Show v v. AI NT N. N rj Bl Mast ast Kills Scores of Workers r a i s i C N mIN m Je PLANT I BLOWN UPI UP I IN SERIES OF f CRASHES Gillespie Shell SheH Loading Works at Morgan Near Perth Amboy Wrecked as Fire Follows s Explosions J 1 s I I y A 1 t f Perth Amboy N. N J. J Oct 5 A 5 A warehouse use magazine containing containing- large quantities of one of the few remaining buildings of the T. T A. A Gillespie Oos Cos 00 s 's shell loading plant at Morgan five miles from here which was destroyed by explosions and fire last night blew up at 4 1 a. a m. m today The explosion shook every house housein in Perth Amboy South Amboy and scores of other towns wrecking light buildings and shattering thousands of window panes The flash of the explosion explosion explosion ex ex- I could be seen for miles and resulted in a hasty exodus of people from South Amboy and the throwing I of a military guard around Perth I Amboy to protect homes from which I the occupants have fled i ERTH AMBOY Oct 4 P PERTH Many t. Many men were killed and scores inI injured in- in i j I in a tremendous explosion early tonight at the plant of the T. T A. A Gillespie Shell Loading company at Morgan near hero here The Tho first explosion exi explosion ex ex- exI I plo ion which shook the countryside i for fot miles and caused citizens of South Amboy to flee from their homes was followed by a series of less severe explosions and by a fire which for hours defied the efforts of fire departments departments de de- summoned from all nearby nearby nearby near near- by cities and towns The number of dead and injured cannot be determined until a answer Es- Es Estimates a roll call in the morning Es Es- EsI Estimates I late tonight however placed place the number of killed and amI hurt at from I fifty to more ore than a hundred Ambulances sent from flom here and earning carrying carrying car car- ning twenty tire doctors doctor returned and for tor fear foar with many man manot of ot the Injured that the city hospital would not accommodate accommodate accommodate ac ac- ac- ac aJ all the victims a n hotel was wasI prepared to receive the overflow o AmI Am- Am I I Elizabeth I from torn and other cities were report reported cd to be betaking betaking I taking other victims to those cities United States base n hospital No 3 at al I sc sent nt am ambulances and doctors to ai aid 1 In I inthe the tho rescue work Ih t Itt lu Uc o cred I Eight bodies were placed tonight tonight- In Inthe Inthe the morgue at South Amboy Ambo and others were being removed from the plant shortly before midnight It Is be beI be- be I Jle e that several sc more men mcm were In InI Inthe I the building where the original exPlosion explosion sion slon occurred an and 1 that these thes u ero re blown blow to atom Tho rho plant which is operated for or the thc go government eminent II by the Gillespie company n nY employs several thousand I men and women working In three I shifts but bul officials said sal that tonight I there were only about GOO men In the plant when the explosion occurred The plant was was was' engaged in loa loading high explosive c shells I Following the tho first explosion government government gov gov- O officials telephoned telephone l 1 to nearby nears near near- s Ib by camps amps for fUI soldiers rs to servo ero as us u and several sc hun hundred red with a detachment of ot coast const guar guards were rushed to 10 Morgan an The plant which covers an nn area of ot twelve miles Comprises many f small buildings situated along Chos Chose Chose- c- c Continued on page 10 BlAST IN IM MUNITIONS PlANT KillS SCORES I Continued front from page pare l I quake creek I The rhe first explosion oc occurred oc- oc In ono anI of oC these building in lit which T. T N. N T. T was being made and the thc flames James spreading to other turcs lures caused a series of or further blasts regarding the cause causo o of tho the explosion Vl r vary but according to toone one otle account excessive heat heal was tsp tsp- T. T Another no- no plied to u fl vat of oC T. T N. N count bad it t that a shell which was vas being lifted fell anil e exploded l The first blast wa was terrific It shuttered neatly nearly all the glans ginas In South Houth Amo one and n a i half hal C miles awny n and I vas wj felt Cell for COL a n radius of nearly ten in mil miles I I r. r s. s rh The fire was ivas still burping at n a laW late hour but hut was saul said to bo be under tinder cots con trot irol The property properly damage 1 has not been estimated lire lre Tho Tue structure first blown up was S soon Boon a II roaring furnace and anti a cordon cordo was thrown around It to prevent nt relatives rela rela- tives U of oC men employed at the tue plant from Crom rushing Into the in search of oC lIH their lr dead For hours the firemen could make no effort to n rn- rn cover er bo bodies on account of oC the lie I heat The Tho scene at the plant was wn like abit a n abit I bit hit of or western front Seen in the he light I of nf the flames were men running ma madly lly about sonic somo nursing Injuries while I overhead o rolled clouds ld of or Here ansI and there here cam the he roar of ItH shells exploding like the bark of oC field nelt I artillery Phone Girl Stick Stick-s t la ln Pot Post PontA PostA A young woman employed at the plant plat as a a. i telephone operator was r. r heroine With shells bursting around her hel sho shio stuck to hot hOI post sending out calls for Cor firemen and doctors Calmly she he hc gave a direction an as to tho lie quickest t I method of oC reaching tho the plant From roni all aU directions came caine hysterical women and children whoso husbands or fathers were employed d at the lie works works perhaps perhaps in the Iho burning build build- In lug Ing Desperately these w women men and youngsters oun hurled themselves at the guard regardless of or the danger that lurked in that roaring furnace with Its Us quantities of or shells as yet et plo e Tho The railroad trestle trostle spanning the Raritan river an and leading to the plant was black with these figures who vio reached tho the gates g-ates of oC the plant only to be bo turned back to to spend the night In the seemingly en endless Jess torture of or I uncertainty uncertaIn ty V I |