Evening star., 1952-03-28
Report on Fatal Blast
Al Howard u. Fails 10
Shed Light on Cause
Chemical Department
Says Victims Had Been
Carefully Instructed

Howard University today pre-
pared q report for Coroner A.
lMagruder Macdonald on yester-
days chemical blast which killed
four university workmen, but it
sheds no light on the actual cause
|of the explosion.
The victims, all custodial en-
|ployes. died instantly when the
soaring. basement blast rocked
the five-story laboratory building.
Today's report. submitted to
University President Mordec
Johnson by DR.. Percy Barnes.
acting head OF the department of
chemistry, detailed the careful
and proper" instructions which
had been given the workmen.
'Tnexplicable Element"
"There is some inexplicable ele-
nent we have not yet been able
to fatl1om," DR.. johnson said.
He said there is no reason to
believe the workmell were not
handling the material as they had
been instructed and he empha-
sized that one of the victims had
handled the same chemical many
times before.
Six persons, including q fifth
member of the work crew, were
injured, none seriously. The ex-
tplosion survivor, James K. Will
Hams, Of HOO s street NV, lived
only because he had gone down a
hallway to open a door for better
ventilation.
Students Trapped.
Dense, acrid smoke and fumes
trapped a number of graduate
students on upper floors and fire.
men took them out with high
ladders. Ten firemen were over
come, but were treated on the
scene and returned to duty.
The dead. all colored. are:
Eugene H. Cough, IS, chief Gus
todian Of the university, who lived
Oh Cne campus.
James Clinton, 81, q janitor who
formerly lived at GA Princeton
place NV.
Clinton Irvine. 80, of 1928 u
street NV, also a janitor.
Alphonso Smith. AZ, Of ATS
Foote street NE. a laborer.
The flVe-man crew had been
moving large quantity of sodium
chlorate from a basement room
to make additional storage space
and to dispose of the chemical be-
cause Of its age. University off,
cials said it was World War I sur
plus and had been used in labora-
tory experiments.
Chemical Non Explosive.
Outlining !. the, properties of
sodium chlorate, DR.. Barnes de-
clared there is nothing inherent
in the nature of sodium chlorate
itself which would tend to make
it explode. It is not known to
explode under ordinary condi-
tions. It will not burn and can
be heated to a high temperature.
Hence, we are at a loss for an
explanation of the disaster" he
said.
The workmen were told to
handle the material as If it were
ia high explosive, DR.. Barnes re-
port said. They were told not to
drag it or to cause friction and
were told not to drop it.
Coroner Macdonald, awaiting
1.-THE University report and one
from the fire marshal's office, win
Iswear in q coroner's jury on the
lease tomorrow. Tests are to be
made of body tissue of the victims
Jas part of the coroner's investi-
tgation. When the case is complet-
led, it viii be presented to the jury,
Deputy Coroner Christopher J..
Murphy said today.
Cans Began to "SizzIe.' .
i Mr.. Williams, the survivor, said
that after some of the cans had
been loaded on . small freight
truck, it began sizzling and
emitting fumes. It was for this
treason that he went to open a
tdoor.
/ The chemical, which comes in
powder and crystalline form. is
lone Of the ingredients of gum
,Ipowder and sometimes Is used in
1.-THE manufacture Of matches,
chemists aid.