DOCSLIB.ORG

03 1916 Black Tom Explosion Storage Munition Supplies In

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
03 1916 Black Tom Explosion Storage Munition Supplies In READING 03 1916 Black Tom Explosion, storage munition supplies in New York City Chapter 23 New Jersey Black Tom Explosion - ‘Johnson Barge Numbered 17’ July 30, 1916 “Our event will take place on the morning of July 1. This is a good beginning to the American Independence Day celebration,” said von Berstoroff to his staff. “Our agents are in place?” “Yes,” said Red Cagan. “So, you have trained them well,” von Berstoroff said. “Zimmerman gave me good people. They will handle the job,” Red Cagan responded. “Johnson and I have completed our side of the operation. The barge is in place. It was taken over by the port authorities because we did not complete a needed form—as planned. A payment is now due to free it from Black Tom’s Wharf. “It is in place with the proper name on the side of the vessel. Payments have been completed to the right points. All is ready.” Said Cagan. “My team will be watching them to make sure the night goes as we planned. “Then you will take all the blame, as we have arranged. Where are you off to next?” asked von Berstoroff, with a twitch of his eye. “I fear I am off to complete plans in central US and up in the Montreal area. But the less you know about our plans, the safer we all will be.” said Cagan. Cagan wasn’t sure if he really trusted his German friend. “Your Black Tom’s Wharf plan will make a wonderful contribution to the city’s summers port fireworks celebrations.” He said. Cagan did trust his three German agent’s friends. They understood each other. Money was their trust. The three German agents—Michael Kristoff, a Slovak immigrant; Kurt Jahnke; and his assistant, Lothar Witzke—were waiting for dark, seated in a small fishing shack on the shoreline of the Jersey coast, with fishing gear thrown around the room. It was a run-down, wind swept grey hole in the wall. The door, closed and locked, was facing the wharf. One window was facing the ocean. The second cracked window faced another shack a few feet away. They would wait until late at night. No one else was around, or so they thought. There was a bottle on the table. They talked and drank as they developed their plan of attack. "What has Von Berstoroff got us into this time?" asked Jahnke. "Listen as I explain the lay out," responded Kristoff. “We're going to blow up barge over on Black Tom Island." "Isn't that one a major munition depot for the northeastern United States?" asked Witzke. “The term "Black Tom" originally referred to an island in New York Harbour next to Liberty Island. It got its name from an early black resident. By 1880, a causeway and railroad had been built to connect it with the mainland to use as a shipping depot.” Said Kristoff. Kristoff explained the story in detail, while they were waiting in the fishing shack. “Between 1905 and 1916, the Lehigh Valley Railroad owned the island and causeway. They expanded the island with landfill. “Later, the entire area was annexed by Jersey City. Then they built this mile-long pier on the island. Now it is housed with a depot and warehouses for the National Dock and Storage Company.” "That right!" Jahnke continued. "Von Berstoroff has the barge tied up at Black Tom to avoid a twenty-five- dollar towing charge. He's got two of his own German agents guarding it. “He's also got the Irish mob into this. They are in on this job on the other side of the harbour. “I heard James Larkin's group are participating in other acts of sabotage tonight as well. They're causing work slowdowns and strikes for higher wages and better conditions. The New York dock police will be busy with other activities as we're freed up to complete our mission.” Black Tom was a major munitions depot for the northeastern United States. Until early 1915, American munitions companies could sell to any buyer. After the Blockade of Germany by the Royal Navy, however, only the Allied powers could purchase from them. “Now, we are secret German agents being paid pretty well for this job.” Said Jahnke. He continued. “This Island tonight will destroy the delivery of war munitions that are intended to be used by our enemies. The British will be set back a lot tonight. “Tonight, our attack will destroy about 2,000,000 lb (1000 tons) of small arms and artillery ammunition stored at this depot in freight cars and on barges, including 100,000 pounds of TNT on the Johnson Barge No. 17. All of this is waiting to be shipped to the European front.”