Gibbstown, NJ Du Pont Plant Explosion, May 1916

14 DIE IN EXPLOSION.

WORKERS KILLED AT DU PONT PLANT IN NEW JERSEY.

MANY OTHERS INJURED WHEN BLAST WRECKS BUILDING WHERE TRINITROLOLUOL IS MANUFACTURED.

Gibbstown, N. J., May 16. -- At least fourteen men were killed and about thirty injured in a terrific explosion at the Refauno plant of the Du Pont Powder company, near here.
The blast occurred in the building in which trinitrololuol is manufactured and wrecked that structure and three others. Among the identified dead are:
W. F. LAWLEY, Assistant Superintendent of the plant.
GEORGE MARSH, foreman.
GEORGE W. RYAN.
LUKE THEYNEY.
FREDERICK REAM.
JOHN J. VOLK.
CHARLES HOELZER.
BERNARD KELLER.
FRANK BAMBERNI.
ANDREW ETTINGER.
Two Unidentified Men.
Some of the injured were taken to a hospital in Camden and other places, while about a score, who received minor wounds, were treated by physicians at the powder plant.
The cause of the explosion is not known and, according to officials of the company, may never be ascertained, as all those believed to have been in the building where the first explosion occurred are dead.
Trinitrololuol is not considered an explosive risk, and company officials believe it caught fire before exploding.
Many of those killed and injured were outside the buildings involved and were either killed or hurt by flying debris.
Trinitrololuol and nitrobenzol are used in filling shells and mines. The buildings in which they were produced were of frame construction.
The Repauno plant of the Du Ponts consists of 3,000 or 4,000 acres, on which there are 300 small buildings. About 2,000 men are employed.

Stevens Point Daily Journal Wisconsin 1916-05-16
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!