Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-11
RADIO AND WIRES
bring. HAVOC NEWS
Message From Picatinny Of
Sight Of Pyrotechnics First
Inkling Of Disaster.

News of the disaster at Lake Dem
mark, N. J., where the Nays larg.
est ammunition depot was struck by
lightning. causing explosions and
burning Of the entire depot together
with vertual destruction Of the ada
Ecenk Picatinny Arsenal OF the Army,
came to the Navy Department In q
series Of telephone, radio and telegraph
messages, which up to midnight had
not as yet revealed the exact extent
Of the damage nor the casualties.
First inkling Of the explosions
reached naval officials. they said, in
directly through telephone call
which had come from Picatinny Arr
senal to Brig. Gen. Cloden i. II. Rug
giles. OF the Ordnance Department Of
the Army. This message. 1t was
understood at the Navy Department,
had reported q spectacular bursting
of sky rocket-like pyrotechnics and a
great fiery glow in the general direc.
ton Of the Lake Denmark ammuni-
ton depot.
. Two-Thirds Reported Missing
Shortly thereafter came e. message
from New York City. signed by Ad-
miral Charles Plunkett. commanding
the third naval district, who reported
that about 4. o'clock lightning had
struck the depot and, that 20 survivors
under Chief Gunner Wifliain Albert
Gerts had safely arrived at Newfound-
land ". j. Two-thirds Of the person
mel Of the depot, 1t was added, We're
missing, and Lieut.. Comdr. Edward
Allan Brown of the Medical Corps was
reported killed. Later In the night,
however, succeeding messages denied
that Comdr Brown was dead, but the
last one received had him as missing,
shortly before midnight.
& This first message from Admiral
Plunkett had been dispatched at
6:24 pm.
Plunkett indicated the hour OF the
lightning strike as near 4:30 PM, the
message stating that the depot had
been "completely wiped out, and i
was not yet known how many were
killed and injured. At the time Of this
message at 500 Capt. Otto Bowling. in
spector Of ordnance, was reported to
have been seriously injured Later in
the evening, however, Capt. Bowling
called by telephone from Picatinny
Arsenal. reporting over telephone
wires giving internationally poor serv-
ice that the whole Of the Navy depot
was on FIRE and that part of the Army
arsenal was destroyed. This last mes
sage by telephone from Bowling, how
ever, shortly before midnight, was re-
ceived incornpletely. Offlcers who
talked to him said he could be heard
indistinctly. but that he spoke with
enough strength to make them believe
he was not Ia a grave condition.
Marine Guard Ordered.
BY the time Of this message, 1t was
| also Indicated that medical aid and
a marine guard had been ordered to
the Navy depot by Admiral Plunkett.
The early report Of Admiral Browns
death was denied In q message re
ceived at 9:44 at the department,
which indicated further that more
definite information concerning casual
| ties would be forthcoming shortly,
The size Of the personnel at the naval
station was vartously reported at first
to be around 40 to 80, but later check
Of the records disclosed that the total
WAS near SO or 10 including the Navy
officers, hospital corps men. one
marine ofticer An charge ofthe marine
detachment and the marines them
selves Naval officers In addition to
those who were actually on duty Ton
the night appeared at the press room
and while waiting for messages from
the disaster further discussed the
| probable amount OF the explosive
stored at the great naval depot which
-.