Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 278, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 November 1914 — Aetna Powder Mills Have Explosion; Shock Felt Here. [ARTICLE]

Aetna Powder Mills Have Explosion; Shock Felt Here.

An explosion of 2,000 pounds of nitroglycerine at the Aetna powder Mills in Lake county at 17 minutes before 9 o’clock Monday morning shook all of northwestern Indiana and northeastern _ Illinois. The shock was distinctlj’ felt in Rensselaer. „ - - J. J. Montgomery hurried to The Republican office after observing the shock and made a correct guess as to what had happened. An effort was made to find out from Chicago and other places north whpt had happened but no information was secured until the evening papers reached Rensselaer and told of the disaster. Powder experts, two minutes before the accident occurred, found that an explosion was about to occur and the Siren screamed its shrill warning. The 150 men on duty in the plant immediately sought safety behind sand dunes. Two distinct shocks were felt at Gary. Buildings shook throughout •the city and a minute later there was a crash of falling glass. Hundreds of people rushed out of their homes in terror. Stores were emptied of their clerks and shoppers, and the women screamed. Many believed an earthquake had occurred. In several instances fires were started by falling stoves, and the fire department responded to several calls. At the i&ary telephone building twenty operators were thrown from thir seats. When all had quieted down at Gary details of police and firemen were rushed to Aetna, but their services were not needed. Only two windowpanes were broken in Aetna. However, a fire was raging, and warning was given that another explosion might occur. Windows were broken and delicate machinery was thrown cut of ’adjustment’ at the Gary st'-el wills.