The national Republican., 1867-04-13


Gas ESPLosToS-THREE PERSONS SE-
RIoUsLY IsJUKEp.-At about twenty minutes
past six o'clock yesterday morning an unfortu
nate affair occurred at the City Post 0tioe,
whereby three Of tho employees (Messrs L. B
Moses, asserting clerk; J. A. Kennedy, supsrin.
tendent and financial clerk, and II. Doubleday,
clerk in the military diyision,) were severely
burned by the explosion Of gas In the northwest
corner Of the basement story, the room contain
ing the gas apparatus. 1t appears that the gas
Is manufactured In the building by means Of
Lewis patent gas apparatus, and Is generally
known as gasaline. Considerable difficulty has
been experienced for some time rast Judging
from what We learn about the Post 0fice) 10 On.
deavoring to keep the City Post Office properly
lighted during the appropriate hours, and In
many instances the gas has gone entirely out,
leaving the operatives in total darkness. Only
the evening Immediately preceding the eIplo.
sion tho gas refused to burn at about eight
o'clock, and candles were brought into Iequisi
| tion.
| Yesterday morning the gas again refused tC
perform Its duty, when the three gentlemen
aboyo-named descended to the basement, one o
them with light In his hand for the purpose Of,
as We understand, causing a heavier pressure o
gas Just as they were in tho act OF entering
the gas.room the light and gas came in contact
and hence the cause Of the explosion.
Messrs. Kennedy. aged about so years, and
Doubleday, aged about SO years, were quit
severely burned on different parts Of the body
most exposed, but will, 1t is thought soon re
| cover.
| Mr.. Moses, aged about "a years. was so severel,
burned on the arms that the flesh hung In strips
| and the police, who were promptly on the spot
carried him In blanket to the residence Of Post
master Bowen, on + street, between Sixth and
Seventh streets, II being the nearest accessible
place. DR.. Bliss and DR.. Eliot were called In,
and did all they could to alleviate the suferings
Of the unfortunate young man. 1t Is thought he
cannot survive his injuries. Messrs. Kennedy
and Doubleday, though suffering severely, reached
their homes without assistance, and were attended
by DR.. Eliot. The building In the immediate
vicinity Of the gas.room, especially the wood
work. suffered considerably, and no ordinary
building could have withstood the shock.
Another version Of the affair Is that tho stop
cock in an adjoining room, aud attached to a
pipe leading from the tank or vessel, had been
left open, thus causing the room to oil with gas
Be this as II may, 1t 10 matter Of general re.
mark. that gas has been freely escaping In the
gas room for some time past, Notwithstanding the
fact that the apparatus has been doctored up
considerably recently.
box 20, turned in by onioer Lewis, who was on
an adjoining beat.
p. s-since writing the above we learn that
Mr.. Moses died from the effect Of his injuries at
D few minutes past o'clock, p. m.
At the suggestion Of Capt. 0lmstead, the ooro.
nor was telegraphed for, and an inquest will bo
held this morning.
We are also informed that Postmaster General
Randall has detailed a committee. Of which
Postmaster Bowen Is the chairman, with iustruc-
tions to investigate the cause of the explosion.