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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 1918)
TITE SUNDAY OKEGOXTAX, rORTLAXD, OCTOBER 6, 1918. " MUHITIOflSDISASTER LOSS 15 MILLIONS Casualties Not Yet Definitely Known; Dead Estimated at 50; Injured 150. NEW YORK FEELS BLAST Windows in lower Part of City Are Smashed; Fearing Further Explo sions, Mayor llyland Closes East-North River Subways. PERTH AMBOT, X. J., Oct. 5. Army officers investigating the explosions that wrecked the great shell-loading plant of the T. A. Gillespie Company, at Morgan, estimated tonight that the dead would number not more than 50 and the injured 150. The property loss will probably approximate between J15.000.000 and $20,000,000. Late today it was believed that dan ger of greater devastation by the blow ing up of stores of trinitrotoluol was virtually over. All that substance left unexploded is buried in underground caissons along the bank of Cheese quake Creek, along which the plant is located, or is loaded on four barges tied up at the company docks along that stream. Army officers reported after a recon naissance by airplane that the loca tion of the boats and storehouses is such that they believed there was slight probability that the trinitrotoluol would be exploded either by fire or concus sion. Many Made Homeless. "With the passing of the menace of an explosion around the plant, the prob lem of caring for the homeless became a. serious one tonight. South Amboy, a town of about 10,000 population, four miles north of Mor gan, was virtually wrecked- by the se ries of blasts. Scarcely a building in it remains habitable. Many houses were unroofed and the walls of others were blown in, and every pane of glass was broken. More than 400 citizens decided to spend the night there, how ever. The Atlantic division of the Red Cross established headquarters at Perth Am boy this afternoon, fifty ambulances from New York and Newark with corps of doctors and nurses arrived to take charge of the situation. Eight central depots were opened in schools and other public buildings. Commandeered automobiles and cars driven by members of the "Women's Motor Corps from New. York and New Jersey were sent out to pick up flee ing refugees and take them to the de pots for shelter. The Red Cross brought in from New York five motor trucks loaded with six tons of sup plies. , Military Taken Charge. The city and all the territory around morgan was under military contro with the state guard in charge under the personal direction of Governor Edge. NEW YORK. Oct 5. On receiving Information shortly before 3:30 o'clock this afternoon that further explo sions at the Morgan, N. J. muni tions plant were imminent. Mayor On receiving information shortly be fore 3:30 o'clock this afternoon that further explosions at the Morgan, N. J. munitions plant were imminent. Mayor .Hyian and the Public Service Commis sion, after a conference with the fire department authorities, ordered the closing of the subways under the East and North rivers. The order went into effect immediately. ne tast itlver bridges, carrying subway, elevated, trolley and vehicle traffic, were closed temporarily, iso lating Brooklyn from connection with Aiannattan. except by ferny. Explosions in the Gillespie plant were distinctly relt in New York, 20 miles distant. It was even reported to have been felt as far away as lslip, x. i., miles from the scene. "Windows Broken in 'ew York. The explosions broke windows in the lower part of the city. Fifty of them crashed in on the Broadway side of the Produce Exchange building. Po lice reported a great number of win dows broken on Staten Island. It was stated tonight that a report had been received to the effect that SO. 000 tons of T. N. T. was likely to explode at any moment. This was later reduced to 80,000 pounds, and then to SOOO. Finally information was received that the wind had changed, enabling the fire fighters to begin removal of the explosives. It was also stated that Mayor Hylan had acted on advices from authorities at Washington. The Washington offi cials. however, denied issuing any such warning. Then it was said that a fire guard in Brooklyn had notified the po lice that New Jersey officials had told him of the impending disaster. After more than IS hours of terror, dozen towns in Northern New Jersey were in a shattered condition this after noon as a consequence of the muni tion disaster which visited Morgan las' night with a trail of tremendous ex plosions and. raging fires which con tinued throughout today. With the situation at Morgan such that firemen,- soldiers, 6ailors and civilian workers found it impossible to penetrate to a zone within two mile of the Gillespie plant, no definite esti mate could be made of the number persons who perished. The flames burning unopposed threatened two great munition plants in the vicinity The night shift at the Gillespie plan was known to number 2000 persons and the ones accounted for this afternoon were numbered only in scores. Fourteen Bodies Identled. Fourteen bodies were reported t have been identified. That others are in the ruins is believed likely. It feared some men were destroyed and that no trace of them will ever be found. Communities surrounding Morgan with populations totalling more than 60,000.. were evacuated almost as com pletely as if they were in European war zones. Mr. Gillespie placed the damage t his property at $12,000,000, and sai that the explosives, owned by the Gov rnment. were worth tS, 000. 