Brown's Island Munition Explosion in Richmond-- Part 1

From the March 4, 2013, Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch "Brown's Island munitions explosion was worst wartime disaster in Richmond" by Katherine Cales.

This is more information about yesterday's post.  I had never heard of this explosion.

The dedication actually took place this last Saturday, March 9th.  It is regarded as Richmond's worst homefront disaster during the war.  More than 40 female workers were killed.

The reason an exact death toll isn't known was because the victims were afterwards often taken to their homes.  This is of interest in that the factory was employing mostly female workers much like the Rosie the Riveters I'm writing about in my World War II blog.

The first blast lifted Mary Ryan off the floor and the second blew her to the ceiling.  Forty-plus workers, mostly women, died.

This shocked the city and caused an outpouring of sympathy and money.

More to Come.  --Old Secesh