The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-01
Boiler ExpAoskon 1T the GfraHd House
One Man Killed, and Several Wounded.

Boiler Explosion 1T the Girard House
One Man Killed, and Several Wounded.
melancholy accident, attended. by loss OF life,
occurred at the Girard House yesterday morning.
About six O'Clock A. N. the boilers used for cook.
ing and heating purposes exploded with loud
crash, instantly killing John O'Connor, plumber,
who was at work upon the premises, and severely
iDjuring John Collins, the fireman The force of the
explosion was SO great that the marble flooring Of the
barbers shop and reading ROOM the next floor above
that where the boiler situated rent TO pieces
All the gasswork in both Of these shattered
atoms. Two Of the young employed about the bar
bers shop prostrated by the force of the concus
sion, but their injuries OF slight nature. II was
fortunate indeed that the accident occurred at such
an early hour or else many persons might have
been injured Had the explosion taken place an hour
later when the barbers shop crowded with patrons
Of the house, the loss Of life and limb would have been
fearful TO contemplate.
The noise Of the explosion caused the guests OF the
hotel to start from their sumbers and for few
all was confusion and dismay When il found, how
ever that the danger conHned and that there
no fear Of the building taking fire, the boardors were
easily persuaded 10 retire 70 their rooms. ~. -
An examination of the premises made by thepotce and
Mr.. Hansen, the proprietor Of the house, showed
that the boiler had burst into some half dozen
pieces. The masonry and wood work surrounding
within forty feet Of il, were destroyed The beams
which SUPPORTED the floor Of the barbers shop split
into fagmens and the flooring was forced up in several
places All the glass work " this room WAS oroken arm
chairs, sofas and dressing stands upset,
doors leading into the reading blown of their
hinges, 30 great was the force Of the explosion.
The reading room was also damaged the front window
being blown into the street. cash and ALL but tho furniture
was not injured in the least The entire damage the
cellar and on the first floor Ia estimated at 81 500.
The of the explosion has not been ascertaned
but the engineer told story 70 the police which serves to
throw some light on the subject It seems that the
boiler, which manufactured by Nessrs. Ray 4
Pollock, and had been in use about two years, leaked
badly The engineer informed Mr. Hansen OF the trouble,
when the latter told him to call in deceased and get him
TO stop the leak Thursday night he worked late that
he thought 1t was hardly worth while to 60 home, SO
after finishing his labors at the boiler he threw himself
upon the floor near by and went TO Sleep He sum
berng when the explosion took place, and being within
posed by the engineer that while deceased working
at the leak he turned of the FEEDER and careessy forgot
to turn again when he had finished his work. The
water being thus shut of from the boiler it not
very difficult matter to explode it.
Coroner O'Keefe visited the premises during
the day, and made preliminary arrangements for
holding an inquest upon the body Of deceased
A number Of witnesses were subpaned to be in
attendance at the Grard House at ten O'Clock this morn
ing when the investigation will be commenced The fol-
lowing named persons hare been cwpaunsled9 ~ Mt as
jurors
Emnst R. Smith, ia Chambers street.
J. D. Wannell, 123 Chambers street.
o. Taylor, n Christopher street.
J. W. Condit, 81 Laight street.
H. s. Van Ripper, 81 Laight street.
Henry j. Taylor, IS West Twenty fourth street.
T. j. Wills, 173 East Broadway
The scene Of the explosion was visited by thousands
yesterday who could not the hotel without being at
tracted. Cr