000. H estimated the damage in the vicinity to be another $10,000,000. Out of the confusion came this story of heroism: A trainload of explosive lay on a siding near the Gillespie plan A railroad fireman, his identity not yet known, jumped to the engineer post on a locomotive, coupled it to th train and took the cars out of the dan ger zone. As his task was complete a shell struck him and he was killed. Some refugees said that before th first explosion occurred last night they saw an airplane hovering over the Gil lespie plant. PERTH AMBOY. N. J.. Oct. 5. Major. General C. C. Imams, chief of ord nance of the United States Army, ar rived here tonight to conduct a rigid investigation into the explosions an r which, demolished the shell, loading plant of T. A. Gillespie & Co., at Mor gan, with the probable loss of 50 lives and injury to 150 more workmen. General Williams was accompanied by Captain Wilson, also of the Ord nance Department, and Lieutenant Ee Nunlize, a French ordnance expert. Late tonight the flames which have been sweeping . the buildings of the Gillespie plant appeared to be under control and there seems no danger they will reach the trinitrotoloul stores re maining untouched. J. W. Faust, assistant director of civil relief of the Red Cross, estimated that more than 7000 persons had been made homeless by the hail of shells and the force of explosions. He believed be tween 40,000 and 50,000 more had fled from their homes fearing disaster and would not return until all danger is over. Officers and enlisted men had risked their lives for hours trying to deter mine whether the stores of explosives n the warehouse or on the barges were n danger from the flames which had wept through the hundreds of build- gs of the plant, which . covers 2700 acres, but they had failed. ! LITTLE HOE FIRST Operators Adopt Resolution Den otitic In 5 Employers for Violation of Recent Federal R a I ins. Charges that the Western Union Tele graph Company maintains its old black list and discriminates against union em- polyes, locked out three months ago, ere made at a meeting of telegraphers last night in W. O. W. Hall. K. C. Lemaire told of being dismissed yesterday by the Western Union, seem ngly because he had been discharged and blacklisted three years ago. He came from Canada to Portland two months ago and went to work under the name of W. C. Blair. He alleged that hen his identity was made known his ischarge resulted, though th reason advanced was that he was not wanted because he would not work extra hours. Two young women employes who oined the Commercial Telegraphers nion of America, and were locked out. told how they have been "re-employed" ut not "reinstated." The difference is ne of ?15 to $20 a month in salary, they said. The meeting adopted resolutions de- ouncing the vV estern Union for dis- rimination in defiance of Postmaster- General Burleson's order and calling for essation of activities of the Western Union Employes' Association. The resolution and numerous affidav its are being forwarded to President S. konenKamp, of the Commercial Telegraphers Union. Students In Training Cared For. UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, Eugene, Or., Oct. 5. (Special.) Two members of the StudentArmy Training Corps, R, Porter, of Copperfield, Or, and Carl Hamilton, of Ithaca, Ohio, have been sent to the Eugene Hospital suffering from slight attacks of grip. Neither of the cases is considered serious by the ospital authorities and it is thought that they will be able to be out early ext week. Provision has been made o take care of any who answer sick call and every precaution Is being made to ward off any contagious disease. UNFAIR METHODS CLAIM EY MEX CHARGE WESTERN TTXIOX WITH DISCRIMINATION'. lng committee. Materials will be fur. nlshed for the temporary homes upon presentation of the certificate from the State Council, and everything' possible will be done to assist in getting Port- and's workers comfortably located be fore cold weather sets in. Shipyard Workers May Build Temporary Dwellings. PERMITS ARE AUTHORIZED Announcement Made by Building Commissioner Currey of Receipt of Favorable Report From Washington, D. C workers in Portlands shipyards are to be permitted to erect temporary dwellings for the protection of them selves and their families during the Winter months. Upon receipt of a favorable report from Washington. D. G, yesterday, Building Permit Commissioner Currey, of the State Council of Defense, made the announcement that materials would be supplied those persons desiring to erect temporary homes, and City Build ing Inspector Plummer will issue the necessary permit. As a result of the action taken In Washington, scores of families will be spared the discomfort of spending the w inter In garages, sheds, stables or tenthouses, and the erection of tem porary houses already are under way, 40 permits having been issued yester day by Commissioner Currey, in order that the men might employ their Sun day to good advantage. "Ever since the non-war construction order was promulgated," said Commis sioner Currey yesterday, "providing for the curtailment of all building operations, and the conservation of ma terial, a bad condition haa existed in Portland, on account of the shortage of homes. Workers have lived in ga rages, sheds, tents and stables and most any old place they could get while some purchased lots with the ex pectation of building. They found they were unable to secure .the neces sary permission, and could get no ma terial. They faced the prospect of spending the Winter in these places. "The action taken in Washington will admit of the erection of temporary homes and 1 estimate between -0 and 500 workers will follow that plan doing their own work during spare hours. I had been conferring with Sec retary Kollock, of the State Council