The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-06-12
10 KILLED in THE
N. J. EXPLOSION;
HUNDREDS HURT
NJ Materials Made in
Crowded Section,
for War Use

NORTH ARLINGTON, N. j., June
1.-THE fatal explosion that de-
streyed the Atlantic Pyroxilin Vast
Company at sls River Road Friday
night killing at least ten and injur-
ing more than 1s2 men, women and
children, spreading havoc in a work
ing class section, was caused by the
criminal neglect of the state and
municipal government in covinanee
with the owner Of the plant, Alex
ander Schienzeit.
In Residential District.
Although the plant was used to
sort and store highly inflamahle Gel
luloid material, Schienzeit was per-
mittsd to carry on this work in the
center OF a thickly settled neighher-
hood and stones throw from a
crowded bathing beach. In fact, di-
rectly behind this powder barrel was
the home Of George Dale, who with
his wife was burned to death as one
of the first victims Of the explosion,
unable to leave their homes quick
enough to escape the flames. -Four
other homes were destroyed.
Second Plant Destroyed.
This Is the second plant owned
By Sehienzeit destroyed by explo-
sion. Three years ago a plant he
owned in Secaucus, N. j., had a
blast like the present one.
Admission of this criminal dis
regard Of workers lives has been
made by Assistant Prosecutor Chas.
Schmidt Of Bergen County, who
revealed that there were fragrant
viola tiens Of the lag by the owner,
whs has had no permit since he
took over the plant three years age,
despite the fact that there is an
ordinance, passed In 1921, requiring
one to be issued by the municipal
authorities for the storing of ex-
piesive materials within the bar-
eugh limits."
The prosecutor did not explain just
how company storing explosives in
a residential section could do this for
three years under the nose of officials
without permit
Try To Clear Selves
OfAeials are frantieally trying to
clear themselves of their guilt by issu-
ing hahby statements that "the
wrecked plant did not come under
either state or local laws governing
the operation of factories" These
statements fatty come into contra
dietien with the statement of the
district attorney that a permit is re-
CURED. However, if permit had
been asked for to store the celluleid
it would have been given, anyhow,
for the district attorney revealed that
a company owning the plant former
ly had such a permit.
Meanwhile the owner of the plant
is trying to clear himself by using
the usual stale story about Labor
trouble"
"A second after the blast the streets
were Allied with writhing, screaming
men, women and children. Houses
showered by the burning celluloid
burst into flames. Bathers on the
beach were knocked into the water
and burned by the flaming material
Death struck three houses irnmedi-
ateiy. The Dale home, two dead; the
Applsyard home with four dead; the
Hitch home with two dead.
More May Die
A number in the hospital are still
in danger. The full extent of the
injuries is yet to be determined.
Indignation is running so high in
the town that officials are making
gestures of investigating themselves
and Schienzeit is being held under
$4,000 bail for questioning"
Pyroxilin is very important war
material and Is 50 regarded by the U.
8. War Department. It is nitro-ce,-
lulnse product closely related to the
nitro-celiulose which is the basis for
dynamite and high explosives used
in war. A slight change in the proc
ess Of manufacturing is all that is
needed to turn a chemical factory
making commercial pyroxilin into an
explosives manufacturing plant.
The biggest manufacturers of py-
roxilin in the United States are sub
salaries Of DUPONT. the giant chem
ieal and munitions trust.