The New York herald., 1870-03-18
HORRIBLE CATASTROPHE.
A Nitro-Glycerine Factory Blown to
Atoms at Ridgeaeld, N. j.
-Four Men Instantly Instantly Kille4--particuIars
Of the Disaster.

MAKE the blood run cold ana send thrill through
the stoutUst heart took place yesterday morning
near Ridgeneld station. on the line OF the North
ern Railroad OF New Jersey. Situated near the ien
bank OF the Hackensack river In the midst OF .
bleak marshy tract or land, there stood the large
factory wherein the destructive element, nitrogly
cerino was manufactured. The structure was
built on piles, was about $50 feet long BY
fifty rect wide, ono story high and owned
by Mr.. Tai. +. Sharner, the same gentleman on
whoselpremses, in Hudson City, can OF ntro-gyce-
rine exploded some two years ago, causing tho SUR
rounding buildings 10 vlbrate from the shock OF
an earthquake and instantly killing nine men. Save
IN the number who persisted by the disaster the ex-
plosion yesterday was infinitely more terrific in IT.
nature. Up to ten O'Clock yesterday forenoon bust
ness had gone on In the factory usual conducted
by foreman named Hermann Meyers, attended BY
three other men, natives OF Holland A large guam
tity or suphurc acid. PROBABLY 1000 pounds In
weight, was stored up In casks on the premises;
5000 10000 pounds OF nitric acid, well So
cured In carboys, bound with hay. were
placed outside on the PLATFORM and beneath
the roor OF the building stood about 1000 pounds
OF the manufactured article. nitro-glycerine. Within
the previous twenty-f0ur hours heavy rains had
fallen and The tide was far above its usual lcyel,
extending TO the plies whereon the factory stood.
and the water occasionally lashed the summit Of
the PLATFORM causing II to heayc so mat IN sho
morning the proprietor was rather anxious about
the "carbOys,o winch were pied one upon another,
and seemed IN imminent danger OF Ueing thrown
down. Leaving Instructions Win his men TO see 70
the matter, the proprietor quit the nelghDorhOod,
never again to see tie laborers alive.
shortly after ten O'Clock a few men stood by
team OF horses quarter OF mile distant. ana they
suddenly heard report like sound OF q cannon.
While their eyes were turned 10 see whence the
sound issued. and as they were conversing about
the cause Tar louder report was heard sw hch made
very ground reyerperate beneath them, and PEN
etraIed the remote village like a crash Of tnunder.
they could betray the least emotion a spectacle
never 10 be forgotten was presented TO their
view. vast Cloud OF flame which swept every
thing else lrOm their signt was hurled 10 lm-
mense height, illuming the enlre region, and thus
was followed In few seconds by the falling OF snat
tered timbers broken sbricks and the ruins OF tho
factory which had oeen there. Everything, 10 usc
the prOprietOrS expression, had been sWept TO The
clouds, ana when une huge volumes oil smoke had
Down aside not yeStge OF The establishment re-
walls were clown into eternity, and not even par
ticle OIL their bodies or an artice OF their cothing
was TO be seen. 1t IS also said that youth who
lived near Ridgefeld was on naad ~ the time and
met the same cruel fate.
Scarcely nad the echoes Of tho explosion died
away wnen the people began to rush from all quar-
towards the crnmbled remnants OF the building.
Inc piles OF rubbish were uplurned, but III VAN;
everything was IN cindcrs. In tact, 1t would seem
as Ii the nitric acid, which Is powerful 0xidizer.
had seized all the COm0ustiDle elements and
sea s ons Mas Ss pesn ri
TO char. the bodies, and when the pre-
sence Of the immense quantity OF gycer-
proves SO enormous there can be little doubt that
the men have not only miseraoiy pershed, Dut that
their tsdes nave been torn 10 atoms Never before
had sucn casualty been witnessed IN the vicinity
Tne wife Of Hermann Meyers, the foreman and the
widow OF COurmann were soon on the grounds and
ranJtcaly seeking those who were lost to them Tor
ever Tne relatives or the other persons (wh0se
mady turned up the rubbish TO catch glImpse
Of their lost trends, but oil to no purpose.
Throughout the day NUMBERS OF individuals wOuld
their way over the deSolate muddy road leading to
tue spot, and great excitement prevailed. Owing 10
the TACT that the great explosion had been preceded
by q comparatively slight One IL was believed that
the working men were In the act Of running away,
rounding dykes into the river. But vigorous
searches showed the fallacy OIL such cOnJectures and
no hope remains OF their recovery. The anxiety
and excitement were increased by the passage OF q
tram wnen the disaster took place and many oil the
passengers aghied ut the statlon eager TO view the
scene one young man was passing the station and
in half an hour ne learned that ns father was
that the men originally mentioned as standing with
horses were not injured, while the buildings TWO
miles distant were ylsbiy shaken, and many WIN
dows smashed at The time.
The gloom which the sad occurrence has cast over
the inhabitants or this lonely region, unacCuS-
TONED to sucn caamitles may not well De imagined.
Night aL length drove or the VISITORS from
nents OIL the structure Du the friends OF the deceased
The OF the materials destroyed was about $75 0o0
loss which Mr. Shafner, OF course, deems insig-
nitCant when compared to that OF tue lives which
were sacrificed. In the evening justice OF the
peace came from EDgieW0Od TO hold an inquest
the b0Gies, but the exact and remote Of their
un,iney end Will probably be shrouded ior ever In