The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-26
TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE.
Explosion Of a Tank Of Carbolc Acid
a Erooklyn-Iwo lien Killed
and Others Injured.

.The row OF buildings recently occupied by lenry
uarteou 4 Co for latnlng and building materials,
situated on Third street, near tue corner OF Bond
south Brooklyn was the scene Of feaiiul explosion
last evening" about halfpast SIX O'Clock resulting IN
loss OF human life and serious damage TO property.
The victims OF The catastrophe were Martin Noor.
hles OF Princeton, N. j., and Michael Geoheagon, OF
brooklyn.
tappears that the premises IN question were re-.
Gently leased by the Robins Wood Preserving tom.
paey, whose Office ia at No. 1903 Broadway New
YORK. Tor the purposing OF creosoting the W OGDEN
paving blocks used in the Nicoson and other pave
ments. Considerable expense had been incurred BY
the company 10 perlecting the completion Of their
WORKS and the tank and boilers used were all new.
The res we're lighted under the latter shortly before
four O'CLOCK ana everything was going on nney 10
all outward appearances until the terrible explosion
which 10 described by a resident OF the vicinity ~
beng as sudden az The
FLASH OF GUN
This was at haii-past six O'Clock. Then there was
mighty rush OF steam. simultaneous with the reyer.
beratlng report OF the explosion, and the failing
debris OF timber, brick and mortar. The first on the
scene OF the wreck were three young men, named
Bernard RELY tlate OF Engine Company No. 10, Of
New YORK; Thomas Patton and F. T. Mullen, who
happened to be passing Along Third street at the
pides OF the wooden structure and the fire bells rung
the alarm. The men above named made their wav
heroically into the place, and brought out with them
THE CHARGED REMAINS
of two men. The bodies were taken to a shed oppo-
site and there laid upon rude stretcher prepared
for their reception. In the meantime the FIRE De-
parment arrived upon the scene, and the appa-
ratus were not long IN getting liberal stream upon
the dcyouFing element and IN bringing IL rapidly
under suoleetlon thereby preventing ,t further de-
ow ng TO the close proximity OF vast quantity or
lnmeer which was on the premises Captain
Maddy, OF the Forty-third, and Sergeants Ferry
ana Meeks, together with number OF
patrolmen, were prompt IN arriving ana III
giving efcent aid 10 necessities OF the OCCASION 1t
is impossible to give expression to the terrible aspect
presented by the bodies upon the removal OF the
blankets which formed their covering. The heads
OF both men were half burnt from their bodles, but
eve being visible III the head OF one OF the men.
which was oulged out In most ghasty manner.
The hair was entirely burnt on the heads and faces
OF the unfortunate men. as were also the greater
portion OF their clothing. Their lower limbs We're
also fearIully charred.
A man for whom Michael Gaheogon had worked
was admitted to the she'd in which the bodies were
and identted the remains OF Gaheoson as one OF
the victims Of the terrible disaster. The latter
sided on Hamilton avenue, near the foot OF Clinton
street; was native OF Ireland, about forty years
OF age, married, and was employed as
laborer on the premises. Subsequently dr, Trundy,
the superintendent of the works, who was
also burned about the head, face ana hands by the
steam. came in and readily identified the body or
Martln VOORHEES,. Mr.. Voorh.es. who was the
pdIthltS OF the IN
was resident OF PRINCETON, n. j. fifty years or age
and caves vile and family TO mourn his sad end.
BOY INJURED.
John Henry Teepe, boy twelve years OF age, who
at play in the vicinity OF the tank at the time
tie explosion. was very severely burned about the
he'd End body by the steam. He was conveyed 10
the college hospital Tor surgical treatment.
STATEMENT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE
WORKS.
Mr.. r. W. Trundy, the manager and superintend-
ent of the works, made the subIoined statement TO
the Assistant Fire Marshal, P. Ready, who early
Robins Wood Preserving Company the Office OF
winch Is ut l63 Broadway, New YORK. The works
or near al the We e an and
O'Clock this afternoon. The tank full OF wood
ana lumber. and Mr.. Martin VOORHEES, was watching
the operation Everything went on finely. and the
operation was going on well. ley Mr.. Voor-
hes at one end %. Of the building and
ed. while going over | heard an explosion;
II was all IN 3 moment and was ifted ana carried
come thirty or forty feet and thrown down with
great violence. When | got up staggered Few
times and reached to the lower part OF the tank
where iar. VOORHEES, was when lett him, ana about
forty feet from that place saw him and another
man lying close together, apparently dead. took
hold of them and helped TO haul them out After
could, ana got badly bruised myself The mem,
hers OF the company are Lewis Robins henry steers
Rowland Mathews, Thomas Walters and myself
(R. w. Tfundgl. Inc company has 6een formed
aDOutt two months and had just commenced and had
completed these works. We nad not burnltized
any wood for any body yet but had large contracts
on hand. Mr.. VOORHEES,, the patenlee Of the pro.
cess was about fifty years Of age and resided at
Princeton, n. j., where ne eave wife AND family.
TIE TANK
was 40xse feet in Aze, was butt Of IRON, with
iron cylinder head. The tank exploded amt caused
the disaster 1t was built by Andrew Hutton, OF
Jersey CITY, Mr.. YoorhteS, the deceased, was the
inventor OF the machinery, but l do not know
whether 1t was patented or not. This tank con-
talned carpoic acid, and presume this was the
cause OF the explosion. The engineer IN charge OF
the engine and boilers had nothing TO do
with the tank IN which the caroolic acid was con-
tained. The engine proper was tested only days
a. and found to be al right. Mr. VOORHEES, said
"the WORK was going on tnely' when / left him.
and that was, believe, tue last word he spoke
The tires were started with view tesiIlg the per-
lection OF the machinery.
THE
upon the building aud machinery is estimated at
$4,000. upon which there Is no insurance The
Coroner, Dr. Jones viewed the bodies and VIII nod
an inquest upon them to-day.
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