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Easton Express-Williver Augustus 2/24/1942 p.1
Two Men Lose Lives In Powder Blast At Hackettstown Plant
Workmen Busy Clearing Up Debris At Essex Specialty Company Works,Which Is Engaged in Goverment Work.
Workmen were busy today clearing up the debris at the plant of the Essex Specialty Company,Stiger street,Hackettstown,where an explosion in the powder mixing room late yesterday afternoon resulted in the deaths of two men and injury to several other persons.The plant is engaged in goverment work.These killed were August Willever,40 years old,of Liberty street,and Charles Walter Sutton,64,of Railroad avenue,both of Hackettstown.
Painfully injured was Horace Houck,of Washington street,Hackettstown.Five others employes,Malcom Beatty,Vienna;Alex Gration,Budd Lake;Sarah Bachman,Edna Hayes,and Jennie Metzgar,all of Hackettstown,suffered minor cuts and were treated by Dr.Walter L.Harmon at the plant first aid station.The blast which came just before the 4 o'clock change of shift,rocked the town,and could be heard several miles away.
The building, which housed the mixing room,was about 400 feet long and about 20 feet wide.One end contained the boller room with a carpenter shop between that and the mixing room.The blast completly tore away the mixing room,and part of the carpenter shop.The boller room remained undamaged.
Thrown Clear of Building
Willever was employed as powder mixer and was alone in the room when the explosion happened.He was thrown clear of the building,his body being found about 20 feet away.Sutton,employed as a laborer,around the yard,was just outside the door of the mixing room,when the blast came,and his body was found about 50 feet away.Both were killed instanly.
Houck,employed as a carpenter,was in the carpenter shop at the time and his escape from further injuries was due to the fact that he was bending over picking up some lumber at the time the explosion came,he said if he had been standing up he would have received the full charge.As it was ,most of it went over his head.He suffered a broken nose,and numerous lacerations and burns about the head and hands.He was treated by Dr.D.M,Shevitz,of Grand avenue,and was taken to his home.It was his first day back on the job after several weeks illness.The cause of the explosion is not known.Officials of the Company would make no statement,aside from the fact that goverment officials were making a complete investergation.The company employs about 125 persons,90 of which are woman.
Wild Rush Results
The blast resulted in a wild rush to escape by many of the employes.A large number of girls and women were working in a nearby building ,and they fled for safety.Some of them tried to escape by climbing over a high barbed-wire fence,suffering scratches,and tearing their clothing.However,no more blast followed the blow-up in the mixing room.The bodies of the dead were ordered removed to the Cochran funeral home,Hackettstown,by County Physician,Dr.Herman Baldauf,of Belvidere.
Willever,unmarried,lived with his parents,Mr.and Mrs.Charles Willever.He was an only child.He was a member of the Knoghts of the Golden Eagle,and up to their disbandment,several years ago,was an active member of the Odd Fellows and P.O.S.of A.He was born in Dover,N.J.,the family moving to Hackettstown when he was 14 years old.He was one of the oldest employes in the company in years of service.Funeral services will be held for Willever,Thursday at 2:30 p.m.from the Cochran Fineral Home,the Rev.Robert C.Lintner officiating.Burial in Union cemetery.
Sutton is survived by his widow,Grace Sutton,one daughter,Mrs.Joseph Snyder Jr.,of Hackettstown,six step daughters,Mrs.Elizabeth Cowens,Mrs.Stanley Wilson,Mrs.Wesley Snyder,all of Hackettstown;Mrs.Charles Pearce Delware,N.J.,Mrs.Anna Miller,Stroudsburg,Pa.,and Mrs.John Johnson,address unknown;one sister,Mrs.Anna Walters,and one niece,Mrs.Sydney Dickson,both of Hackettstown.Funeral services will be held for Sutton,Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock at Union cemetery,the Rev.Robert C.Lintner,officiating.
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