New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-30
THE NITRoGIYCERIXE EXPLOSION
INQUEST BY CORONER WARREN AT BERGEN
SYNOPSIS OF THE TESTIMONY.

INQUEST BY CORONER WARREN AT BERGEN
SYNOPSIS OF THE TESTIMONY.
The inquest over the bodies of the nine per
sous who were killed Monday afternoon by the expo-
slon Of can OF nitro-cycerne in the Newark and New
was commenced before Coroner Warren az the PoceSta
lion Library Hail. yesterday. The Coroner read the de
position of WIN. b. simmons, who was working in the
shop az the time OF the explosion. Witness dcpOsed that
Thomas Burns approached the south side Of the shop
with OF nitrOgycerne on his shoulder and asked
Patrick Kelly 20 take of the cam which he did. Burns
then told him heat the irons When the irons were red
hot Kelly took them out and gave them 10 Burns, who
soon returned with them and threw them on the floor
ordering Kelly % heat them again. which being done
Burns went with them 10 the gycerne The can OF ely
rerne was surrounded by water but witness could not
cay whether il covered at the top After about ~
minutes Burns again passed by NE south de OF the Shop
with another " gyCeriDe his shoulder and passed
around the side. Kelly said 10 him, "the water
IS boiling now but witness did not hear Burnss reply
John HoOhan then entered the shop at the south door
and witness went 20 get some tools, and knew nothing
more until he saw Van Camp man rom his own place,
standing him and asking him If he was
much hurt Where witness lay about 90 feet from
The spOt where ne stood When speaking 10 HOiohdn WIZ
had Burns thawing out small cans OF nitrOgy
rerne. before but never large ones and the small ones
only when was very cold Burns was me foreman OF
The blasting with the gycerne, and had been in the en-
ploy Of the Company since the LIST Of October. Witness
thought thdt Burns was not competent 10 use me sr
because he not sober man. At the time Of the
accident witness thought that Burns was so much under
the influence 81 liquor as 10 De ncapabe OF DONG ms busl
ness. George Hopkins OF ST. Adams, Vermont aborer
was next examined lie has been engaged in blasting
rocks 20 years He testified that the can would hold GO
pounds. Michael ScanlOn. also a abOrer in Sage a.
Eldnnegans employ testhed thdt disposed
might enter the gyceime mousse lh0mas Nlchols OF Os-
wegO County. y. " also IN sage Flannegans employ,
working the pit at the time Of the explosion about
80 feet away, and some boards, &C. flying around,
hut iu the pit WIS injured Edwin J.. Merritt resi-
dent Of Warwick Orange County n. " practical MINER
tid that contractors could do much execution with
three men using glycenne as with six using
powder 10 was for witness that Burns, by order
" Mr. Nichols, thawing ont the Witness went
TO the magazine while the second can was being made
ready: this az about O'Clock p about ten min
utes aerwad he heard the report and saw the tmbers
nyinG n the air; saw eight men dead, not including
Burns and three wounded. Buus's scalp afterwmd
found John Flanagan Of the contractors for the
building OF the Newark and Newly York Railroad and Col
r. Il. SCh8fner many years engaged in eecrOtelegraph
ing and military pursuits, were also examined Their
testimony related mainly the scientific part Of the in
VestigatOn Col Schainer testified that he had reason
believe that Burns, though he had been noticed once
twice IN has former employment 20 be under the inu
nce 81 liquor, sober man. The investigation is TO
% resumed this morning