The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-04
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION IN A hat FACTORY.
SIX PERSONS KILLED AND ABOUT FIFTEEN lAyuRE


the boiler ia M0u0n's hat factory, in Brooklyn,
exploded with tremendous noise, resulting in the demo
non Of great portion Of the building and in the death Of
six persons engaged at work there As could be
ascertaned about fifteen persons were njuredsome Of
them go badly that their recovery cannot be hoped for
The buildings extend Nosrand avenue, Mgr
ne to Sanford street. The main structure 10 200 feet
long and rs feet Wide, with building adjoining on the
side 80 feet squareboth buildings Of brick and three
stories high The boiler the ground floor OF the
latter building.
The precise Of the explosion cannot be definitely
ascertaned, the engineer killed. Ia supposed how
ever that the water pipes frozcn and large fro
being bu generated quickly 70 cause the ca
tastrophe The engine and the centre Of the main
structure q mass Of ruins.
The noise Of the explosion heard mile distant,
and such the force that the houses the neghboheod
shook 10 their foundations portion Of the boiler
| impelled distance Of $50 feet.
| general fire alarm was runs, and the fremen and
police promptly the ground and commenced tear.
ing away the rubbish. They succeeded in extrcating all
who were supposed 70 be underneath. The dead were
taken into the sizing department, where all were recog
pized noon, except The injured were taken to
their residences TO the Hospital
One Of the injured stated that two near
him when the explosion took place. whereupon the Deputy
Superintendent Of Police directed those present clear
away the rubbish the boiler. On reaching the floor
some clothes found, which is supposed had been
hanging in the engine room, but bodies discover
ed Two men are missing, however. The name Of one is
Pckings; the name Of the other is not known.
The bodies OF the five who were killed laid
together in the planning room, where they identified
by their friends The body Of was not claimed for
Of Patrick McNaly steam pipe and gas ntter in the
poy Of Mr. Morse Maiden lane, New York The deceased
and two others engaged in fitting the pipe One Of
his companions injured and the other has not since
| been seen.
The exact time the explosion occurred ascer-
tanned by the watches Mr. Eastman and Mr. McCracken
The hands Of both pointed to O'Clock and forty
minutes The CRY stalls broken and the faces bat
| tered.
Mr. NcCracken had his life insured for IS o0o and Mr.
| Eastman for -, 900.
About two hundred persons employe in the build
ing, Of which from fifty 10 seventy five females. 1t
being time before the hour 10 work, but
few comparatively, there when the catastrophe
Cured Five girls only had entered and perhaps thirty
and boys Had the explosion taken place hour
later the loes Of life would have been frghtful Dozens
approaching the building from different directions
and eome we're just entering
The young man John Hgbce (klled) had applied for
work days before and told to this fday)
morning According to engagement he reported himself
and sat down before the boiler 10 his feet He
launched into eternity moment afser*ard. Tho body
bruised into an ndstnguishable mass and his father
only able to recognise him by defect in Of his
feet
man named James Wilson had been in the boiler
room, where he Higbee, Eastman and McCracken.
Having occasion to leave the for instant he walk
towards the fence about twenty nve feet Distant when
he startled by the explosion and while he the
buildings fall and portions Of the rubbsh thrown several
hundred feet in the air. he himself escaped uninjured
portion Of the boiler impeed assistance of $50 feet
and alghted upon shed, breaking in the roof by its
! force.
Shorhly after the propreors Of the establishment
employed men to clear out the rubbish preparatory to
erecting the buildings There was no fire, the flames
having been completely smothered by the immense pile
| Of rubbish.
The buildings which were new, cost ST., 900; the
machinery and fixtures, exclusive Of engine, $40 900;
stock, SIS 00o--all insured against fire.
The boilers, engine, &c, manufactured by Wood
ruff Beach, Harfort Conn OF The best material. They
were put position, and tried by Mr. William Eastman,
who was in the employ Of the above firm. They had
been operation only weeks. and satsfac
ory that the engineer about transferring them
exclusive charge Of the superintendent of the factory
NcCracken.
a
Fourth precinct standing the engine The
OF the explosion impeed him under the picking machine
where his legs became fastened in piece Of which
bent around them His being free he made use
Of them and obtaining piece Of loose iron his vicinity
succeeded in extricatng himself He then ran of to
his home Hudson avenue MYRTLE having sustained
| but slight injuries
Charles Schel in the dyeng ROOM above the boiler
He felt the floor heave up and the FIRST he knew he
himself under pile Of broken machinery, some yards
distant lie bruised and cut about the head and face
| but escaped serious injury.
The Coroner procured portion Of the boiler which he
intends to have tested at Burdens foundry. From
casual inspection Of the edges appears to be rotten in
parts at least the color Of dark dirty brown
! while other portions bright
Happears tina. FIRE had been made in the boilers on
Thursday evening, and the question whether there was
sufficient water in them morning. or whether there
was o defect
The Coroner will investigate the circumstances on Mon
day, commencing at one O'Clock, before the following
jury, which was empanneed yesterday by the Deputy
Mr.. Hamilton Kent
]. Henry jackson. Z Tunis J. Powell
2 Ephralm Place. g. Ira Bowers
g. John H. Martin. O. p r. Shines
f. Samuel l. Cveriy 10. Thomas z. Wood
g. Il. F, Wing. H. Jonathan Cook.
g. J. Darcy. IL. James WILSON,
inv tsko p1oca In Tia T7,cao