The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-17
FIRE Ar BERGEN PO;NT.
Explosion of Gns mt the La Tourette House.
Two Men Badly Injured.

Explosion of Gus ut the La TOurette House
Two Men Badly Injured.
At halfpast eight O'Clock yesterday morning, as
the numerous guests now staying ut the La Tourette
House were seated at breakfast engaged in discuss
ing the excellent cuisine for which that establish
ment is famous, q loud report as OF an i'm
mense piece Of artillery fired near 10y,
reverberated through the apartment, shaking
the windows and causing many persons in the room
TO Jump TO their feet In alright hardly waiting for
the answer to the repeated inquiries "What Is it 2
what Is itr Many rushed to their rooms and began
packing their trunks, and general stampede
seemed about to take place.
In the meantime the proprietor Mr.. JIG. Armour,
and his corps Of lremen, who are always on duty in
the building, mad at once rushed the scene OF the
explosion, which was found to be the gas house
from which the hotel was supplied with light. On
the change lew minutes had made. Instead OF q
neat compact little gas house, heap Of RUNS re-
NAMED.
Tne gas house was q small two story stone bulld.
ing, about twenty-five feet square, containing q re-
tort, gasometer and all the requisite machinery for
400 feet from the rear OF the hotel Some
time ago 1t was discovered that the pipes
leading from the rctort to the gasoneter
had become clogged with tar and required cleaning.
Accordingly yesterday morning all the gas was ex.
hassted, and the engineef named Clark and his as
For this purpose Clark descended into the we'll
which IL about twelve feet deep, with q lighted
taper, and Connolly remained standing at the top to
give what assistance might be required. Clark had
scarcely unscrewed the joint Of the connecting pipe
when some gas that had remained unnoticed In It
escaped caught the flame from the lighted taper, and
the explosion which startled the guests occurred.
Clark was blown clear out OF the we'll with all his
clothes on fire. Connolly was thrown against the
side OF the building after being burned by the fierce
rush OF fame. The roof and second story OF the
building was lifted at least thirty feet int0 the air
the windows were shattered In pieces, the ma.
calnery, with the exception OF the gasometer, was
DESTROYED, and a column OF fire, accompanied by O
fringe or dark smoke, rose TO an immense height
over the demolished building.
No time was lost In putting O stream on the Durn
ing building, and, owing TO The proximity OF the
river, from which an excellent supply Of water was
obtained, and the well-directed efforts of the fire.
men with the engine belonging TO the house, In O
very snort time the fire was subdued. At no time
was mere any danger OF the IRE reaching the hotel.
- me gas house was at distance Of at least 400
Ieet from the main house and completely detached
yes ms panic among the great number OF guests-as
the noeeI az present in quite fuliwas iudicrous, and
was SOME Time after all was over before they could
DC Persnaued that there was really no
Danger Inc darky attendants OF the hotel
:, anv,, nso a,.d much y, scared, ana, unmindu
on anything else AZ the frat alarm they ruahed TO
theT quarters, which was an Isolated building lying