. "We only got two problems to complete our mission." Kristoff paused. "We got to take out a Jersey City policeman who is usually stationed at the gate entrances. He's the only one at the gates. “Then once we're past that, there is another problem. The Leigh Valley Railway Chief of Police. He is always wandering the yards at night. We must track him down and take him out of the picture. You two got a problem with this?" "There are only two of them? No problems," Kurt responded. Lothar just smiled at his friend. "For what we're being paid, I though there were going to be problems. What are you doing?" "Our friend German Ambassador Count Johann Heinrich von Bernstroff has supplied me with some of his cigar bombs to use tonight. These things are great. Their timers are wonderful. “They've been putting them on boats and blowing them up after days at sea. It's just after midnight now. I'll have everything completed by 1:30. The bombs should go off at 2:00. “So, you two have to complete your activities and get down the coast as fast and as far as you can." Said Kristoff. "How big of an explosion will this cause?" asked Jahnke. "Bigger than you expect," said Kristoff. "I know our barge has 100,000 pounds of TNT on it! The yard’s a docking point for the other munition supplies." They smiled and slid silently out into the darkness of the evening. Kristoff was off in one direction, while the other two headed to the gates of the causeway. It took a short time for Kurt and Lothar to reach the gate and survey how they would approach their enemy. Meanwhile, Kristoff reached Johnson Barge Number 17. He had a short conversation with the two guards. He asked them directly, “Have you done what I told you to do?” One answered, “Yes.” He sent them on their way. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • New Jersey in Focus: the World War I Era 1910-1920
    New Jersey in Focus: The World War I Era 1910-1920 Exhibit at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters 125 Symmes Drive Manalapan, New Jersey October 2015 Organized by The Monmouth County Archives Division of the Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon Gary D. Saretzky, Curator Eugene Osovitz, Preparer Produced by the Monmouth County Archives 125 Symmes Drive Manalapan, NJ 07726 New Jersey in Focus: The World War I Era, 1910-1920 About one hundred years ago, during the 1910-1920 decade in America, the economy boomed and the Gross National Product more than doubled. Ten million Americans bought automobiles, most for the first time. Ford’s Model T, produced with then revolutionary assembly line methods, transformed family life for owners. Such personal “machines” led to paved roads and the first traffic light, reduced the need for blacksmiths and horses, increased the demand for auto mechanics and gas stations, and, when not caught up in traffic jams, sped up daily life. Some owners braved dirt roads to drive to the Jersey Shore, where thousands thronged to see the annual Baby Parade in Asbury Park. While roads at the start of the decade were barely adequate for travel in the emerging auto boom, New Jersey became a leader in the advocacy and construction of improved thoroughfares. Better road and rail transportation facilitated both industrial and agricultural production, bringing such new products as commercially grown blueberries from Whitesbog, New Jersey, to urban dwellers. In the air, history was made in 1912, when the first flight to deliver mail between two government post offices landed in South Amboy.
    [Show full text]
  • Black Tom Shell Gwen Wright
    Season 6, Episode 7: Black Tom Shell Gwen Wright: Our first story probes a devastating act of foreign sabotage on American soil. World War One. America is determined to remain neutral. Then, an earth-shaking explosion rocks New Jersey and Manhattan. Headlines attribute the devastation and carnage to an industrial accident on nearby Black Tom Island. But Black Tom was being used to store ammunition bound for British guns…and the blast was no accident. Unlike other terrifying peacetime attacks, however -- Pearl Harbor or 9/11 -- Black Tom is little known, and strangely faded from history. Almost a century later, Elaine Harvan Barbini from White House Station, New Jersey, believes she has an artillery shell that survived that fateful attack. Elaine: My mother always used it at home as a doorstop and I thought wouldn’t be great to find out more history about it and see if you could trace it back and actually find out how it got into the family. Gwen: I’m Gwendolyn Wright, and I’m here to take a careful look at Elaine’s shell. Hi you’re Elaine? Elaine: Nice to meet you. Please come in. Gwen: So this is what you wanted to show me? Elaine: Yes it is. Gwen: Wow. This does look like an artillery shell, what do you know about it? Elaine: Very little. My mom had put this piece of paper in it. It says “Bomb, Black Tom explosion” and she wasn’t sure the year she put 1914 and World War I. Gwen: Aren’t you a little nervous about having what might still be live ammunition in your house? Elaine: I know my mom did have this checked out so it is safe.
    [Show full text]
  • NJS: an Interdisciplinary Journal Summer 2017 27
    NJS: An Interdisciplinary Journal Summer 2017 27 NJS Presents A Special Feature New Jersey and the Great War: Part I By Dr. Richard J. Connors DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14713/njs.v3i2.83 As April 2017 marked the 100th anniversary of America’s entry into World War I, this edition of NJS has several related offerings. These include this special feature, an adapted version of the first half of Dr. Richard J. Connors’ new book, New Jersey and the Great War (Dorrance, 2017). We will publish the second half in our Winter 2018 issue. Those who can’t wait, or who want to see the unedited text (to include endnotes, illustrations, and tables) can always purchase the book online! We are most grateful to Dr. Connors for allowing us to share his insightful and comprehensive work in this way, and hope you will help us ensure the widest possible dissemination by sharing the very timely piece with your colleagues, students, family, and friends. Preface When my generation were youngsters, “the war” was the Great War, now known as World War I. On Memorial Day we bought artificial flowers in remembrance of the veterans lying in European cemeteries “where poppies grow between the crosses, row on row.” On Armistice Day, November 11, we went to our local cemeteries to honor departed neighbors, especially those whose bodies were re-interred from France. At the movies, rarely air-conditioned, for a ten cent admission we watched Lew Ayres in All Quiet on the Western Front, or Errol Flynn in Dawn Patrol, plus the latest Buck Rogers serial.
    [Show full text]
  • Zucchini Frittata
    Please cite as: Spinzia, Raymond E., “The Involvement of Long Islanders in the Events Surrounding German Sabotage in the New York Metropolitan Area 1914-1917,” 2019. www.spinzialongislandestates.com The Involvement of Long Islanders in the Events Surrounding German Sabotage in the New York Metropolitan Area 1914-1917 by Raymond E. Spinzia In order to assist the reader in identifying the large number of unfamiliar names and the dizzying array of events, a photographic gallery with a thumbnail biography of the participants and a timeline pertaining to the pertinent events of those years have been included. In 1908 Washington was considered a backwater posting by the major powers in Europe. Washingtonians, at the beginning of the twentieth century, had to contend with excessively humid heat in the summer coupled with the fear of typhoid- and malaria-bearing mosquitos from the swamps of the nearby countryside. Additionally, the city’s social life lacked the sophistication and glitter associated with Manhattan and the capitals of the major countries of Western Europe. Despite this, Germany appointed the shrewd career diplomat Count Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff as its ambassador to the United States. Von Bernstorff, who was debonair and likeable, had close ties to Long Island and a grasp of America’s culture, politics, and economic potential, arrived in the United States on December 21, 1908.1 His South Shore country residence, Hickory Hall, that he rented from Mrs. Thomas F. White was at Central Avenue and White Lane in Long Island’s village
    [Show full text]
  • Student Council Votes to Sponsor Refugees
    vvmssvmvvr-- Iv. V California State I.ibrar.r Sacramento 9, Calif er nia Suntan Weather Talks About India Spring al last! The westh- Dr. Bhaskura Rao, former In- rm.in says it's time to get the atruetor of Oriental studies, old togs und suntan to- State University of Iowa, speaks m- for a "satin" today at 3:30 p.m in the Old hoe le fiS swan it for Little Th;etter. All students are to - dayi. be predicts, invited to his talk, "Contempor- S 1ii be, from 7 There N111 airs Student life in India." atteut .ligfitisuritwri, ads toward eseaing." A ` VOL. 44 SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, THURSDAY, APRIL _ 4, 1957 NO. 105 Philosophers Mal Student Council Votes Are Panelists Professor Elmo A. Robinson, at six universities throughout the To Sponsor Refugees chairman of the Philosophy De- United States. Board of Control permitting, three Hungarian have passed their time limit and would have to be partment, will lead a Centennial Dr. Meyer joined the faculty refugees will become SJS students within the se- relocated if the Council had symposium tonight on "One Hun- last September after teaching not taken immediate mester as a result of a Student Council resolution action. Local fraternities have dred Years of Philosophy in Cal- at Florida State University and agreed to house all yesterday underwriting the cost of sending the three. Funds for their maintenance iii he raised ifornia" at 8 o'clock in the Con- Wells College. She was gradua- three students here until June, 19511. A special by special drives. cert Hall of the Music Building.
