Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 182, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1916 — $25,000,000 EXPLOSION IN NEW YORK [ARTICLE]

$25,000,000 EXPLOSION IN NEW YORK

Ammunition Explodes, Killing and Injuring Scores By Flying Shrapnel —Fire Adds to Horror. New York, July 30.—Property loss estimated at $25,000,000, was caused early today by a series of terrific explosions of ammunition awaiting shipment to the entente allies and stored on Black Tom Islahd, a small atrip of land jutting into Neiw York bank off Jersey City. The loss of life still was problematical tonight. It will not be determined definitely until there has been opportunity to check up the Workmen employed on the island and on boaits moored nearby. Three are known to be dead and at least five more are missing. Scores of persons were injured, some of them probably 'mortally. The detonations, which were felt in five states, began with a continuous rapid fire of small shells, ther the blowing up of great quantities of high explosives, followed by the bursting of thousands of shrapnel shells which showered the surrounding country and waters for many miles. Fire that started soon after the first great crash destroyed thirteen of the huge warehouses of the National Storage company on Black Tom island in which were stored merchandise valued between $12,000,000 and $15,000,000. Miles of streets in Manhattan alone were strewn with broken glass and shattered signs. Early report* of heavy loss of life were impossible of verification and the authorities asserted the number of deaths probably would be small. It was said that owing to the extent of the wreckage ifmight be several lays before the exact figures could be obtained.