At approximately 7:26 pm on Friday, May 19, 1950, an explosion of tremendous violence occurred at the Pennsylvania Railroad Pier No. 4, known as Powder Pier, at the foot of Augusta Street in South Amboy, the result of the simultaneous detonation of 450 tons of military munitions. Two shipments, one of land mines and one of dynamite, were being transferred from railroad cars onto barges for later loading onto the steamship Flying Clipper. At 7:50 pm, South Amboy Mayor John D. Leonard declared a state of emergency and requested help from Governor Alfred E. Driscoll, and state police and military assistance were quickly provided. Fire departments, first aid squads, and Red Cross disaster units from as far away as Pennsylvania poured into the stricken city, first aid field units were set up in the streets to provide emergency treatment, and nearby hospitals accommodated the more seriously injured. Nearly every one of South Amboy’s 2,700 homes and buildings suffered some damage, broken glass was extensive, and complete failure of electric power darkened the city. The death toll reached 31, with only five bodies identified, and more than 350 persons were injured. The citizens of South Amboy handled the ordeal remarkably well, and government specialists who rushed to the area to assess community impact were greatly impressed by the city’s response. The actual cause of the detonation remains unknown.