    [Show full text]
  • Statue of Liberty National Monument
    . I"\ STATUE of LIBERTY ational Monument s Origin, Deuelopment, and Administration UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARIC SERVICE I' 1211.11 1 • L ti Hl:l:I I '1611 ..., • • > C=== --- ,. __ .. _.. STATUE OF LIBERTY tlATIONAL MONUMENT Its Origin, Devel opment and Administration by Walter Hugins • ·ii'\ IL United States Department of the Interior National Park Service 1958 J , ... - 'fhr rw'*r1Y ftm!J"'"°l'd Sui•..,. t1f Libfrry t.l...wdt hi ~ I' ..• l'Uo11 •1••J ul flit. llil • •in.I"" ""'" r ll~1•l•11dt 1u litM•, a ,.....r hri'•lfi" hrt •ll'li'""°" I'> !hr U H, (rlr'TTNI av v11tr0 ,..,_••) •••,.. lftllff' P•• 1mN (rJocn '"'"""-•• p " wr h111A1ft ~ 128.U4 .LU H83 19~8 SI al 11•• or L l be r I V Na l 1onn1 Monumenl tl• or1~1n. devP lopnienl and adm1n1slrat1on CONTENTS ~ Introduction . l From Beacon to National Monument: 1886 to 1924 1 A National Shrine: 1924 to the Present • • • • • 36 Mission 66 . • . 85 Notes . 86 Bibliography • . • • • . • • . • . • • 102 ' Appendice~ . 105 • I , J • Night V1ev o:r the Statue o:r Liberty. ; INTRODUCTION The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was con- ceived and designed as a monwnent to a great international friendship, but with the passage of time its significance has broadened. It has become one of the most s;ymbolic structures in the United States • Not only to Americans, but to the whole wor1.d, the Statue is the recognized s;ymbol of those ideals of human liberty upon which our Nation and its Government were founded. Created a National Monument in 1924 end added to the National Park System in 1933, the > Statue of Liberty is unique among the historic areas e.dmin- istered by the National Park Service--it neither commemo~ rates a special event nor memorializes en historical per- sonage.
    [Show full text]
  • The Paul F. Franco Collection(1724-1975)
    The Paul F. Franco Collection (1724-1975) Descriptive Summary Quantity: 4.5 linear feet (6 boxes) Access: No restrictions Processed by: Daniel Klein with guidance from Cynthia Harris and John Beekman November, 2011/Revised Dec. 10, 2013 Biographical Note Paul Francis Franco was born on Feb. 14, 1893 in New York City, to James and Marie Franco, both immigrants from Italy. The family originally lived in West Hoboken (now Union City), before moving to West New York in the 1910s. Franco served in the U.S. Army in World War I and was an active member of the American Legion after the war. Franco was also a member of the American Friends of Lafayette. Franco worked for many years as a house painter, and donated time and materials in the building of a specially designed wheelchair accessible house for John Borella, a West New York World War II veteran who lost both legs in the war. Franco also collected art, antiques and historic ephemera, with a special interest in local history, as well as Napoleon and the French Revolution. According to his niece, Gloria Carney, he taught himself to read German, Italian, Spanish and some Latin. His antique collecting became so intense that his family urged him to open a shop, which he eventually did, The Brass Key in the Bergen County town of Cliffside Park. Included in his collection were 25 paintings and drawings created by artist August Will, who was born in Germany but immigrated to the United States and lived in Jersey City from the 1850s to 1910.
