At approximately 6:30 PM, May 19th, 1950, an explosion occurred which destroyed the 4 barges, damaged 14 other vessels (many of which were total losses) and damaged nearby homes and businesses in South Amboy. The shock of the explosion was so bad, that its effects were felt all the way over in Perth Amboy, NJ. THE MISSING -- and probably dead -- included Walter Sullivan, David White, William Healing. Members of the Civil Defense Amateur Radio Emergency Service, took their homebrew high frequency portable transmitter and converted war surplus receiver. There were many broken windows in town, shattered glass and debris everywhere. At a school building radio communication was set up on the top floor, about two blocks from the location of the explosion. There was much confusion. Many were still in a state of shock and others had injuries, mostly from flying glass. Officials were overloaded with requests for detail information from the National Red Cross, military and government officials wanting more details. How many dead? How many injured? What do you need? Can we be of help? Radio amateurs out of the area were very helpful relaying messages. Several days later the count was 31 dead and over 300 injured. The Red Cross and the Salvation Army were very much in evidence helping the people. Salvation Army Brigadier Henry Dries (retired) recalls how they provided shelter for a detachment of military explosive specialists who were searching the area for unexploded munitions. Across the river in Perth Amboy, Bill Hass, W2GMY; George Miller, K2FD; and Julius Kardos, W2VO, were using emergency communications. They were particularly hard hit. Miller saw a large 500-pound anchor that was blown one and a half miles and landed on the street near the high school. The explosion occurred when over 420 tons of military explosives blew up under mysterious circumstances, killing 31 dockworkers and injuring over 300 others. The dock workers were transferring military explosives and dynamite from the rail cars to a barge at the "powder pier." The pier was destroyed and never rebuilt, and munitions through the port ended after the explosion.