Blast at Purifying Plant Killing 14 P.S. Workers Is Held Unpreventable

Blast at Purifying Plant Killing 14 P.S. Workers Is Held Unpreventable Prosecutor, Coroner and Officials of Company Say Spontaneous Combustion Probably Caused Tragedy—All But One of 4 Injured Are Out of Danger Although they had not reached an official decision, investigators today were unanimous in their belief that spontaneous combustion probably caused the explosion in the purifying plant of Public Service Electric and Gas Company, Locust and Cherry streets, which cremated 14 workmen and burned four others yesterday. Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin said today that Lawrence T. Doran, chief of county detectives, still was questioning witnesses, but so far as can be determined, spontaneous combustion was responsible for the tragedy. Baldwin said that it also was possible sawdust used in the purifying process had somehow been ignited. "While the sawdust was smouldering," he said, "one of the 19 men may have removed one of the plates at the bottom of the tank. It was windy yesterday and an inrush of air might have fanned the fire into a real blaze." Saw 'Little Fire' This would bear out a statement by Rudolph Walker, 37, colored, of 718 South Second street, the only one of the workmen to escape unscathed. He said he saw a "little fire" burning in one corner of the tank and climbed out a moment before the explosion. Coroner Benjamin R. Denny likewise thought spontaneous combustion was the cause. "We will hold an inquest unless the prosecutor and I can determine definitely that this tragedy was not accidental," he said. "As far as we have learned, it was just an unfortunate accident, probably due to spontaneous combustion." The same theory was advanced by Public service officials. The following statement was issued by Walter F. Allen, director of publicity, at his office in Newark. "The cause of the explosion has not been learned definitely, but it is believed to have been due to spontaneous combustion." Meanwhile, physicians at Cooper Hospital reported that all but one of the injured are out of danger. The man whose condition still is critical is Spiro Cecich, 37, of 1815 Salem street, who suffered burns over his entire body. Five hours were required to remove the horribly distorted bodies from the tank. At first firemen were unable to descend into the tank because of gas fumes and most of the bodies were taken out by use of a block and tackle.

Although they had not reached an official decision, investigators today were unanimous in their belief that spontaneous combustion probably caused the explosion in the purifying plant of Public Service Electric and Gas Company, Locust and Cherry streets, which cremated 14 workmen and burned four others yesterday. Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin said today that Lawrence T. Doran, chief of county detectives, still was questioning witnesses, but so far as can be determined, spontaneous combustion was responsible for the tragedy. Baldwin said that it also was possible sawdust used in the purifying process had somehow been ignited. "While the sawdust was smouldering," he said, "one of the 19 men may have removed one of the plates

at the bottom of the tank. It was windy yesterday and an inrush of air might have fanned the fire into a real blaze." Saw 'Little Fire' This would bear out a statement by Rudolph Walker, 37, colored, of 718 South Second street, the only one of the workmen to escape unscathed. He said he saw a "little fire" burning in one corner of the tank and climbed out a moment before the explosion. Coroner Benjamin R. Denny likewise thought spontaneous combustion was the cause. "We will hold an inquest unless the prosecutor and I can determine definitely that this tragedy was not accidental," he said. "As far as we have learned, it was just an unfortunate accident, probably due to spontaneous combustion." The same theory was advanced by Public service officials. The following statement was issued by Walter (Continued on Page Three)

(Continued from Page One) F. Allen, director of publicity, at his office in Newark. "The cause of the explosion has not been learned definitely, but it is believed to have been due to spontaneous combustion." Meanwhile, physicians at Cooper Hospital reported that all but one of the injured are out of danger. The man whose condition still is critical is Spiro Cecich, 37, of 1815 Salem street, who suffered burns over his entire body. Five hours were required to remove the horribly distorted bodies from the tank. At first firemen were unable to descend into the tank because of gas fumes and most of the bodies were taken out by use of a block and tackle.