a half dozen boroughs within a radius of ten miles

a half dozen boroughs within a radius of ten miles

The blast that shook "a half dozen boroughs within a radius of ten miles" killed 139 people and detonated roughly eighteen tons of black powder inside "F" Building at Eddystone on April 10, 1917 - yet the official cause was never determined. How did a classified ad, a rush order and malfunctioning machinery turn an industrial day into one of the deadliest workplace disasters in American history?

In this episode, we tell what happened that Monday morning at the Eddystone Ammunition Corporation, who worked inside "F" Building and what risks were already known at the plant, then follow the cascade of explosions and the frantic efforts to stop fire from reaching over fifty tons of powder on site. Could a shorted wire and a rush workforce explain how 300 to 380 women arrived for a shift and did not leave?

Person: John Hansen Date: April 10, 1917 Location: Eddystone Ammunition Corporation, near Chester, Pennsylvania Event: Explosion in "F" Building Deaths: 139

- Approximately 300 to 380 women and girls reported for each shift at "F" Building. - Roughly 70 additional workers were hired two weeks before April 10 to meet a rush order. - Approximately 18 tons of black powder ignited and detonated in sequence inside the loading room. - More than 50 additional tons of black powder were stored elsewhere on the plant grounds during the fire. - Rescue worker John Hansen lost a leg to flying shrapnel while pulling people from the rubble.

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