HUGE MUNITIONS EXPLOSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1592, 1 August 1916, Page 2

HUGE MUNITIONS EXPLOSION.

DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £15,01)0,(10(1.

Pre>s Association and Renter from Xew York yesterday describe a disastrous fire and explosions which occurred on the Xew York waterfront early on Saturday morning. An enormous quantity of way munitions about to he shipped for the Allies were destroyed, and the explosions which resulted not only killed a number of people, hut did extensive damage in '.he neighbourhood. One estimate places the total damage is high as £15,000.000. The death-roll is variously estimated up to 300, and a. great number of people were in-

jured. The consternation following upon the disaster, and the interruption of me;>ns of communication, have made it difficult for a connected .-tory to he compiled. One of the later messages, however, says that it is believed that a fire broke out in the Xational Storage Building, which was used as a munitions factory. It spread to a car-load of dynamite, and thence to other ears loaded with explosives, and to barges similarly loaded, in the river. The outbreak occurred about 2 a.m., and a series of about twenty explosions occurred, lasting till (i o’clock.

After 1 he (list alarm all the police on special duty and all the liromcn and ambulances were called out. The police checked the panic in the crowds; but in the mad stampede in the streets many were trodden flown. Thousands who were taking supper and dancing in the Broadway cabarets rushed into the streets shrieking with terror. Many ran into subways, with the result that the passages wove jammed with people.

At the lirsl explosion the Windworth building and other skyscrapers showed up against the sky, intermittently lit up by the awful glare.

The National Storage Company’s property is situated near the Lehigh Valley Railway Terminus, near Communipaw (in the southern part of Jersey City, across the Hudson River from the lower end of -Manhattan island). Seven companies’ warehouses in the neighbourhood were wrecked. The Standard Oil Company’s works are close by, and (he firemen imd a tremendous battle to prevent the (lames reaching them. Some oil-ships were actually set on lire, and added enormously to the eonil agration. The Lehigh Valley railway terminal is one of the main points from which munitions for the Allies are

shipped. Shells fell on Ellis, Beddoes, and Governor’s Islands, which form a triangle. Governor's Island is a mile and a-half a wav.

Unopened boxes of shrapnel fell on the steps of the Statue of Liberty. There was tremendous excitement as a burning - barge floated shipping", and lireboat crews, at great risk, pushed it into midstream till it burned to the water’s edge. The tires raged for live hours, but are now quelled.

The authorities have directed art inquiry into the cause of the explosion.