1903 — March 2, Edison Portland-cement plant coal dust explosion, New Village, NJ — 9-13
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 6-1-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 15 Easton Express, PA. “Fatal Explosion.” 3-3-1981.
— 15 Owen. Sheetrock & Shellac. 2006, p. 141.
— 15 Primerano, Jane. “N.J. Cemented in History.” The Express-Times[1] [Easton, PA?]
— 15 Shrope, Elizabeth. Author of poem on the explosion printed in Easton Express, 3-5-1981.[2]
— 15 Warren. “The worst disaster in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties.” NJ.com, 2-25-2019.[3]
–9-13 Blanchard (see note below).
— 9 Easton Express, PA. “Supt. Darling Dead…Ninth Victim to Succumb…” 3-16-1903, p. 5.
— 9 Morning Herald, Hagerstown, MD. “Ninth Victim of Easton Explosion.” 3-17-1903, p. 2.
Blanchard note: In an exploration of newspapers which we took to the end of 1903 we found a number of articles noting, eventually, nine deaths, the last of the nine being on March 15 (we show names of nine fatalities, with the last of the nine being Edward Darling). Upon the death of the eighth victim, George Bowman, on March 5th, it was noted (Washington Star, March 12) that there were four seriously injured in a hospital (Easton) where all the injured were reported to have been taken (with exception of Darling), and two were not expected to survive, Harry Wesklein (or Wilkmein) and Clinton S. Rice. We know that one of the four (Edward Darling) died. If all four died then this would have totaled to 12 deaths. However we have been unable to locate accounts of a tenth death, much less 15.
Another article (Easton Express, 3-16-1903), writes that after Darling’s death (noted as the 9th death), there were four seriously injured sill in the Easton Hospital (where all the injured except for Darling were reported to have been taken), though they were “slowly improving.” If accurate, and all four died despite being in an improving condition, then the death toll would be 13.
Have seen no report of one or more injured men taken anywhere but the hospital at Easton.
If six men died after the death of Darling (which would total 15) then the Washington Star article of March 5th and the Easton Express article of March 16, were incorrect in writing that there were but four injured remaining in Easton Hospital. We see no evidence however that there were more than nine deaths.
I have searched the web for mentions of the injured noted in New York Times. “Six Killed: A Score Hurt in Explosion.” 3-3-1903, p. 1, but without success. Mr. McGinn, with the Jane Moyer Library, Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, Easton, PA, in response to my query, informs me that he reviewed the Easton Express obituary index for 1903-1907 looking for the names of the nine injured men in the NYT article of March 3, and found no listings for any of them.
Incidentally, the New York Times article of March 3, just mentioned, names 6 fatalities and 9 injured, which happens to total to 15 men. We speculate that this, or another paper noting the same listing, might well be the source of reports of 15 fatalities. Fifteen casualties thus became fifteen fatalities.
Thus we choose to show 9-13 deaths because it is possible that all four of the injured as of March 16 did die, though we are skeptical and are of the opinion that the death toll was nine.
Narrative Information
Easton Express, PA. “Fatal Explosion.” 3-3-1981: “Monday marked the 78th anniversary of one of the area’s worst industrial disasters – a coal dust explosion at the Edison Cement Co. in New Village, Warren County, which killed 15 persons.
“The accident occurred at about 5:10 p.m., March 2, 1903, in Franklin Township (then part of Pohatcong Township), as night shift employees were reporting to work at the facility owned by Thomas A. Edison. A spark is believed to have ignited a supply of pulverized coal dust – a fuel used in place of oil to bake cement.
“Several of the workers fought the small fire with buckets of water and ‘hand grenades,’ according to an account in the March 3, 1903 edition of the Easton Express, and almost brought it under control.
“A small explosion, followed 10 minutes later by a huge explosion, rocked the plant. The frame building was destroyed by the subsequent fire and six men were killed immediately. Many of those badly burned were taken by train to Phillipsburg and then to Easton Hospital.
