Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-14
EXACT DEATH LIST
IN DOVER BLAST
WILL BE unknown
All Records Of Navy Base
Wiped Out-Three Men
Not Missed Return.
MANY BODIES ENTIRELY
DESTROYED BY BLAZE
Only Those Who Saw Fatal Light
ming Bolt at Close Hand
Were Killed.
By the Associated Press.

0y buc sAoeOClascu EIcBos
DOVER, N. j., July 14.-Indications
today were that the exact number
of victims of the explosions that de-
stroyed the Lake Denmark naval
ammunition depot, wrecked the
Picatinny Army Arsenals. and dam
aged dozen New Jersey towns prob
ably never will be known.
Even the lightning bolt that set
or the $3.50. 100000 explosion never
will gain official recognition, as the
only men who saw 1t close at hand
were picked up dead near the build
ing that was struck, or have vanished
The listing of missing has varied
from hour to hour, and Brig. Gen.
Hugh Drum, in charge Of policing the
area, has not at any time been will
ing to make any positive statement
as to the number. All records at the
arsenal were destroyed. AS late as
yesterday three marines who have
not been listed as missing made their
appearance in a dazed condition, and
were unable to give a clear account
Of what happened to them.
Twenty-One Known Dead.
The death roll stood at q today,
and wet ground and ruins soaked by
a heavy rain during the night made
for safety, as Marines continued
searching for additional bodies. The
latest unofficial estimates place
property damage as high as $65.OOo,-
900 for the Lake Denmark Naval
Arsenal, S5,000,O00 for the Ptcatinny
A A q
civilians.
Four towns were practically devas-
tated. In Mount Hope lot company
owned miners cottages were wholly
or. partly destroyed. Wharton. Rock
away and Hibernia were the three
other towns that suffered the great.
est damage.
smashed plate glass. plaster and
debris were sfreWn through the
streets Of Dover, Boonton, Milton,
newfoundland Lilxembourg. Denvtlle,
SuccAsurlIa, and Ifonia,
About 100000 0f the estimated
civilian damage consists Of claims to
injuries to 800 persons. These claims
will have to be considered by Con-
gress, as the Army and Navy are not
authorized to pay and they cannot be
taken to court.
Much Remains Intact,
Estimates Of loss In the Picatinny
Army arsenal. adjoining the naval
depot. were based on the assumption
that none Of the Army's stored am
munition had been destroyed. Vast
stores Of ammunition remained intact
In the naval arsenal today.
Jagged holes 30 feet deep and 100
feet across In solid rock marked the
sites Of two naval storehouses that
blew up first. Offlcers' house and bar
racks lie crushed fat, as IL they had
been made OF cards.
Although every officer who viewed
the wreckage felt there was no pos
sibility OF reconstruction short OF re-
building, ordnance experts have been
ordered from washington to survey
the damage and formulate q policy for
the future. Nearly 1000 refugees were
back in their homes today after three
DAYS In public buildings or homes
thrown open to them In nearby towns.
Some Of them found their houses in
tact. while others returned to shat
tered ruins.
They were brought back in motor
vans, fire trucks and privately owned
automobiles yesterday after Gen.
Drum decided 1t was safe. Many of
them had been outfitted by the Red
Cross with new clothing.
Experts Reach Scene.
Hopes for identification of addi-
tionai bodies increased today with the
arrival Of three Government identifi-
cation experts from washington.
They were given an arm, from
which finger prints are to be made.
and three gold rings found at various
places. One Of these Il OF plain gold
bearing the letter M" another is a
siRnet with the letters H. D. NJ.
and the third, bearing a cructtix, -
believed to belong to Gunner Gately
listed among the missing.
Mai. Gen. Lejeune. commander or
the Marine Corps, was due some time
today with marine records which II
was believed might assist In determir.
ing the number of marines missing.
Finding Of the rings not far from
one 81 the buildings destroyed BY one
Of the first great explosions suggested
that the bodies Of the three men
might have been burned.
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