TERRIFIC EXPLOSION NEAR NEW YORK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 10, 7 October 1918, Page 6

TERRIFIC EXPLOSION NEAR NEW YORK

,T.N.T. EXPLOSIVES MAGAZINE BLOWN

HEAVY DEATH ROLL

SUBSIDIARY EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE 1 — t(Rec. October 6, 5.5 p.m.) New York, October 4. At Perthamboy, New Jersey; two explosions, in a T.N.TJ. magazine destroyed' the Gellispie plant. Over one hundred are missing. Fires are spreading rapidly. The shock was felt in NewYork. It is believed that twenty-five firemen lost their lives. Of one thousand employees only a hundred are accounted (for. The scattering shells are exploding everywhere. Hundreds are injured. The plant was levelled. More than two thousand men were working when the -first explosion occurred. It was followed by a succession of greater explosions. Buildings were blown up on all sides. Mam' of the workers were trapped by a high barbed-wire fence around the plant It fis estimated that the casualties are more than seven hundred. Two thousand peoplo left the neighbouring villages during the night for fear of (further explosions.

Later. The explosions at Perthamboy continue. Windows are being continuously broken in New York. "While a trajnload of" explosives stood on the track hear the plant an unknown fire-" man jumped on board, started thejocomotive, and took the cars out of danger. Then a shell struck him, killing -him. instantly. '• Refugees allege that they saw an aeroplane circling the plant before the explosion.— Cable Assn. ~ LATER MtTcULARS ;

FURTHER EXPLOSIONS IMMINENT (Rec. October 6, 11' p.m.) New York, October 5. Fir,es are raging hi Perthamboy. An approach nearer than two miles is.impossible;' The unofficial list of the dead totals 140. A dozen towns were badly shaken. . The Mayor of .Now York ordered'to be closed the subways leading to the ,New Jersey shore. Further explosions are imminent. Communities around Morgan, where the' plant was situated, have evacuated it completely. Thousands of residents are thronging the. roads. The scene is comparable-to that of the «arly days of the war in ,Belgium. Many are living in tents, -ifroid to return. The damage is estimated at five millions sterling.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn..