They were being stored on rail cars sitting on barges, ready to be shipped to Russia to assist them in the war effort.That night, around midnight several small fires were discovered on the pier near the barges. Edgar Clark, a Commissioner with the Interstate Commerce Commission immediately began working on a report to President Woodrow Wilson, and found that there was no violation of federal laws governing the packing and transportation of explosives. And after decades of debate, Germany agreed to pay reparations for the damage. Just Southwest of Liberty Island, which used to be known as Bedloes island there was a munitions depot called Black Tom Island. But the stock of US supplies and financial support were offered to the Allies, and Great Britain welcomed the help. Barges sank, collapsed warehouses buried freight cars, and eventually the entire pier went under. The Lehigh Valley pier was at the center of the explosion. Damaged canal boats in the wreckage after the explosion. "Black Tom is certainly not well known, even in the New York area," Jackson said. German agents who were determined to prevent American munitions shippers from supplying its English enemy during the First World War. The Black Tom explosion was a peak act of German sabotage on American soil during the first World War. The explosions, which occurred on July 30, 1916, in New York Harbor, killed four people and destroyed some $20,000,000 ($500 million in 2023 dollars) worth of military goods. 1.7K views 2 years ago #JerseyCity #HistorysHeadlines It is the early morning hours of July 30, 1916, minutes before the Black Tom Island munitions dump explosion in Jersey City, N.J. will. German spies attacked New York on July 30th, 1916. As far away as Philadelphia and Baltimore, people felt the blast. Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Peter Raceta, the captain of a flatbottom barge in the harbor, was in the cabin watching the fire on Black Tom with two other men. One thing the authorities initially seemed to agree on was that the explosions werent the work of foreign saboteurs. One contemporary newspaper report estimated up to seven deaths in the attack. One of the barges was loaded with 50 tons of TNT. When the explosions, fire and smoke cleared on Monday afternoon, the pier, warehouses, rail cars, locomotives, barges and even Black Tom Island had been obliterated. Well, as reported in many of the newspapers in the aftermath, they thought it was negligence. On July 30th of 1916, German agents detonated a munition depot in New York harbor which resulted in 4 deaths, hundreds of injuries, and damage to the Statue of Liberty. Barges sank, collapsed warehouses buried freight cars, and eventually the entire pier went under. They then fled the scene. IE 11 is not supported. There is a Youtube channel called "The Great War" that covers WW1 week by week and not once do they mention the Black Tom Explosion. The New York Times reported that the explosion was initially attributed to negligence by those working on the island. It wasnt until 1953 when the Federal Republic of Germany agreed to settle the matter and paid the United States $95 million dollars in damages. However, investigators were unable to determine whether the disaster was the result of safety violations by any of these officials. Many guards fled, fearing an explosion. Many Explosions Since War Began New York Times, July 31, 1916. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. It was the largest non nuclear explosion to date. In Sabotage at Black Tom, Jules Witcover draws on his skills as an . It's as if they didn't know the event existed either. Nearby at the Statue of Liberty, a legacy of the disaster remains: Due to the damage the statue sustained on July 30, 1916, its torch has been closed to the public for the last century. A total of 7 people were killed as a result of the series of explosions.And what did the public think caused the explosions? In the darkened . The Black Tom Explosion (1916) From Redditor u/ finlay_mcwalter: A terrorist attack, a massive explosion, a huge pall of smoke hangs over New York harbor. How successful were they? The exhibit is divided into two sections presenting historical and judicial points of view. The U.S. government had a plan for Mare Island and intended to convert it into one of first major Pacific shipyards for the American Navy. [9], On the night of the Black Tom explosion, July 30, 1916, about 2,000,000 pounds (910,000kg) of small arms and artillery ammunition were stored at the depot in freight cars and on barges, including 100,000 pounds (45,000kg) of TNT on Johnson Barge No. In this episode, we talk about German Saboteurs and then chat with Author of Branding Democrats, Ken Weber. The Mixed Claims Commission, set up after World War I to handle damage claims by companies and governments affected by German sabotage, awarded $50 million to plaintiffs in the Black Tom explosionthe largest damage claim of any in the war. A lot of this criticism came because of an 1875 accidental explosion on the island that killed 4 people. Aftermath of German bombing and sabotage of Black Tom Railroad train cars in New Jersey on July 30, 1916. Harrison. On July 30, 1916, an explosion at Black Tom Island rocked New York Harbor. Two hours later, at 2:08 in the morning, a huge explosion rocked the island. Von Rintelen and his ring of helpers was fairly successful in their efforts. The Nazis paid little mind to this finding, and Germany would not settle the debt until 1979. [26] Suspicion at the time fell solely upon suspected German intelligence operatives Kurt Jahnke and Lothar Witzke, who are still judged as legally responsible. Giveaways and swag When Germany proposed to Mexico that it ally itself with the Kaiser against America and when it resumed unrestricted submarine warfare