    [Show full text]
  • The American Legion Magazine [Volume 77, No. 2 (August 1964)]
    THE AMERICAN 20 C -AUGUST 1964 RED CHINA VERSUS THE WORLD HOW PEKING BIDS FOR THE "WORLD REVOLUTION" IN EVERY LAND, ON EVERY CONTINENT / BY GERALD STEIBEL BmHSHShHHHHHHHHEBbBB HHHHNHHHIIHHiHSnBBHHHIHIHHIHI HOW TO BUY A DIAMOND BLACK TOM BY TOM MAHONEY EXPLOSION BY A. A. HOEHLING & H, R. BAUKHAGE : {official song of the United States Army) The ^rm$i ©oes polling 3long Verse: March along; sing our song with the Army of the free. Count the brave — count the true — who have fought to victory. We're the Army and proud of our name! We're the Army and proudly proclaim First Chorus: First to fight for the right, and to build the Nation's might And THE ARMY GOES ROLLING ALONG Proud of all we have done, fighting till the battle's won, And THE ARMY GOES ROLLING ALONG. Refrain: Then it's hi! hi! hey! the Army's on its way. Count off the cadence loud and strong. (Two! Three!) For where'er we go, you will always know That THE ARMY GOES ROLLING ALONG. Second Chorus: Valley Forge, Custer's ranks, San Juan hill and Patton's tanks, And the Army went rolling along. Minute men from the start, always fighting from the heart, And THE ARMY KEEPS ROLLING ALONG, (refrain) Third Chorus: Men in rags, men who froze, still that Army met its foes And the Army went rolling along. Faith in God, then we're right, and we'll fight with all our might, ; The American AUGUST 1964 LEGION Volume 77, Number 2 POSTMASTER: Send Form 3579 to P.O.
    [Show full text]
  • The Foreign Service Journal, November 1934
    g/« AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL * * Y « IT" ■^1 z i'l 43 sr (2500. °*'ei 25% REDUCTION TO OF Ro °mjj SOLID CO/H/r DIPLOMATIC AND ORT CONSULAR SERVICE Under the pinnacled, cloud-draped roofs of this giant modern hotel, every inch of space is devoted to one aim — mwmnf your comfort! Such smooth, instantane¬ ous service, such charming rooms, such LOW AS truly epicurean food as the Hotel New Yorker offers is hard to duplicate at low New Yorker rates. Make this trip A DAY Every room has both tub and shower, a far pleasanter one (thriftier as well) by full-length mirrors, circulating ice water, stopping here. Direct tunnel connection Servidor, bed and dresser lamps, radio. Note: the special rate reduction applies only to to Pennsylvania Station and subways. rooms on which the rate is $4 a day or more. HOTEL NEW YORKER 34TH STREET AT EIGHTH AVENUE • NEW YORK CITY Directed by National Hotel Management Co., Inc ■ Ralph Hitz, President HOTELS BOOK-CADILLAC, DETROIT; NETHERLAIND PLAZA, CINCINNATI; VAN CLEVE, DAYTON; RITZ-CARLTON, ATLANTIC CITY; ADOLPHUS, DALLAS. JHE AMERICAN pOREIGN gERVICE JOURNAL CONTENTS COVER PICTURE: BOULDER DAM BY NIGHT (See also page 592) WOODWARD & LOTHROP PAGE 10th, 11th, F and G Streets EMBASSY DAYS WASHINGTON By Miss Emily Bax 577 "A Store Worthy of The Nation’s Capital” SPY—By Reginald P. Mitchell _ 581 TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED MILES THROUGH PERSIA—By George W. Renchard _ 584 PORT-AU-PRINCE By L. E. Thompson 588 NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT 593 A POLITICAL BOOKSHELF LONG By Cyril Wynne 594 DISTANCE NEWS FROM THE FIELD 596 SHOPPING FOREIGN SERVICE CHANGES 600 —many people, far afield, often feel VISITING OFFICERS 602 deprived of shopping facilities—but really they need not, for Woodward MARRIAGES, BIRTHS 603 8C Lothrop is always at their shopping service.
