Today in Labor History May 19, 1950: 31 dockworkers died and 350 were injured when four barges carrying 420 tons of ammunition blew up at South Amboy, New Jersey. The blast destroyed nearby businesses and homes and caused $10 million in property damage. The men were loading anti-tank and anti-personnel mines destined for Pakistan and Afghanistan. Three years later, they unearthed sixty-two live mines scattered throughout the waterfront area. Kilgore Manufacturing Company was later charged with 9,000 counts of munitions violations. The indictment documents weighed thirty pounds. The Coast Guard was also cited with negligence in supervising the loading.
