard, had one ear almost COM
pletely severed with a deep cut on the |
face and jaw. His condition is very
serious, it is said, but will recover.
John Whitaker suffered a severe
cash in his right shoulder, and his |
wrists were slashed.
Richard Demmencurri, a watchman
for the laboratory, was badly cut
about the face.
Edward Lehman suffered internal
injuries.
Alexander Lang, fireman, of
Washington avenue, Coytesville is at
his home with cuts about the face and
internal injuries
Girl Gives Alarm
Miss Florence Stillwell of Coytes-
vile, who was working on the night
shift, sent in the alarm which brought
out all the fire departments from the
surrounding Bergen municipalities.
She told the police that she was at
her work in the plant splicing film
when she noticed smoke emanating
from an adjoining room.
The firemen responded promptly
and after working for about an hour
had the flames almost extinguished.
Some entered the building, while 9TH
ers were preparing to return to the
fire house. 1t was at this time the
big explosion occurred, causing the
terrible fatality and injuring about a
score.
Cause of Blast "
1t was first reported that the cause
of the blast was occasioned by the
escaping fumes from an ammonia
tank. This theory has been discard
ed, however, as the ammonia tank
was seen on Monday and was said to
be completely intact.
The real cause of the explosion, it
is said, resulted from spontaneous
combustion. A quantity of colodium,
guncotton and ether were said to have
been stored in the basement of the
plant, and the heat of the slight blaze
which had brought out the firemen
was believed to have set off the high
ly inflammable material in storage
after the actual fire had been extin-
guished.
Investigation On
1t was only a matter of hours be-
fore a special meeting of the council
was called by Mayor White to deter
mine on a plan to aid the stricken
families of the dead and injured and
to probe the cause of the tragedy. An
investigation will be made of all film
laboratories to see that the laws con-
corning the storage of infammable
materials are being observed. The
local authorities will have the coop
Grafton of the prosecutors office in
making the investigation.
Organized Relief
A meeting called by Mayor White
was held in the borough hall on Tues
day evening last to formulate plans
for immediate relief, and forty local
organizations, political, social and re-
| ligious, were represented. More than
81 900 was contributed at the meet
ing. Mayor White made the largest
individual contribution, 5000.
Mayor White was elected chairman
of the relief fund, :. Charles Lebright
secretary and Edward Kaufer, Joseph
Setter and Arthur Kerwein were
named as ap/executive committee to
make an immediate survey as to the
needs OF the families of the victims
of the disaster. The cashiers of the
three borough banks were named as
treasurers to receive donations.
y A motion picture benefit will be
held tonight and next Friday night at
P. Griebs Fort Lee Theatre, and on
February "a the Palisade Sporting
Club will hold a benefit boxing show
at the Hirligraph studio in Fort Lee.
The various organizations which
were present last Tuesday night in
clude American Legion, Red Cross,
the Foresters, Army and Navy Club,
Patrolmens Protective Association,
st. Johns Society, the Englewood
Elks, the Hackensack Elks, Board of
Trade, Masons, Knights of Columbus,
Eastern Star, Lady Maccabees, Cath
olic Daughters, Fort Lee A. c., Holy
Name OF Coytesville and Fort Lee,
Sons of Italy, Carpenters Union,
knights of the Maccabees, Firemen's
Relief Association, Student Associa
ton, Community Club of Coytesville,
Mems Club of the Reformed church,
Orient Club, Palisade improvement
Association, Palisade Sporting Club,
all of the fire companies, American
Church Club, Madonna Catholic Club,
Universal Relief Fund, Order of Vet
Grams of Hackensack and the Bergen
County Sportsmen Association.
One of the features of the recent
meeting of the Community Players
was the fine reading of the play
"Columbine" by Miss 'Kilmer and Miss
Griffin.
The committees appointed by the
president, Mrs. Koch, are as follows:
Publicity, Arthur Rooney; property
man, Warren Sammis; historian,
Clarice Blake; staging committee, w.
j. Mcdonald Mr.. Butolph and Mrs.
Uochurph aptivitiac oOpo,oitfao Mrc