“A special train carrying doctors and nurses was dispatched to New Village by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad to assist and to bring back the victims. Most of the employees at the plant lived in the Easton, Phillipsburg, Stewartsville and Washington areas.
“In all, 15 men were killed. A coroner’s jury ruled the accident was just that – an accident – with no negligence on the part of Edison’s firm. The damage, estimated at between $60,000 and $200,000, was repaired and the plant resumed operations….” (Microfiche copy provided by Howard McGinn, volunteer researcher, Jane Moyer Library, Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, Easton, PA, May 30, 2025.)
Owen: “One of America’s earliest and most vocal concrete evangelists was Thomas Edison, who built a Portland-cement mill in New Village, New Jersey, in 1899, and whose lifetime list of a thousand and ninety-three U.S. patents includes forty-nine related directly to cement or concrete. For the New Village plant, Edison built gigantic rotary kilns – tumbling brick-lined steel tubes a hundred and fifty feet long and more than eight feet in diameter – and used steam shovels, rather than wheelbarrows, to feed them. Firing the kilns at peak production consumed two hundred and fifty tons of powdered coal a day and gave off fumes so intense that Edison used the waste heat to generate power for other operations at the plant. In 1903, a coal-dust explosion killed fifteen workers and destroyed much of the plant; Edison quickly rebuilt it.” (Owen, David. Sheetrock & Shellac: A Thinking Person’s Guide to the Art and Science of Home Improvement. NY: Simon & Schuster, 2006, p. 141.)
Warren. “The worst disaster in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties.” NJ.com, 2-25-2019:
“New Village cement plant explosion – A cement plant owned by Thomas Edison in New Village exploded in 1903, killing 15 workers.”
Newspapers
March 2, NYT: “STEWARTSVILLE, N. J., March 2.—An explosion in the Edison Portland cement plant, at New Village, two miles east of here, this evening, killed six persons and injured a score of others. Property valued at $100,000 was destroyed.
“The explosion occurred at 5:40 o’clock, just as the shifts were changing from day to night forces, and many were injured whose names it is yet impossible to learn. The plant employs about 350 men on each force. The cause of the disaster is unknown. The explosion was in the coal blower house, where the coal is ground to dust to be fed to the burners which transform the chalk into cement clinker ready for grinding into cement. It may have been caused by spontaneous combustion. The flying timbers and machinery injured many persons after the explosion had ended.
“As soon as the news spread the workmen’s families rushed to the plant, women and children screaming, and calling for their husbands and fathers, who were supposed to be in the wreckage. Messages were sent to this place and Washington for physicians, and the Fire Department of the latter place was called out. It was carried to the scene on a special train.
“The excitement was augmented by the fact that there were seventy tons of coal-dust in the bins, and it was believed that it was liable to explode at any moment, spreading fire to the oil tanks to the south of the coal-blower house. Flames soon started in the wrecked building, and it seemed that a general conflagration would ensue That, however, was averted, though the coal-blower house. the cold-storage house, and the coal-dryer house are in ruins.
“The coal blower house was 150 by 75 feet three stories high. The cold-storage house was 20 by 20, and the coal-drier house 50 by 70, each being three stories in height. A special train was run from Easton to take the injured from the wreck to the Easton Hospital. Coroner L. N. Shrope of Warren County engaged an undertaker to care for the dead.
“The scene about the wreck was horrifying. Men whose faces were burned to a crisp were crying piteously for help, and the bodies of the dead could be seen where the flames were gradually creeping toward them. The following are the names of the victims, so far as known:
DEAD.
[Highlighted in yellow are the nine named fatalities in Shrope poem.]
BRYANT (or Bryan[4], AL [or Alveh, 24[5]]. Washington: employed as mixer.
BROADHEAD, ROBERT, (colored), [~40[6]] Washington; laborer in the coal blower house.
MYERS [or Meyes[7] or Meyers, 25[8]], James. Stewartsville; night foreman of the coal plant.
