Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-11
Rapidly Changing Reports Of Blasts Il
AT Arsenals Received By Officers Here
81 Z tie Associated J, Frees,

BY the Associated Press,
The Navy Department was advised
last night that the naval anamunit1or
depot at Lake Denmark. Dover, ~. j.,
had been struck by lightning ana that
approximately two-thirds OF the per-
sonnet was missing.
The message to the department SAID
that about 30 survivors han peen
taken to Newfoundland, N. j.
First Official reports did not reach
the Navy Department for several
hours, and one Of the first messages
was CARRIED.
Blasts Block Firemen.
Al q. o'clock last night the Navy
Denartn1ent was advised that explo-
sione still were occurring at the depot,
and that the fire department was I'M
able to cope with the situation.
Admiral Piunkett said the depot
had been struck by lightning al 4:SU
b. m, and had been completely wiped
out. The number Of dead and IN.
jured was not known, the aon1iral
reported, adding that medical aid and
a Marine guard had been sent 70 the
Maj. Gen. Clarence G. Williams,
chief of Army ordnance. and Brig.
Gen. G. l.. Ruggles, assistant chief,
left last night for the Army arsenal
at Picatifiny to survey the situation.
Earliest telephone advices from
Mai. Norman D. Ramsey, comman.
dant OF the arsenal. said that several
buildings at the Army arsenal had
been badly damaged by pro1ectiles,
but that fire had not broken out. nor
had there been any explosions there.
A check.up Of the personnel at the
Navy depot revealed that 81 marines,
/ captain Of marines. naval oficers.
4 men of the naval hospital unit and
90 to 80 civilians were on duty there.
Considerable high explosives Were
In storage, part Of It OF q death
I.afe last night the Navy Depart.
n,ent was advised that Lieut.. Comdr.
E. Al. Brown, Navy Medical Corps,
previously reported as killed, was
alive. although It was not established
whether he, had been injured
Army Arsenal Aflre.
Additional adyices to Gen. Ruggies
from Picatinny arsenal said that nre
had broken out there In gun COTTON,
stored in boxes outside the ware.
houses, but that 1t was not believed
explosions would result. While az
that time none OF the ammunition 81
Picatinny had exploded proJectiies
had been falling from the nearby
naval depot, and all persons Were
keeping clear of the Army magazines
for fear explosions would occur.
Gen. Ruggles was informed that
considerable damage had been done
to buildings on the Army reserve
ton. some Of them having been
wrecked. He also was told that no
estimate could be made on the Joss
of life or property damage, as no one
could get near the danger zone.
Only one death, that OF woman
had been definitely established, all
though 1t was believed many had
been killed, and 1t was estimated
that at least 20 or 30 persons had
Gen. Ruggles also. was informed
that Capt. o. G. Bowling, commandanl
81 the naval depot. had been injured
about the legs. Previous advices
had stated that he was seriously
injured.
Personnel List Incomplete.
The Navy Department experienced
difflculty in getting accurate infor-
nation from the scene of the dis
aster. It. also attempted to get UP 9
ust OF personnel at the depot, but UP
to late last night had given out only
few names.
They included. In addition to Capt
Bowling and Lieut.. Comdr. Brown
Capt, b. II. Clarke and Lieut.
Herman c. Schrader OF the
Marine Corps, CHIEF Gunners y. M
Gately and w. A. Gerdts. and the fol
lowing from the Naval Hospital de
tachnient, stationed at the Marine
barracks: Charles Franklin Dreamer
chief pharmacist mate: Harry Chris
tan Brown, pharmacist mate; Donald
aecond class, and Bernard JOSEPH
Schackman. pharmacist mate. third
class.
Home addresses were not available
The Lake Denmark plant was thu
Nays largest ammunition storage
depot, comprising more than 500 acres
OF land. During the war II was ex
tended by an addition OF 1S3 new
buildings, and other extensions OF con
siderable magnitude were made.