The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-10-04
THIRD AVENUE EXPLOSION.
MAN on FIRE OPPOSITE THE YORK.
VILLE RAILWAY DEPOT
An Eating House Keeper Heavily In Debt.
and Oficers in Charge OF her Piace-Asa
the Place Mysteriousiy Blown Up-Ths


An Eating House Keeper Heavily In Debt.
and Onicers In Charge OF her PIaco-Asa
the Place Mysteriousiy Blown Up-The
Almost MsrveiioHs Escape.
Much excitement was created in the Nineteenth
Ward last night by explosion In the basement Of
tho tenement Ills Third avenue. The premises,
which are directly opposite the third Avenue Rail-
road depot, are occupied BY Joseph Reickerts A. Q
dining and liquor saloon. At about $50 last even.
ing Joseph Reckerts the proprietor rushed into the
saloon in blaze. lie rau toward one Of the cooks.
but SHE managed to get out OF mis- way.
Reickerts had been IN the saloon hardly one minute
when q terrific explosion occurred, which broke and
upset everything in tho saloon and SHOOK ali the
houses in the neehborhood. The report was heard
for blocks distant, and alarmed ali the residents Of
the neighborhood.
Captain Gunner and Sergeant without with the
reserve squad OF the Nineteenth Ward police ar
rived early, and had considerable dficulty In keep
ing back an excited multitude.
Al the entrance the doors had been blown out and
tho glasses and dccantcrs behind the bar were
broken into q thousand pieces. The flooring in the
centre OF the store blown up. and the furniture
was scattered, broken oil over the room.
In the kitchen the boiler which supplied the piacs
with bot water was carried from its fastenings and
landed In the centre OF the room. The rear OF the
house where tile kitchen Ia blown into the yard.
and the ceiling aud walls In the store and kitchen
were almost utterly torn down Joseph Reckorts,
tho proprietor Of the store, was found lying the
floor terribly burned about the face and body.
John Graham, n carpenter. who eating his sup
yer ~ the time, MAS also frightiully burned about
the police station In FiNy ninth street, where they
were attended by Drs Purdy and Cremin. The phy.
,iSi3s pronounced the case Of Reieker's almost
caci Gunner ssrs % GYu WGoPpt P' Deceive De- @ S%s Inm
hrpf attA tIa Iufn lt.r
learn ir possible tho cause OF the explosion II
seems that afler the explosion nre discovered In
tile cellar. In one corner were the smoulderlng
aehes OF a Gre with shutter lying on them, no
doubt thrown there by the force Of the explosion.
holding eve pnts. and which. on investigator, was
found to have contained species OF nitro clycerne,
& or: as some &c call T. houid safety gas: All ] was con;
down. the windows broke and everything 10 the
place piled in one confused hear.
In the front part OF the cellar found q largo
pile OF sawdust, and hidden beneath II was wooden
box. into which the tin box, already mentioned.
0ucd exactly. II Is supposed from the name found
on the box that this explosive material was bought
| At Pratrs, In Fulton street
| There wero several narrow escapes. A few min
utes before the explosion, seven eight persons
had finished their meals and left the premises. Had
lives might have heSn los CaibaTinc XIII one
the cooks in the place. was In the kitchen iryins
Po.atSse, at ,he tme Of The ; e;SgoSiGn and the
| was thrown within six inches OF her. The ceiling
slso fell around her in all directions. ana bricks
| escaped urharmed.
| The place was occupied by Mrs. Ralck.-,s and her
son Joseph eating saloon. II Is said chat thev
| had contracted many debt-, owing their baker sew
cntysix dollars, their butcher seven hundred dor.
lars and carpenter. Mciael Dalmage sixty dollars
| for putting M piriiiOn between the kitchen ana
the store. Their creditors mad sued them for the
| amount IN the Seventh District Civil Court. before
| Judge Nacure and obtained judgment. Tho car
| penter, Dalinase, however had tue first judgment,
| aud the place at the time Of the explosion was ia
charge Of Deputy Marshal Henry Stcinhert Marshal
John IotSts assistant. SicDhert had, luckily for
himself. len tue place few minutes before the
| plo lion.
| Mrs. Reickerts went away yes terday morning and
had hot returned at the time Of the explosion. Per.
sons in the store. house. aud neighborhood that
| they never saw thc.strAnge box before. They be-
icve therefore that II must have been carried thoro
| In the night
| The house anew fonrsiory brick, owned by J.
l.. Mott, Of hUtt's Iron Works. Joseph Reikerts 10
| only ~ wears Of ngc. Capt. Gunner supposed that
| Rrckeris was pouring some OF the glycerine H.
| hire At the time his clothing caught.
The Captain has secured the box and all other ar.
| uclcs which are necessary to eIplan the cause ol
tho explosion. The police surround the house, aud
| will remain all night 10 allow one to enter.