The New York herald., 1869-02-02
ANOTHER s.TRo-GLyCERIxE EXPLOSION.
Three Men Killed and seven Others Injured
The Accident the Result of Carelessness.
lFrom the Troy Times, Feb. IL

from the Troy Times, Feb. l.
On Saturday morning at ten O'Clock loud eyplo-
sion suddenly alarmed the inhabitants OF the quiet
village OF South Petersburg IN this county, and for
few moments the utmost CONSERVATION was depicted
every countenance. This soon gave place TO the
1ntensest feeling OF horror, as the news spread from
mouth 10 mouth that the shock which had been ex-
perienced throughout the village proceeded from
a rock cutting along the track OF Parks Leba-
non springs Railroad and resulted from the pre-
and that numbers Of the workmen engaged npon
the road had been killed and INJURED The reality
was bad enough, Tor three men had in an ins am
been hurled into eternity, while seven Others .were
little better than mangIed quiyering masses OF
humanity; but as 1t was known that thirty men
were AZ work IN the cutting, and as the terrible
elect Of glycerine was comprehended in moment,
the fears OF the popuace magnided the horrors OF
the accident tenfod and rumOrs OF even greater de-
struction OF life prevailed until the sad reality was
Known shocking sight burst upon the view on
those VINO, hastenng To the relief OF the unfortunate
workmen, were the FIRST to arrive upon tie
scene. Those who had escaped ned In terror
from the place-their cries OF horror and alarm
mingling with the shreSs OF the wounded as they
lay helpless IN an agony utterly beyond the power III
pen 20 describe or the mind to realize. Three men
Epiraim X. Webster, the foreman oil the WORK. John
C0nnors and William Clayton-were blown into
masses OF almost unrecognizable humanity, white
wrcnched from their bodies lay In ali direction
perhaps the most pitiabe victims OF the horrible
calamity. The names OF the wounded JoGn
Bryan Higgins, Michael Maloney Patrick Riley
James Connors, Henry Breen and John Rush-two
OF the last named being very severely hurt.
The place at which the accident occurred lies upon
the outskirts OF the village. rocky ledge, some
two or three hundred feet long, was in process Of
excavation % reduce the grade OF the road bed at
that point Mr.. Webster was In charge Of the work.
and for the purpose Of facilitating the blasting used
ntroRlycerine, an explosive agent twenty times
more powerful than gunpowder lie was In toe Jlabit
OF placing the cartridges containing the glycere in
the blasting holes drilled IN the rock, and this
occasion seems TO have acted with carlessuess
which cost him his life The cartridge consisted or
tin tube about an inch and a half In diameter and
about three or four inches long, In this tube the gyce
Tfne was Inserted, and in an inner tube small duan
city OF powder to which the fuse attached served
~ the means OF exploding the fluid when placed ln
position in the rock. ON SATURDAY. evening prenara
lions had been made TO discharge abasf. Mr. Webster
bad prepared a cartridge, but upon examination
found that IL was defeetlve III some way. lie picked
up small hammer that lay upon the ground near
him ana began TO tap the cartridge gently upon one
Of the ends. In on instant IL exploded. One Of the
men who were killed was standing In the immediate
presence Of Mr.. Webster holding In his hand a can
ol ihe R ~ ,Sa cs,la ~ me iVrce
calamity became general. Mr. Webster was blown
into hundred pieces almost his head and trunk
being much maDgled, while his limbs were literally
torn into shreds Both Connors and Clayton were
also fnanged in horrible manner, and It was with
alsd nus and de1tied iied 6Ne Who was % st alive
tnis morning, was injured internally and cannot re-
cover. ,,-,. 80
coming a great distance did oil within their power
10 relieve The sunerings OF the wounded. Dr. Moses
and other ply sclans Of ine ,own weIe =.
medical and surgical attendance. Messrs. Andrew
L. stllwell and Charles Cranda came INTO the clty
and notified Coroner Brennan OF the accident, aud
that officer went out ana held inquests upon the
bodies OF the victims yesterday. AZ nrst the Town
author@es were ayerse TO any Investigation ~ tne
G0fonef, and when he arrived In petersburg had a-
ready gathered together the fragments OF the body
of Mr.. Webster and caused them TO be Inferred.
Coroner Brennan, however, showed them the neces-
gy for an inquest and soon gained them over to bis
views. B. V. Hewitt was foreman Of the jury, who,
after hearing the testimony In the case rendered the
following verdict
rhat John Connors. EDhrsim Webster and William Clay
,a ras ID their death the Both day January Isp from
~ enI9soS IN used Tor blasting purposes
he Lepasc pfipss Railroad, 7saf Ma, portion " tie sse