The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-30
FIREWORKS.
Disa strOus Explosion in New YOrk-FiVe Per-
sons Seriously Injured.

sons Seriously Injured.
From the N. Y. Herald Of this morning.
Considerable alarm and excitement were occa-
stoned in the neighborhood of the City Hall
Park last evening by terrible accident which
occurred in front of Frenchs Hotel to party of
eXcursionists who were returning from Bayonne,
n. j., where they had been spending the day.
Shortly after P. NJ. the loungers in front of
French's had their attention attracted by
the demonstration Of the iOvial occupants of a
large stage, with eight horses attached, which
bowled merrily by. Two smaller stages and
three carriages followed, all loaded with mem
bers of the jeremiah Murphy Chowder Club.
About the time the rearmost carriage passed
Frankfort street. a rocket was discharged from
a four-horse wagon, containing the baggage of
the party, which vehicle was then entering
Printing House Square. SoScarelessly had the
rocket been directed that in place of going up
ward it shot straight across the park, to the in
tense astonishment of the loving couples seated
on the benches. The next moment second
rocket hissed from the wagon, and carried fire
and confusion into the editorial sane
tum OF one of our contemporaries. The erratic
flights of these fiery missiles directed the atten-
ton OF the bystanders to the occupants of the
wagon, some five or six men and three boys.
While preparing to light piece No. 3, immedi-
ately opposite Frenchs Hotel, the man in charge
handled his matches so carelessly as to explode
the box at once, and drop it among the fireworks
lying at the bottom of the wagon. An attempt
was made to trample out the Matches but the
next instant bang went a rocket from the
midst OF bundle, and then followed terrible
explosion which hurled some of the men clean
out OF the wagon and scattered ignited rockets.
Roman candles etc, on all sides. scene of
terror and confusion followed The bystanders
with few exceptions fled panic-stricken; the
passengers IN the horse cars took alarm, aud in
stantly Vacating their respective vehicles. ran
| wherever Instinct directed them. The horses
attached to the wagon dashed off with their fiery
| load but Mr.. John Bush, of Chatham street
| rlsked his lie to stop them, and succeeded in
| doing so after receiving some rather severe in
| Jurles in the way of kicks and contusons The
| stages and carriages were some distance ahead
! when the accident occurred, and the occupants did
| not know what had happened until they halted
at Sweeny's Hotel.
! Attracted by the whizzing of the fireworks
| around his office, in the basement of the Citv
Hall, Sergeant Robinson, of the Twenty-sixtb
! precinct, rushed out, and on learning the nature
OF the accident Immediately despatched all avail
aDle 1orce to the assistance of the poorEfellows
whose heart-rending cries succeeded the noise
OF the explosion
The interior of the wagon presented horrible
spectacle to those who first approached Three
| men and two boys scorched and bloody, their
faces blackened and swollen beyond recogni-
llon, and their clothes all ahame, were writing
ana rolling over each other in the most horrible
| agonles. Citizens and police at once set to
work tearing the burning clothes from the
bodies OF the sufferers, and as soon that was
aone the unfortunate creatures were carried
into the adjoining hotel and thence, as soon as
means OF transportation could be procured, TO
the City Hospital,