on any enemy or neutral ship crossing the Atlantic, America declared war. In the late 1800s, Jersey City dumped refuse on a rock in New York Harbor. Melted bottle from the Black Tom explosion, Black Tom pier shortly after the explosion, largest artificial non-nuclear explosions, List of German sponsored acts of terrorism during WWI, Largest artificial non-nuclear explosions, List of accidents and incidents involving transport or storage of ammunition, "Long: Terrorism's 100th anniversary | Commentary | roanoke.com", "The Kaiser Sows Destruction: Protecting the Homeland the First Time Around", "Providing Better Terminal Facilities for New York", "Where Street Refuse Goes; The Island of "Black Tom" in New-York Bay How the Offal of the City Adds to the Territory of New-Jersey", "A Terrible Explosion. At 2:08 a.m on July 16, 1916, a munitions depot on Black Tom Island, in the Hudson River just off Jersey City, exploded. The FBI was in its infancy. The Statue of Liberty took more than $100,000 worth of damage; Lady Libertys torch, which was then open to visitors who could climb an interior ladder for a spectacular view, has been closed ever since. Review this podcast athttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589Bonus episodes and content available athttp://Patreon.com/MichaelKentFor special discounts, visithttp://theinternetsaysitstrue.com/deals, Your email address will not be published. The sinking of the Lusitania occurred over a year earlier. Property damage was estimated at $20 million. Three men and a baby were killed by the explosive energy that erupted from this act of sabotage. Sadly, there was no stopping them. A third spy simply walked into the munitions depot, his pockets filled with cigar-shaped bombs. And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts: By 1916, World War I had already been raging for two years. Shrapnel from the explosion even hit the Statue of Liberty. October 18, 2006 | by Gotham Gazette Staff. Advertising Notice [citation needed], This attack was one of many during the German sabotage campaign against the neutral United States, and it is notable for its contribution to the shift of public opinion against Germany, which eventually resulted in American support to enter World War I. "Note: This territory also covered by sheets 84, 85, 86 & 89 of Hudson County, vol. It starts, You are standing on a site which saw one of the worst acts of sabotage in American history!. At 2:08 am, the first and largest of the explosions took place, the second and smaller explosion occurring around 2:40 am. Sentenced to death, he was pardoned in 1923. The term "Black Tom" originally referred to an island in New York Harbor next to Liberty Island. In spite of the magnitude of the attack, Wilson had not wanted to get dragged into World War I. The force of the explosion threw people in Jersey City from their beds. Nearby Ellis island was evacuated. Just outside of Jersey City, the island was a manmade rectangle of land, mostly built up from refuse and rocks in the New York Harbor. The history of Mare Island started in 1853 when the United States government purchased the slender, 3.5 miles long peninsula-like island off Vallejo for around $83,000. They were right. Sign up to access all of it today! The Black Tom explosion on July 30, 1916, in Jersey City, New Jersey, was an act of sabotage on American ammunition supplies by German agents to prevent the materiel from being used by the Allies in World War I. There were five or six other lighters alongside mine at the dock, and a tug was just coming up to drag us away. I dont know what became of the tug or the other lighters. When the explosion came, it seemed as if it was from abovezumpf!like a Zeppelin bomb, he told a reporter from the New York Times. For an event as big as the Black Tom Explosion, why did this well known Youtube channel with over a million subscribers completely ignore the event? [12], After midnight, a series of small fires were discovered on the pier. And explode is barely the word: The shock-waves from Black Tom . Police officers stood outside stores with broken windows following the explosion to prevent looting. By blowing up a munitions depot on Black Tom Island in New York Harbor, Germany slowed the shipment of supplies to Britain and France from the ostensibly neutral United States. Windows were broken as far as 25 miles (40km) away, including thousands in Lower Manhattan. The Black Tom explosion was the peak act of German sabotage on American soil during the First World War. Decades would pass, however, before Germany settled it. At 2:08 am, the first and largest of the explosions took place. [3] Landfill projects later made Black Tom Island part of the mainland, and it was incorporated into Liberty State Park. Congress immediately passed the Espionage Act, which outlawed a variety of crimes associated with German agents; passed several other wartime laws; then the following year passed the Sabotage Act. Summary and Definition: The Black Tom Explosion was an act of German sabotage in New York Harbor during World War One. Two million tons of war materials packed into train cars had blown up in the Black Tom railroad yard on what is now a part of Liberty State Park. This Black Tom Explosion commemorative plaque in Liberty State Park is the only reminder of the incident. Firefighters battled the flames well into the next day after the massive explosion. The Black Tom explosion was an act of sabotage by German agents to destroy U.S.