Evening star., 1944-07-18
Hundreds More
Injured at Base
In California
Port Chicago Depot
IS Miles From
San Francisco Ruzed
By the Associated Press

PORT CHICAGO, Calf, July
18. Two Navy ammunition
ships, exploding late last night
with earth shaking roars. killed
from 200 to- $50 men, injured
hundreds of others, leveled the
Port Chicago depot dock area
and inflicted immense damage
in war-booming Port Chicago, IS
miles from San Francisco.
One medium sized cargo vessel be-
ing loaded went up with thunder-
ing roar at 1919 pm. Pacific war
time. Seconds later a larger ship,
moored nearby. was blown to bits
when its explosives were set of.
The ground shook for miles around,
and what one observer mile awav
saw as "mile-high skyrocket" OF
flame leaped into the night air.
Two Coast Guard Vessels Sunk.
The 18th Naval District in San
Francisco revised an earlier state
ment to say two ships exploded in
stead of one. and said that two small
Coast Guard vessels we're sunk in
Suisun Bay, which branches east
from San Francisco Bay
The death toll estimates ranged
upward from the Navy's official
statement that at least 200 to $50
Navy personnel and officers"
were missing and presumed lost.
This figure did not account for
civilian seamen aboard the two
destroyed ships. Two other small
ships were destroyed.
Previously Navy commander had
estimated the dead at $50. Sheriff
J. r. Thornton of Solano County
figured the toll at 800 dead and the
injured at 1000.
$50 Civilians Wounded.
The dead and injured were chiefly
naval personnel attached to the
Port Chicago depot
No civilian dead had been found.
Sheriff James N Long of Contra
Costa County reported, although
$50 civilians had been injured.
principally from flying debris.
oiOhcH 6idSS diio tiic ldiliiis VAIN
of houses
The explosion was felt within a
radius of at least SO miles. 1t
wrecked the town of Port Chicago,
which has a wartime boom popula-
ton of about 1000; destroyed COM
munications and power facilities
and broke windows 20 and 80 miles
away
! One man a mile away was blown
100 feet.
The explosion. of undetermined
origin, showered parts of the ships
superstructure at least mile. One
300-pound piece of steel fell in the
main street of Port Chicago, mile
from the naval depot.
+ Port Chicago Evacuated.
For time, Port Chicago was q
confused, chaotic scene of dying and
other injured crying in the dark
ness.
! Medical aid was rushed from
neighboring communities and the
Mare Island Navy Yard, IA miles
away. The Red Cross rushed in
cots and blood plasma. Port Chi
cago was ordered evacuated. The
injured were rushed to jammed
hospitals at Martinez. 10 miles dis
tant. in Army trucks. ambulances,
taxicabs and civilian autos pressed
into service.
! Hospital attendants lost count Of
the injured, so fast were they
brought in.
The Navy said in statement
that the blast caused extensive
damage and casualties"
( FBI Helps in Investigation.
! Live ammunition floating in the
oil-slicked waters presented an ad-
ditional hazard in the port area.
Navy craft stood by as picket boats
to keep water traffic away.
A Navy guard was thrown around
the disaster area shortly after the
blast. Two regiments of soldiers
were brought In from San Fran
cisco to Gordon off the area and
serve as special police.
/ Many of the civilians evacuated
were dispatched in Army vehicles
to Camp Stoneman, 10 miles away.
Others went to Martinez.
! Naval intelligence officers study.
ing the cause of the explosion were
Joined early today by Federal Bureau
Of Investigation agents. but there
was no indication that their inquiry
was anything but routine for such a
disaster.
tSee BLAST, Page A-3J