Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-05-17
P.S. 20 Halfpast 2.-The Jury have just
turned verdict Of GUILTY.

AWFUL ExpLosIoN-Two MEN KILLED-Iwo
worSpEp.-It is our mea Hshoy duty to record an
other shocking disaster, resulting from the gross
negligence OF cupable ignorance in the fabrication OF
fancy fire works in this city, Yesterday forenoon
about III o'clock, two men were engaged IN tne
pyrotechnick laboratory of John Tyre, sltua'ea on
the high ground in the centre of the area formed oy
the Sd and 4th avenues, and 18th and 10Th Streets
in the manufacture of rockets, of them let fall
an iron rammer with which he was at work, which
coming in contact, as is supposed, with stone, eli
cited spark OF fire, and communicated Immediately
90 the combustibe materials around the premises
including about 300 pounds of powder, destroying
in an instant the entire building and killing Joseph
Rider and Phillip Moore. The bodies of the above
named were taken from the ruins some time after the
building had been destroyed, burnt TO cinders and
manpled in a most awfsl manner.
From the testimony before the cerener's inquest,
IL appeared that six men employed at the iaoo-
ratory at the time Of the explosion, vz-Joseph KY
der. James Hanson, Philip Moore, John Blackledge,
John BraaagoR, and Daniel Titus AT the moment
of the explosion Elackledge, Rider, and Moore were
inside the premises Hanson about entering at the
door with couple Of buckets full OF water ior inc
use of the workmen, Titus had left about minutes
previously, and gone into the varnlsh shop lmmedl-
a,ely adjoining and RSan ffffson was in the act of
ramming the rocket the time of the accident, and
being in the range of the door, he was blown out of
the premises the roof Of large two story
dwelling some yards distant, and alghted
the opposite side against fence where he was pick
ed up by some laborers digging away bank of twen-
~ feet in height, within few inches of which he
fell. He taken up and conveyed to the hospital
nj Bellevue, where his wounds and burns weie dres
sed but he is in such deplorable condition, beng
bruised burned and blinded in such a shocking man
ner that his recovery is hopeless.
Blackledge was also terribly hurt, and conveyed to
his friends. He picked up some distance from
the ruins.
The deceased were both accomplished work men,
and were men Of the most exemplary character. Mr.
Ryder is aged about thirty, and has left wife and
four children to deplere his melancholy fate. One of
his little came in during the investigation Of the
coroner's inquest and on beholding the mangled
mains Of his parent became convulsed with grief and
II necessary TO remove him from the sad specta-
cle-the scene was heart rendIng.
Philip Moore an apprentice, and young artist Of
great promise, just entering upon the stage of
hood and active life. His mangled corse was dscov-
cred about fifteen feet from the remains Of Mr. Ryder,
lying upon the face. They had both apparently been
killed instantaneossly.
The fire extended TO varnish factory adjoining the
laboratory which was also consumed, together with
all It's contents.
There is much reason TO believe that a great want
of prudence existed by the workmen ia this establish
ment, and that the highly combusible materials Of
their trade were scattered about the premises in
dsordery manner and that proper measures had not
been taken to guard against accidents.
A coroncr's inquest was held upon the bodies Of
Mr.. Moore and Mr. Ryder, and verdict rendered Of
accidental death.
p S. We have since learned that Blackledge one
Of the young men who was taken to the hospital,
died nj A oiclocL