The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-22

EXPLOSION.

stereoptleOn Apparatus RxpIodes--A Panic
Prevented-esrent Danger, but NO Loss Of
Aifo.
Last evening an entertainment, consisting OF
Stereopticon pictures and tdbLeduG UtUdtts, was
given In Horticultural Hall for the benefit OF the
Newsboys' Home. During the exhlbitlon Two
gas baRs belonging TO the etereopticon appa-
Tatus exploded from some cause or causes as
vet unknown, bat happily with no damage to
the life of any in the hall.
The hall was about three quarters full at the
time, but owing to the prompt measures OF the
janitor and others all succeeded in gaining the
street In safety.
The screen on which the stereopticon pic
lures were displayed was on the stage immedi-
ately in line with the drop-curtain. The STE
reopticon apparatus to project the pictures on
the screen was situated in the middle aisle of
the hall, in the midst of the audience. 1t con-
sisted of large double lantern, with its accom-
paniments, and two large indla-rubber gas bags,
40 by 20 inches, which were covered with
press boards and heavy iron weights These
bags contained, the one oxygen and the other
hydrogen, which gases were used TO produce
the oxy-hydrogen or Drummond light in the
lanterns.
On the stage, in the rear of the screen, was
the apparatus for the production of the tableaux
These were illuminated by another set oil Oags
and burners situated on one side oil the stage
the screen being raised as each tableau was pre-
sented The stereopticon apparatustin the MD
die of the hall was managed Dy Mr' wizard,
under whose direction the exhibition was given,
and who, in several hundred former exhibitions
of this kind, has never met with an accident
At the time of the explosion the stereoptlcon
apparatus was not in use. The curtain had Just
gone down on the tableau of Captain Jinks,"
in which the calcium lights upon the stage were
used, and after which an intermssion of
a few minutes was announced. Inc
stage lights and apparatus were not injured in
the least. At the end of the intermission Mr..
Willard proceeded to relght the lanterns, pre-
paratory to continuing the exhibition. The
hydrogen Jet in one lantern had just been lit
and had been burning for an instant, and he
was in the act of lighting the hydrogen of the
other lantern, when the explosion took place.
The oxygen was turned not on in either burner,
without which the light is usually as harmless
as q common coal gas burner and in reality Is the
same thing. After the explosion, the oxygen
stopcocks of both lanterns were examined, and
were both found to be fully turned off. Even
had they been on, with proper care no accident
could be expected.
The tops and bottoms of the two bags were
found nearly entire. The weights had been
shrown to one side, but not lifted in the air. The
press-boards of thin pine were splintered COM
pletely, and the fragments scattered in all direc-
lions.
The explosion was double one, consisting of
two distinct shocks, the second being the
heaviest of the two. The report was very loud
and was heard in the neighborhood distance of
six squares. People ia the Academy Of
Music supposed that gas meter had exploded
in that building. The gas lights on either side
OF the stage had been lit during the intermis-
sion, as well as some in front of the gallery.
AL of these were extinguished by the concus-
sion SO that the audience was left in total dark
ness. Under these circumstances the wonder is
that no one was injured by stampede of the
people in the hall, but nothing of that kind
occurred. The janitor of the hall and several
gentlemen were standing near the door at the
time, and they Immediately opened all the
means of exit. In few minutes all who were
at all alarmed had left the hall. By the time
that the gas was relighted all terror had sub
sided. One or two ladies who were in the i'm
mediate vicinity of the gas bags tainted, and
one or two boys were slightly scratched with
splinters of the press-boards. An earring and
cross worn around the neck were torn away
from one of the young ladies near the apparatus
She was also considerably bruised, and her ner.
vous system severely shocked, but no serious
results are apprehended. This is believed to be
the case in which the greatest personal
injury was inflicted. A large force o.
from the Academy of Music adjacent
Several fire companies, alarmed by thu
report, had also arrived, but their services were
not needed. The services of doctor were i'm
mediatey procured for the fainting ladies, all o
whom soon recovered and left for their homes.
Though no one was badly injured the force o
the explosion was sufficient togreatly damage thu
hall. Several hundred of the large panes o
glass in the windows were shattered, ant
The sound of the falling glass adde'
greatly to the confusion. But the creates
INJURY to the building was not discovered unit
long after the accident. About IL o'clock
when the anitor was about to leave the hal
for the night, it was found that the ceiling O
the basement, Immediately under the spo
where the bags had been situated, had been en-
tirey shattered. The floor of the hall abov
was shattered, and the shock had penetrate
through the floor to the room beneath. Afte
the excitement had subsidized Mr.. Willard offere
to continue the exhibition, rs none of the othe
apparatus had been injured, and another set O
bags was on hand; but by the breaking of tn
windows the hall was found to have becom
too uncomfortably cold for the accommodate
of an audience.
Immediately after the accident Professo
Morton, of the Franklin Institute, was sent fC
to examine the apparatus, and, If possible, Civ
an explanation, as no cause could be discovered
The messenger found him at his house, and
Immediately came to the hall. The apparatu
had been left Just as it had been thrown by th
explosion until after his arrival.
After careful examination, Professor Morto
has furnished us with the following 6
the cause of the accident:-From som
misunderstanding at the outset, the OPP
rator was under q false impression as to whic
gas bag contained oxygen and which hydrogen
This is proved by the actual position of the COZ
Meeting tubes at the present time. AS a resu
of this, when filing up the bags from rese
cautions were taken to avoid Just this mistak
the wrong gas was added to each ba
thus forming an explosive mixture
both. On attempting TO relght the jets Il
upon the press s-boards were not thrown abou
and, we are happy to learn that, with the c
ception of a few trihing scratches, no one W
hurt, although large audience was assemble
and densely packed in the closest proximity
the exBloding apparatus. That so noisy al
violent detonation should do so little serio
damage would seem strange were we n
acquainted with the peculiar character OF u