| ID | #1632839863 |
| Added | Tue, 28/09/2021 |
| Author | July N. |
| Sources | The Philadelphia Bulletin
|
| Phenomena | |
| Status | Research
|
Initial data
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, BULLETIN, January 24, 1916, p.
After reports of an airship over DuPont factories, representatives of the society are asked to observe the machines
Federal agents asked Robert E. Glendinning and Clark Thomson, well-known in public circles and owners of seaplanes, to guard their planes so that they could not be used in an air raid on DuPont powder mills in New Jersey and Delaware.
Government investigators have demanded that the "flying boats" that are stored along the Delaware River be dismantled or put under protection, and they were told that the engine parts on each of them were removed last November, when the aviators stopped flying for the winter.
Under no circumstances can they be used, Mr. Glendinning and Mr. Clark assured the investigators, unless the missing parts are replaced by experts. They also stated that they were sure that their cars were not used without their knowledge.
It is believed that the visit of federal investigators was influenced by reports circulated in cities near Pennsgrove, New Jersey, that a plane was heard circling over the powder mills at night.
Mr. Glendinning is a member of the firm of Robert Glendinning and Company, Bankers, Fourth and Chestnut Streets, and Mr. Thomson is the son of a former president of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Mr. Glendinning has a hangar in Essington, right under the Philadelphia Yacht Club, and Mr. Thomson's car was stored in a tent next to the shooting range on the seashore at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
Two residents of Paulsboro and several workers employed at the dynamite factory in Gibbstown claim that they clearly heard the buzzing of an airplane propeller over the city and the factory, and they say that on the night of the explosion, a car flew over the factory, when five people were recently injured.
Jesse K. Wilkerson and Wilbert McLane are residents of Paulsboro who categorically claim that they heard the plane, and that they and their neighbors fell out of bed when they were attracted by a noise in the sky. They couldn't see the car. Mr. Glendinning today acknowledged that federal agents are conducting an investigation.
"I have no right to disclose what information the agents gave me," he said. "It is true that I was visited and asked about my car and whether there is any danger that it could be stolen for a raid on a powder factory. I told my visitor that my car was disassembled and that it was safe."
Federal officers here deny that they are actively involved in the investigation, and say that the investigators could have come from Washington.
After the explosions at the DuPont factories in New Jersey, there were repeated rumors that the aviators were to blame and that explosives were dropped on the buildings. DuPont Powder Company officials said they did not trust the reports and added that they knew nothing about the interrogations of Mr. Glendinning and Mr. Thomson about their aircraft.
Each of the powder factories is so protected by armed guards and high wire fences that, according to official statements of the DuPont company, an attack by enemies, except from the sky, is declared impossible. They explain all the explosions at their work either by negligence on the part of employees, or by unavoidable accidents.
Original news
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, BULLETIN, 24 January 1916, page
GUARD 'PLANES TO AVERT POWDER RAIDS
Following Reports of Airship Over duPont Plants, Society Men Are Asked to Watch Machines
FEDERAL AGENTS AT WORK
Robert E. Glendinning and Clarke Thomson, prominent in society circles and owners of hydro-aeroplanes, have been asked by Federal agents to guard their planes so they cannot be used in an air raid on the duPont powder mills in New Jersey and Delaware.
The government investigators requested that the "flying boats," which are stored along the Delaware river, be dismantled or placed under guard, and were informed that parts of engines on each were removed last November when the aviators gave up flying for the winter.
Under no circumstances could they be used, Mr. Glendinning and Mr. Clarke assured the investigators unless the missing parts were replaced by experts. They also said they were positive their machines has not been used without their knowledge.
The visit of the Federal investigators, it is believed, was influenced by reports prevalent in towns near Pennsgrove, N. J., that an aeroplane had been heard at night circling over the powder mills.
Mr. Glendinning is a member of the firm of Robert Glendinning and Company, bankers, Fourth and Chestnut sts., and Mr. Thomson is a son of a former president of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Mr. Glendinning has a hangar at Essington, just below the Philadelphia Yacht Club, while Mr. Thomson's machine has been stored in a tent near the rifle range along the water front at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
Two Paulsboro residents and several workmen employed at the dynamite plant at Gibbstown declare they distinctly heard the whirring of an aeroplane propeller over the town and plant, and they say a machine sailed over the works the night of the explosion when five men were injured recently.
Jesse K. Wilkerson and Wilbert McLain are the Paulsboro residents who emphatically assert they heard an aeroplane, and that they and neighbors tumbled out of bed when they were attracted by the noise in the sky. They could not see the machine. Mr. Glendinning to-day admitted that Federal agents were conducting an investigation.
"I am not at liberty to disclose what information the agents imparted to me," he declared. "It is true I was visited and asked about my machine and whether there was any danger it might be stolen for use in a raid on a powder works. I told my visitor my machine was dismantled, and that it was safe."
Federal officers here deny they are active in the investigation, and say the investigators may have come from Washington.
There have been repeated rumors following explosions at the duPont plants in New Jersey that aviators were responsible, and that explosives were dropped upon the buildings. Officials of the duPont Powder Company said they placed no credence in the reports, and added they knew nothing of Mr. Glendinning and Mr. Thomson having been questioned about their flying machines.
The belief, however, that there is a mysterious aviator, who makes nightly excursions, has grown into a fully developed report in the New Jersey towns, in the vicinity of the powder plants, and is spreading. According to reports in Paulsboro, the skies are swept at night by curious persons who expect to see a 'plane in a raid on one of the plants.
Each of the powder plants is so protected by armed guards and high wire fences that an attack by enemies, except fromthe skies, is declared to be impossible, according to official statements of the duPont company. They have ascribed all explosions in their works either to carelessness on the part of employes or to unavoidable accidents.
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