SMITH. DANIEL, 27[9]. New Village. [or Daniel O. Smith, about 40][10]
TOMPKINS [or Hopkins[11], or Thompkins. 35[12], or Tompkin[13]], NATHAN, Broadway; night foreman of the clink fine grinder.
[PHILLIPS, Edward, about 25[14], Phillipsburg, NJ.][15]
INJURED.
Blanford, Charles, Phillipsburg.
Bowman, George, Broadway; timekeeper. [Died March 5]
Darling, E. A., general superintendent. [Died March 15]
[Deamond, John, of Hackettstown.][16]
Goodwilley, R. H. Easton; chief electrician.
Rice, Clinton S., Easton; laborer
Rose, Harry, Phillipsburg; foreman
Statts, William; night superintendent. [Died March 4]
Weaklein, Harry, New Village; electrician.
Wolfe [or Wolf], Alexander, Stewartsville.
….
“The Edison cement plant has been in operation about three years, and represents a large investment. The plant has suffered seriously from accidents, and was just beginning to enjoy a prosperous season.
“The buildings destroyed are the most necessary of the whole plant, and a total suspension of work must result. The company is financed by New York and Philadelphia capitalists. William H. Shemerdine of Philadelphia being President. Thomas A. Edison is interested in the works. The Superintendent, E. A. Darling, was seriously if not fatally burned.” (New York Times. “Six Killed: A Score Hurt in Explosion.” 3-3-1903, p. 1.)
[Note: of the ten named injured men noted above, the Washington Star of March 5 writes that “nine were taken to the Easton hospital and one, E. A. Darling, was taken to his home.]
March 5: “Easton, Pa., March 5. – William Staats, night superintendent of the Edison Cement plant at New Village, N. J., died yesterday from burns received in the explosion at the works on Monday night. This makes the seventh fatality.” (Oswego Daily Palladium, NY. “Seventh Fatality From Explosion.” 3-5-1903, p. 3.)
March 6: “In Easton, Pa. yesterday, George F. Bowman died, making the eighth dead from the Edison cement mill explosion at New Village, N.J., last Monday evening.” (Salt Lake Tribune. “Telegraph Shortstops.” 3-6-1903, p. 13.)
March 11: “The condition of the four men who are still in the Easton Hospital, suffering from the effects of the injuries received when the explosion occurred at the Edison Cement Company’s plant, at New Village, N.J., last Monday evening a week ago, is reported to be steadily improving and now it is confidently expected that they will all recover.” (Easton Express, PA. “Injured Men Likely to Recover.” 3-11-1903, p. 5. (Microfiche copy provided by Howard McGinn, volunteer researcher, Jane Moyer Library, Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, Easton, PA, May 30, 2025.)
March 12: “The explosion which took place at the Edison cement plant near New Village on Monday evening of last week caused the machinery of the entire plant to be stopped until yesterday, when the clinker fine grinders were again put in operation. The shipping department resumed business on Monday. The bagging force is again at work and with the return to work of the force employed in the clinker fine grinder there is between 150 and 200 men again employed.
….
“Notwithstanding the partial resumption of work, there is a gloom cast by the horror of the recent accident, that is noticeable all about the plant wherever workmen are employed. The pale blue smoke which constantly rises from the bin of coal dust which is on fire in one of the wrecked buildings is sadly suggestive of a funeral pyre. In the coal blower house there were still heaps of burning coal dust which when the ash covering was brushed away presented a white-heat fire a week after the explosion….
“The unfortunate men who lost their lives in the disaster have been buried, the last funeral being that of George Bowman who was buried on Monday from his home in Broadway….
….
“Since matters have quieted and the confusion following the accident has died away, further facts are being unearthed concerning the explosion. One of the latest developments is the fact that there were two separate and distinct explosions, and the interim was from ten to twenty minutes. So far as can be learned, only one persons was hurt in the first explosion, that was Harry Rose of Phillipsburg, a night foreman. He was so severely burned that he was taken to the office and Dr. Curtis of Stewartsville was called to attend him.