    [Show full text]
  • Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, Agency of Canadian Car and Foundry Company, Limited, and Various Underwriters (United States) V
    REPORTS OF INTERNATIONAL ARBITRAL AWARDS RECUEIL DES SENTENCES ARBITRALES Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, Agency of Canadian Car and Foundry Company, Limited, and Various Underwriters (United States) v. Germany (Sabotage Cases) 15 June 1939 VOLUME VIII pp. 225-460 NATIONS UNIES - UNITED NATIONS Copyright (c) 2006 DECISIONS 225 awards in accordance with the Agreement reached at Munich in July, 1936. The American Agent likewise filed with the Commission the several protests received on behalf of American nationals and on behalf of German nationals. The questions involved in these Motions and protests were discussed in briefs filed with the Commission, and were the subject of oral arguments before the Commission at the meeting held July, 7 1937, at which meeting the following rulings thereon by the Commission were announced by the Umpire:] " The Commission has considered the motion with care and has also consid- ered all of the points made in the briefs and oral argument. Without reiterating its reasons, it is of the opinion that the motion must be dismissed, unanimously of that opinion. " With regard to the protests by certain German nationals, those protests the Commission feels, in large part, fall as a result of its decision. The same thing is true of the protests by certain awardholders. " With regard to the applications filed by certain claimants, either German nationals or holders of claims under certain arbitral awards, and with regard to the applications of certain American awardholders to permit them to intervene in the proceedings, the Commission unanimously denies those applications." (Minutes of meeting, July 7. 1937, p. 1658.) LEHIGH VALLEY RAILROAD COMPANY, AGENCY OF CANADIAN CAR AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, LIMITED.
    [Show full text]
  • Statue of Liberty Security
    Statue of Liberty Visitor Use and Protection Plan U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service March 30, 2004 Summary • Immediately following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty were closed to visitors. Liberty Island was reopened to visitors in December 2001, but the Statue itself has remained closed since that time. After the September 2001 closure, the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior began a comprehensive series of safety and security assessments at the Statue. • The assessments showed that there were a number of steps that needed to be taken before the National Park Service could responsibly welcome visitors back into the Statue. The National Park Service moved forward with improvements, and many of them have been completed. • Although some improvements are still underway, the Department has concluded that all planned safety and security measures will be completed by the summer of 2004. On March 30, 2004, the Secretary will announce the plan to provide visitor access to the Statue’s observation deck level. Safety Improvements Since 9/11 • Removed all combustibles from the monument. • Overhauled fire detection and alarm systems. • Compartmentalized spaces in lower levels of the monument. • Constructed interior fire-rated stairways and corridors. • Installed emergency lighting and upgraded lighting throughout the structure. • Installed smoke dampers in heating and cooling system. • Installed exit signs and emergency push bars. • Replaced elevator fuel with less combustible soy-based fuel. Safety Improvements To Be Completed • Internal: Sprinklers, smoke detection, alarms, lighting, exit doors. • External: Temporary stairway from top of Ft.
    [Show full text]
  • Ellis Island a Welcome Site? Only After Years of Reform
    Keeper of the gate Ellis Island a welcome site? Only after years of reform With the reopening of the immigration center as a historic landmark, it may surprise many to learn that the Labor Department operated the complex for years; administrators struggled to end corruption and the exploitation of aliens HENRY P. GuzDA Between 1903 and 1920, 10 million people emigrated to the illegal and would mean deportation. Inspectors often had United States by passing through the portals of the receiving limited comprehension of certain languages, especially station on Ellis Island . During that period, the U.S. Depart- Slavic ones, and misinterpretations were common . The ment of Labor and its predecessor agency, the Department newcomers faced assembly-line medical exams and if doc- of Commerce and Labor, administered the immigration laws tors or nurses put certain chalk letters on an immigrant's of the country, including those providing for the operation outergarment it meant detention and possible deportation. of Ellis Island . (The letter T signified suspected trachoma, H meant a pos- The island lies just a short distance from the New Jersey sible heart condition, and LCD translated as loathsome conta- shoreline in New York Harbor . The Federal Government, gious disease. Nonmedical examiners could put LPc (likely over many years, expanded the land area from 7.5 acres to to become a public charge) on a person's coat, which also a landfilled 27 .5 acres for new buildings, park areas, and could result in deportation.) One of the island's Public other facilities . The main hall, a spacious brick building Health Service physicians commented, "these methods, with white limestone trim, in French Renaissance style, is crude as they seem, had to be used because of the great the most striking landmark on the island and the site where numbers [of immigrants] and the language difficulties .
    [Show full text]