The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-01
THE FIREWORKS EXPLOSION.

Corouer,s IuvcstigafiOn-A Recommendation
by the Jury.
Yesterday morning Coroner keenan, held inquests
at his once In the City Hall over the bodies OF the
boys Thomas Kelly and Michael Mulcahey, whose
deaths resulted from burns received by the explosion
of fireworks In Chatham last Wednesday even
inR The Coroner and his jury first went to the New
York Hospital and took the testimony OF Tnomas
Maher one OF the parties burned and then returned
to the city Hall TO continue the investigation Sub
Joined win be found copy the testimony and the
verdict Of the Jury Om which 1t win be seen that
the custom OF careessly handling fireworks Is de-
n0unced.
TESTIMONY OF THOMAS NAHER
Thomas Maher, residing OF no. "a Roosevelt street.
being sworn. says:-On the 18th OF July was
in wagon containing fireworks; we were going
along Park row, setting Oh the fireworks from the
wagon; when opposite French's Hotel jumped
into the wagon; there were then about ave IN the
wagon, each having skyrOcket and were attempt
ing to set them of; one OF the men dropped some
matches among the fireworks, and they were thrown
out; either some Of the matches must have been lels
IN ans ana geG or one s. o. 1ae the
wagon on they all seemed TO go on about the same
time; cannot say how the deceased parties were
burned the wagon was In motion at the time OF the
accident.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN RYAN.
John Ryan, Of No. 80 cherry street, deposed:-0n
Wednesday evening about seven O'Clock was Ia
wagon containing fireworks: there were about
seven or eight In the wagon; we were going by
French's Hotel when William Redigan asked me Tor
q match; gave him q box OF matches; my back
was turned TO him and was talking 10 the driver;
in about two seconds afterwards the fireworks CON-
menced to explode; jumped out OF the wagon
and did not then know any one was burned; after
wards heard there mad been several burned saw the
| deceased following us; he and other boys had Deen
| in the wagon, aud l put them out; do not know
whether they were IN or out or the wagon ut the
| time of the explosion.
TESTIMONY OF MICHAEL REDfGAN.
Michael Kedlgan being sworn says:-l reside at 40
Cherry str et am treasurer OF the Jeremiah Muir
ply ChOwder Club; on Wednesday last The cub,
amounting to about seventy persons went on an ex-
cursiOn; we went to Bayonne Grove N. d.. before
returning sent our baggage wagon TO tue city TO
get some fireworks that we Intended to set of In
three places In the Fourth ward; we appointed a
comm tee 70 set the fireworks on: two men were
placed in charge Of the fireworks till they were to be
set on; they Ryan and Redigan; the president
Of the club was IN the first stage In front OF the
wagon; ! was also In the stage as soon as he saw
q rocket 90 or he ran back 70 stop the proceeding
| and very soon afterwards the whole explosion took
place; we had not reached the first place where
we expected 10 set them OF.
| The case then submitted to the jury, who rem
dered the following
"That the deceased parties came to their deaths by
burns accidentally received by the explosion OF fire
works In wagon opposite French's Hotel, on the
2Sth day OF July 1859. They recommend the proven.
ton by the proper authorities or the use OF fireworks
on occasions similar to those In which the deceased
lost their iive5n