“Then there came the big explosion, resulting so fatally. A second summons was sent to Stewartsville for physicians….
….
“The four injured men who are in the Easton hospital continue very low. The condition of Harry Wesklein [or Wilkmein] and Clinton S. Rice is possibly the most critical and it is yet very, very doubtful if they recover.….
“Late reports from the Easton hospital[17] state that the injured continue in a serious condition.” (Washington Star, NJ. “Cement Plant Resumes Work…More Injured May Die.” 3-12-1903, p. 1.)
March 15: “Phillipsburg, N. J., March 15. – Edward A. Darling [37],[18] superintendent of the Edison Portland Cement plant at New Village, died at Stewartville today from injuries received by the explosion at the plant on March 2. [9th death][19] The body was sent to his home at No. 126 West One Hundred and Twenty-third street, New York.” (The World, NYC. “Explosion Caused His Death.” 3-16-1903, p. 9.)
March 16: “Edward A. Darling, general superintendent of the Edison Cement Company’s big plant at New Village, N.J., died yesterday morning at his home at Stewartsville from the effects of the injuries he received at the time of the explosion of coal dust at the plant on Monday evening, March 2. Mr. Darling was one of the ten men who were seriously hurt, and is the third of them to die, making the total number of deaths caused by the accident nine to date, six having been killed at the time the explosion took place, either torn to pieces or roasted to death in the flames that followed and destroyed the coal houses and conveyors of the plant.
“The general superintendent was directing me men to extinguish a small fire that had been burning in one of the building when the fatal explosion occurred. He was thrown several yards by the shock and was badly burned about the head, face and body.
“Mr. Darling was 37 years old and was a graduate of Cornell University. He resided at 126 West One Hundred and Twenty-third street, New York city, prior to moving to Stewartsville. Darling’s remains were taken to New York city yesterday afternoon.
“Four of the six injured men who were brought to Easton and taken to the hospital are reported to be slowly improving, although their conditions are still serious. The other two brought here died in the hospital.” (Easton Express, PA. “Supt. Darling Dead. He was the Ninth Victim to Succumb to Burns Received in the Edison Explosion.” 3-16-1903, p. 5. Microfiche copy provided by Howard McGinn, volunteer researcher, Jane Moyer Library, Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, Easton, PA, May 30, 2025.)
Sources
Easton Express, PA. “Fatal Explosion.” 3-3-1981. Microfiche copy provided by Howard McGinn, volunteer researcher, Jane Moyer Library, Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, Easton, PA, May 30, 2025.
Easton Express, PA. “Injured Men Likely to Recover.” 3-11-1903, p. 5. Microfiche copy provided by Howard McGinn, volunteer researcher, Jane Moyer Library, Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, Easton, PA, May 30, 2025.
Easton Express, PA. “Supt. Darling Dead. He was the Ninth Victim to Succumb to Burns Received in the Edison Explosion.” 3-16-1903, p. 5. Microfiche copy provided by Howard McGinn, volunteer researcher, Jane Moyer Library, Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, Easton, PA, May 30, 2025.
Fitchburg Sentinel, MA. “Explosion Killed Nine.” 3-16-1903, p. 7. Accessed 5-15-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fitchburg-sentinel-mar-16-1903-p-7/
Lowell Daily Courier, MA. “In Critical Condition.” 3-4-1903, p. 4. Accessed 5-15-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-daily-courier-mar-04-1903-p-4/
Morning Herald, Hagerstown, MD. “Ninth Victim of Easton Explosion.” 3-17-1903, p. 2. Accessed 5-15-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hagerstown-morning-herald-mar-17-1903-p-2/
New York Times. “Six Killed: A Score Hurt in Explosion.” 3-3-1903, p. 1, col. 2. Accessed 5-15-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-times-mar-03-1903-p-1/
Oswego Daily Palladium, NY. “Seventh Fatality From Explosion.” 3-5-1903, p. 3. Accessed 5-15-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oswego-daily-palladium-mar-05-1903-p-3/
Owen, David. Sheetrock & Shellac: A Thinking Person’s Guide to the Art and Science of Home Improvement. NY: Simon & Schuster, 2006. Accessed 5-15-2025 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=084O32ukZIUC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Primerano, Jane. “N.J. Cemented in History.” The Express-Times[20] [Easton, PA?] Accessed 5-15-2025 at: https://sites.rootsweb.com/~njwarren/edison.html
Salt Lake Tribune. “Telegraph Shortstops.” 3-6-1903, p. 13. Accessed 5-15-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/salt-lake-tribune-mar-06-1903-p-13/
Shrope, Elizabeth Struck. Author of poem on the explosion printed in Easton Express, 3-5-1981, cited above.