-made munitions that were to be supplied to the Allies in World War I. On July 30, 1916 the Black Tom munitions depot exploded rocking New York Harbor and sending residents tumbling from their beds. Pencil bombs were cigar-sized charges filled with acids placed in copper chambers; the acids would ultimately eat their way through the copper and mingle, creating intense, silent flames. http://www.faqs.org/espionage/Bl-Ch/Black-Tom-Explosion.html The Kiaser Sows Destruction: Protecting the Homeland the First Time Around by Michael Warner. American Passage: This History of Ellis Island by Vincent J. Cannato, HarperCollins, 2009. Black Tom Explosion Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security, by Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner. 7. Firefighters were unable to fight the fires until the bullets and shrapnel stopped flying. Just after 2:00 a.m., an explosion lit the skiesthe equivalent of an earthquake measuring up to 5.5 on the Richter scale, according to a recent study. The damage from the Black Tom explosion stretched across the railroad yard and pier. Shrapnel from the explosion even hit the Statue of Liberty. Even the other agents from the German military didnt know about his secret orders. It also meant fewer people would remember what happened at Black Tom. While the United States had not yet entered World War I and was officially neutral, American munitions dealers could legally sell to any of the warring nations. "When the explosion came, it seemed as if it was from abovezumpf!like a Zeppelin bomb," he said, according to Smithsonian Magazine. ", At the Woolworth building, the tallest skyscraper in the world at the time, watchmen feared that the world was ending. Germ Warfare in WWI Used on Horses in the U.S. Fall 2017, Vol. The Black Tom explosion of July 30th, 1916, was so large it could be felt in Philadelphia, ninety miles away. The term "Black Tom" originally referred to an island in New York Harbor next to Liberty Island. Employees on the island started frantically trying to fight the fires, and eventually called the Jersey City Fire Department for help. The noise of the explosion was heard as far away as Maryland and Connecticut. Millions of Persons Heard and Felt Shock New York Times, July 31, 1916. [44], The Statue of Liberty's torch was closed to the public following the explosion, due to structural damages. Its thought that, had the Richter scale existed, the Black Tom Island explosions would have registered somewhere around a 5.5.It wasnt until the next morning that most of the city saw the devastation. [6] By 1880, the island was transformed into a 25-acre (10ha) promontory,[7] and a causeway and railroad had been built to connect it with the mainland to use as a shipping depot. It would take years for a persistent team of American lawyers to find sufficient evidence that showed that in fact the disaster had been plotted by the Germans. They approached the island and easily snuck past the eight guards on duty, placing explosives and setting small fires all over before hastily leaving. America was full of hard-working Germans looking for the American dream and with all of the safety issues on Black Tom Island, its like they werent even looking for a saboteur.But the truth was much darker. Despite Americas claim of neutrality in World War I, it was no secret that the United States was selling massive quantities of munitions to the British. that the bombing involved some of the techniques developed by German agents working for Ambassador Count Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff, who covertly acted as a spymaster while under German Foreign Office cover, and Captain Franz von Rintelen of the intelligence wing of the German Imperial Navy, using the cigar bombs developed by Dr. Walter Scheele[de]. | [17][18], Property damage from the attack was estimated at $20,000,000 (equivalent to about $498,000,000 in 2021). Woolworth Tower Watchmen Pray Chicago Daily Tribune, July 31, 1916. Total damage was calculated at $45 million ($1.127 trillion in 2021), with damage to Lady Liberty costing $100,000 ($2.5 million in 2021) alone. Used as a munitions warehouse for the Allies, Black Tom Island in the New York Harbor rarely gained any attention during WWII. 1, The Bizarre Legend Of Belsnickel, The Centuries-Old Christmas Figure From German Folklore, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Books: The Detonators: The Secret Plot to Destroy America and an Epic Hunt for Justice by Chad Millman, Little, Brown and Company, 2006. The Little-Known Story Of The Black Tom Explosion That Rocked New York In 1916. A game of tag; see British Bulldog (game) Black Tom. After shrapnel from the blast hit the Statue of Liberty, its torch, which was once used as a viewpoint from which visitors could enjoy spectacular views of the city, became unsafe for visitors and guests are still barred from entering the torch to this day. On Ellis Island, terrified immigrants were evacuated by ferry to the Battery. In spite of newspaper headlines claiming that dozens died, the official tally counted four deaths. And when it erupted, the blast destroyed warehouses, train cars, and piers. One of the largest profiteers was J.P. Morgan and the same German agent, Eric Muenter broke into the home of Morgan and shot him twice. 17. On July 30, 1916, Kaiser Wilhelm's German agents, exploded the largest munitions depot on the east coast, Black Tom Island. Your email address will not be published. The sheer magnitude of the explosions at Black Tom is difficult to fathom. On the night of July 30, 1916, Black Tom Island held 2 million pounds of explosives. In this episode, we talk about German Saboteurs and then chat with Author of "Branding Democrats," Ken Weber. Discusses the circumstances and German plotting that surrounded the sabotage explosion at the Black Tom munitions depot in New York Harbor on July 30, 1916 Print length 339 pages Language English Publisher Algonquin Books Publication date May 1, 1989 ISBN-10 0912697989 ISBN-13 978-0912697987 See all details The Amazon Book Review
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