The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-29
THE EXPLOSION AND LOSS or LIFE IN MAIDEN LANE.

THE EXPLOSION AND LOSS OF LIFE IN MAIDEN LANE.
tnvestfgation Before Coroner N aum ann
Verdict OF the Jury, &c.
tho explosion IN the store OF Messrs strasburcer
MUM, No 65 Maiden Iane early last Tuesday evening
resulting Ia tho almost instant death OF Paul Hoffman
one OF the Clerks aud the terrible not fatal nurng OF
Charles Pluck. another gentleman employ the sstab
tisbment was The subject OF thorough invest gation
before Coroner NaumanD at tho second precinct station
house yesterday afternoon.
Below viii be found copy OF tue testimony akeo and
the verdict Of tho jury
Edward MUM, residing in Ciasson avenue, corner OF
Quincy street brooklyn. being sworn. saysI am one OF
the firm OF Strasburger MUM, corner OF Maiden lane
and William street. importers Of toys and fancy
GOODS; Anew days ago tie doceased, who WAS employed
BY me as an assistant sac man, introduced new toy
called pop pistol 10 me- and said that friend or his
had imported some, AID shed TO sell them thcy con-
sisted OF pistol with spring 90 arranged as explode
AsuossAnce placed III q ,he substance was put small
squ{es q paper IRA exploded By wire striking Against
III the deceased offered them for sale; made an
oer Tor them aud the next day he brought them TO me-
this was on tho 25th instant supposed that they were
ptatols, and two boxes OF papers came with each
pistol; the toy was entirely now TO me, have never
gross Of the pistols previous tbs day OF tho explosion
90 that DAY gross bad been sold 10 Mr.. aawood, OF
John street. by Charlie: Pluck one Of the sassmen
the 26th at about hafpast five o'clock heard loud
explcson which thought psocsedsd from the ssreet;
ee II the basement u the time up stairs when
saw several articles OF Gre in the nrst story the
store tried 70 pas out tha nre but crowd q people
sDous ten minutes amer the iTss; w then q The
" s.is sns sss
severe - The others Me frat sxploson tina oudest
and took measures prevent the are from spreadiDg
the first knew Of deceased being was killed about half
I not 4 kc icular
notice Of the appearance Of tho room when | nrst
went into IL ne havc done business 10 fireworks but do
not now we have explosive materials tho building
exceps few boxes OF torpedoes tho flourish floor all
the nreworks We had were sent 70 the manufacturers
imnsdhtey after the Fourth Of July lust we did NOT
Frederick Flsischman residing At No. So Garden street.
salesman in Messrs ssrasburger Nuhns store; know
that . toy pistol with explosive papers was lately
bought Sy tho S, m on the Ssn know q sal. being
the 2dh was made by Mr. Pluck at about I've O'Clock
heard Mr. Pluck call the deceased to assist in taking
some down from the shelf TO the counter they
the top shelf In the second story deceased stood the
counter Just opposite the packages Mr.. Pluck stood
the door IN front of the counter deceased took
packages at a time. and was about TO hand them
to Mr.. Pluck, when ! saw q package fall on the
floor. and Immediately afterwards heard sligh.
explosion, ana instantly ran to get out OF tho
was wS,, 0y the and DOM
stairs saw Mr.. Num- who asked me what the mat
ter told him that an explosion had taken place. be.
IN the street. was slightly injured by the explosion
beard second report, but cannot remember when il
ceased was very reckless that day be than
usually lively; don't know whether he had been drink.
ing or not he OF temperate habits he throwing
marbles during the day and broke package OF
them don't know whether be dropped the box OF the
particular care In handling them, did not consider
them dangerous
Charles II. R. wulsten residing a. 80 Rapeyea street.
Brooklyn. being sworn, sayR;-Ieceased my COUSIN,
and | boarded with him at tho above place: | am an
agent or broker; became aclu' inted with Mr. Ievson
who, learned had imp rted them (meinng the toy pts
tolsl told deceased Of it aad told him try and sell
them 10 his employ he succeeded in of them
and gave the ney them mad idea that they
in any way dangerous, know nothing further
gardpg The AFFAIR." consider them safe now, after the
exposon heard nothing said about their being danger
Charles senwald, residing in Hudson avenue, Jersey
CITY, bong sworn saysMl am employed as saesman ios
showed the pistols and papers, and said he wished TO
sell them TO our firm saw them after they brought
into the store when they lying the floor, Mr.
Pluck afterwards put them shelf 10 the second story
did consider them dangerous at the time Of tho
afterwards up stairs and tried TO put out the are
the goods scattered around, and hole blown
that was explosive except torpedoes space occupied
by the boxes was about eighteen inches high foot wide
Patrick j. Keary, residing at l5e Monroe street, being
sworn, says am dealer 10 fireworks, toys and fancy
ers stors on the morning OF the 2sth when Mr. MUM
showed the pistols 10 be exploded and showed
me how tney worked asked him II there was any fear
OF their exploding, and he said they perfectly harm
less; purchased some OF them, which he sent TO my
pince with other goods
Dr. Wooster Beach, Deputy Coroner dsposed TO having
made external examination the body OF deceased,
and finding several marks OF injuries principally the
LETT side the scalp partially torn from the lett side
q the head the face was burned and much dsnyured;
the injuries were sufficient to cause death
This concluded chs testimony, and the case was suo
mted to the jury, who after nearly two hours deosra
ton. rendered the following verdict"That Paul io
man, the deceased, to his death by injuries from
the explosion OF decorating powder, used In connection
with toy pistol. sold by Nessrs. srasburgor MUM.
They further consider the storage Of such powder within
the city limits 10 be ceusurabe recommend the pas
cage Of law regulating the sale and storage OF such
powder and similar explosive materials"
Deceased was twenty years Of age, and native OF
Germany.
Mr. Puck still alive in the hospital but il thought
imp ssble for him TO recover.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Az there IL considerable dispute TO who entitled TO
the credit Of rescuing the unfortunate sufferers from the
tire IN Maiden lane, wish TO state that Of my
bers and myself, assisted by reter Monahan or No.
Truck carried the two TO the ladder and gave them
to the proper persons outside. As TO the gentleman
whom we hostad up 10 aeeist saving that no
blown ten feet, all have 10 say Is that there
plosion after be entered the building
JOHN PETIT, Foreman Hose Company No. 8.
The Plan or the Park.