of Lefense, and together we had been working the situation in Washington from every possible angle, including the- Spanish influenza, which would become a menace here if people were compelled to live under such conditions during the cold weather." More than 100 names are on the list of workers who want to build tem porary homes, and arrangements were made yesterday, whereby a certificate issued by the State Council will give to the applicant a permit from the city building inspection department. The erection of temporary homes is not to be encouraged, according to Commis sioner Currey. but every applicant for a permit will be encouraged to build a permanent home under the pro gramme outlined by the general hous- ALL COMERS ARE LISTED Marine Corps Accepting Boys Who Became 18 Since Registration. The Marine Corps haa already passed its quota in number of October re cruits, but is listing and examining all who appear, with the view to having thera inducted as a part of the Novem ber quota. For this month the quota was 156. Young men who have become 18 years old since the September registration day are accepted without reference to the quota and may be Inducted at once, the recruiting officers announced yes terday. Six boys have already been accepted under this provision. These will be sent forward this week and the other inductees will be sent out about October 20. MONUMENT TO BE UNVEILED Honor to Be Paid to A. J. Bolon, Murdered by Indians. A monument in honor of Andrew J. Bolon, Indian agent for Washington Territory when lsaao I. Stevens waa Governor, will be unveiled at 11 A. M. today on the spot where he was mur dered by Indians, IS miles from Ciolden dale. Wash. September 22 was the 63d anniversary of the murder. Mr. Bolon was born In Pennsylvania. Four Indians assassinated him while he was traveling alone from the Yakima Indian Reservation to The Halles, Or. Business Men to Aid Linen. Call. K. C Eldnidge. Jr.. chairman of th Progressive Business Men's Club com mittee named to gather linen for the hospitals in France, which must be turned in to Mrs. Ferdinand K. Heed. 400 Oregonlan building, has called upon every member of the club, some 450 men, to take to the meeting of the club next Thursday all the bath towels. hand towels, handkerchiefs, napkins and sheets that can be spared from their homes or which they may pun chase at the stores. Other members of the committee working with Mr. Kldrdige are Miles Standish and F. W. Bronn. Women Hold Patriotic Parade. CHEHAUS, Wash., Oct. 5. (Special.) Chehalis women held a fine patriotic parade here tonight, closing their fourth liberty loan drive. The Minute Women were In charge and school chil dren, the Boy Scouts, Women's Kelief Corps, Minute "Women and other organ izations were in line in the parade, which was headed by the splendid Che halis Concert Band. Miss Berths Mel lett. of Tacoma, well-known newspaper woman, made an interesting talk. Put Your War drob e on a War Basis That means that the clothes you do buy should be the kind that make the best possible use of the labor and materials put into them. It means clothes that not only wear a long time but keep their shape a long time. It means "conserving" clothes. Hart S chaff ner & Marx make that kind and we sell them Now, if you're going to buy clothes at all and you shouldn't unless you absolutely need them that's the only kind you've a right to buy clothes that save. It's "dollar economy," too. You pay a little more now but they wear so well you spend less in the long run. They're as Low as $23 and Up to $60 i if n'l Copmtbt I9is Hart Sdbatincr & ira Sam'l Rosenblatt & Co. The Men's Store for Quality and Service Gasco BIdg. Fifth and Alder has been specially prepared for occu pancy by the new firm, a cordial re ception for the new enterprise was ex tended by the public The floor area occupied la 60x100 feet and the loca tion chosen because It Is in the lower rent section of the business district. night by Lieutenant 1 catcher at Fourth and Pine streets and locked up in She city jail charged with the larceny of an automobile Uearin. of 431 street North. owned Hast by Hugo C. Twenty-fourth Liberty Apparel Co. Opens Store. The Liberty Apparel Company, 144 Third street, opened1 its doors to the public yesterday morning with a com plete line of ladles' ready-to-wear gar ments. With modern facilities for the display of up-to-date showings in la dles' wear, installed in a building that Bond Strike Succeeds. EVERETT, Wash.. Oct. 6. Employes of the C. B. Lumber Shingle Com pany went on a "bond strike" this afternoon. They blew the mill whistle, quit work, and, with flags and banners, marched to the mill office, where every man. although all had bought one or more liberty bonds, purchased an addi tional one. Boys Accused of Larceny. John Haak and 15 years of asre. Argyle Ashla. each were arrested last If you are one of those men to whom a shirt is simply a shirt, our MADE-TO-ORDER SHIRTS will not particularly appeal to you. but if you are looking for Fit, Quality and Workmanship we can please you. JACOBS SHIRT CO. Estab. 188S Raleigh Bldg, 327 Washington St, Cor. Sixth ' . ; ' sffp 1 STARTS TODAY L f . f I r - " ' v u. v i tel K v , W I j r r7 x r rnnn Wv p: 1 iM kUmh mw&Vi : ' -i;.,:. 1 1 i. i" m mi 11 '"'i t r' 11 1111 1 " 111 mKwm Jinn ubhii I I 4 V r-r-l- . v 1 MASTKR Pim BE OR- - i GAMST 0" OIR II WWW 1.1 IMM ILII tttittttttii un u m n n t u .h j jj n m i j. Linn iiLLnrrjii u i , iiiir It's so good that we call it "MADE TO ORDER FOR DOUG" And listen your money back, cheerfully, if, after seeing it, you don't come out with a smile that will last FOR A WEEK! THAT'S ALL! iuuimiiniimmi)i.mmnnnii.ummiiim