The World, NYC. “Explosion Caused His Death.” 3-16-1903, p. 9. Accessed 5-15-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/world-mar-16-1903-p-9/
Warren, Michael Sol. “The worst disaster in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties.” NJ.com, 2-25-2019. Accessed 5-15-2025 at:
https://www.nj.com/life-and-culture/g66l-2019/02/6c318b30e95860/the-worst-disaster-in-each-of-new-jerseys-21-counties-.html
Washington Star, Washington, NJ. “Cement Plant Resumes Work…More Injured May Die.” 3-12-1903, p. 1. Accessed 5-15-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/washington-star-mar-12-1903-p-1/
Washington Star, NJ. “Six Men Instantly Killed and Twelve Horribly Burned.” 3-5-1903, p. 1. Accessed 5-15-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/washington-star-mar-05-1903-p-1/
[1] “Six men were killed instantly and many others were injured, according to the March 3, 1903, edition of The Easton Express. The death toll eventually rose to 15. Many of the victims died of burns.”
[2] While the long poem notes 15 deaths towards its end, much of the poem is about named fatalities – nine of them, the same nine we have noted as fatalities.
[3] Cites Owen.
[4] Shrope, Elizabeth Struck. Author of poem on the explosion printed in Easton Express, 3-5-1981.
[5] Washington Star, NJ. “Six Men Instantly Killed and Twelve Horribly Burned.” 3-5-1903, p. 1.
[6] Washington Star, NJ. “Six Men Instantly Killed and Twelve Horribly Burned.” 3-5-1903, p. 1.
[7] Lowell Daily Courier, MA. “In Critical Condition.” 3-4-1903, p. 4.
[8] Washington Star, NJ. “Six Men Instantly Killed and Twelve Horribly Burned.” 3-5-1903, p. 1.
[9] Washington Star, Washington, NJ. “Cement Plant Resumes Work…More Injured May Die.” 3-12-1903, p. 1.
[10] Washington Star, NJ. “Six Men Instantly Killed and Twelve Horribly Burned.” 3-5-1903, p. 1.
[11] Lowell Daily Courier, MA. “In Critical Condition.” 3-4-1903, p. 4.
[12] Washington Star, NJ. “Six Men Instantly Killed and Twelve Horribly Burned.” 3-5-1903, p. 1.
[13] Shrope, Elizabeth Struck. Author of poem on the explosion printed in Easton Express, 3-5-1981.
[14] Washington Star, NJ. “Six Men Instantly Killed and Twelve Horribly Burned.” 3-5-1903, p. 1.
[15] Lowell Daily Courier, MA. “In Critical Condition.” 3-4-1903, p. 4.
[16] Washington Star, NJ. “Six Men Instantly Killed and Twelve Horribly Burned.” 3-5-1903, p. 1.
[17] Paper had noted on 5th that nine of the ten injured were taken to Easton Hospital. E.A. Darling was taken home.
[18] Morning Herald, Hagerstown, MD. “Ninth Victim of Easton Explosion.” 3-17-1903, p. 2.
[19] Fitchburg Sentinel, MA. “Explosion Killed Nine.” 3-16-1903, p. 7.
[20] “Six men were killed instantly and many others were injured, according to the March 3, 1903, edition of The Easton Express. The death toll eventually rose to 15. Many of the victims died of burns.”