TERRIFIC EXPLOSIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1926, Page 2

TERRIFIC EXPLOSIONS

EIGHTY PERSONS KILLED. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) NEAV YORK, July 10. A message from Lake Denmark, New Jersey, says it is believed eighty persons were killed by four terrific explosions caused by lightning striking a powder magazine in the United States naval ammunition depot here. The loss of life camiot be accurately estimated, since the detonations rocked the country for thirty miles around and reports coming in indicate the inhabitants in many small towns near the depot may have been killed,, since the houses collapsed under the concussions. Many buildings were torn from their foundations. Automobiles were hurled from the roads and the sky was darkened by hurtling debris and smoke while a majority of the killed and injured are believed by the personnel of tlie Depot, Hospitals in the districts near the scene are filled with injured civilians. The depot personnel after tho first explosion, was mustered to fight the fire and these were caught by a second explosion which rained upon them great timbers, chunks of steel, concrete and a flood of burning oil from tho bursted tanks. The wives and children .of the personnel and officers having quarters near the depot were caught by the exploding materials. The explosions had wide ramifications where the army arsenal is situated. The towii nearby was rocked to its foundations by the detonation but there was no ignition of the stores of shells. The quarters of the-officers and . men were unable to stand the force of explosions, -however, and ceilings crashed down injuring several persons. •Telephone exchanges for many miles away are deranged, hindering rescue work. Physicians and nurses were rushed from New York and many places. Open air hospitals were erected. Thousands of persons fled from their homes' believing an earthquake had occurred. Firemen over, a large area have been called to- check the flames and search the debris.

NEAV YORK, July 10. At Dover, New Jersey, seventy officers and men of the personnel of the Government arsenals there arc believed to be killed to-night owing to the explosion of ammunition depots. After being struck by lightning a fire followed.

Later (reports state the explosion was at the navy ammunition depot at Lake Denmark near Dover. It is feared the entire personnel of seventy were killed. AVhon called out to fight the fire following the first explosion, they wore caught by a second explosion, chunks of steel and concrete liquid fire from oil tanks catching men and falling on the houses where the wives and children of the men had sought shelter. Further explosions followed at brief intervals holding the rescue workers at bay. The countryside was shaken for a radius-of more than thirty miles and thirty homes are reported to be -destroyed in a village two miles distant.

Numerous civilians in towns surrounding the arsenal arc reported injured.