New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-09-15
A CRIMINAL CATASTROPHE
FATAL EXPLOSION OF UNION TORPEDOE3
IN DEEEMAN-ST.

WINDOWS SHATTERED IN AN ENTIRE BLOCK
--Kr0KITsS MANUFACrURE OF NITRO-GLi-
CEGiNE PAINTINGS.
One of Tie most terrific explosions Of fire.
works that has occurred in this city took place yes
tcrlay In the lower part OF Bccinan-st About r. H.
truckman was engaged unloading quantity OF "Cron
tocducs" from ca In front Of the store OF his employ
ors Mcssrs Eluebcr GolGscmidt dealers in fireworks,
at No 1913 Bcclman-st near southst. THO boxes wcro
I'm process OF marking Ivy Michael Goldschnidt ore OF
the frln fast delivered by the trucEman. "mlo
thus engaged OF the boxes slipped from the grasp OF
the trucknan and fell on the pavement The contents
exploded with terrific report, and the torpedocs on the
truck were also exploded by the conclusion. Thofo III
tic vicinity who capable Of giving lucid description
of the Ga soy that the first report short and sTp
like the rcpoit OF cannon whc tic succeeding ones
were like the rattle OF niskctry.
The entire block al once cnyclopcd m smoke ana
dust that completely obscuIel the view ana for rev
moments eTcctuay concealed all objects within IT,
When it had cleared away sufficiently, scene or rum
was presented The truck CHI which tho torpcdoes were
lad becn blown ard crushed into srlintcred mass.
Portions OF II blown entirely across the street. ana
not single wheel left entire Tho focc OF the OK
rlosion seemed to have been principally downward and
the vehicle was littcncd to the earth.
Tire first floor OF tic store in front OF which the truck
WAS standing made complete witol, ana the WIN
dows in The upper part Of the building W re shattered
the sashcs even being torn out Tie tin awning - 'front.'
OF the store Was completely demolished. IL stores adj
joining ard tie opposite side OF TIE street we've also
badly damaged In fact, there was scarcely sound
pane OF glass either side Of the street for the distance
Of block or more. Several were broken III Fulton MAJ
kct, over n block away.
The unfortunate owner OF the truck was blown upon
an adjoining awning and street lamp, and hung sns-
pended there his head and shoulders projecting beyond
the edge OF the awning. He had scarcely shrcd OF
clothing left upon him, and was shcckingly mangied.
His lace and head were torn ard cut in slckenng man.
ner there gashe and Commissions visible on various
PARTS OF the body and there compound fractures OF
the limbs lie was inscnsibe, but alive, breathing
fty 1t was evident at glance that he could not rc
cover. lie was taken down and placed upon the walk
temporarily, awaiting tho arrival OF the ambulance
which conveyed him to tho Ccnrcst hospital where he
died. His was found to be John Caswei and his
place Of residence, East New-York.
On the opposite side Of tho street lay tho dead body OF
Henry Brown, age a. Of No. HamitUlst, manslcd III
a checking Mary ]. Burr, age TO- was sitting in
front her parents residence, No. 1913, nearly opposite
the truck 80 great the force Of tho explosion that
she lifted up and hurled against the side OF the buu
ing, receiving but not dangerous injuries she
was picked up nsensibc by Mr. Cook, doing business In
the vicinity, taken into the house. and cared for
Michael Gollschnidt, Of tho partners, was very
dangerously injured. His face torn and bleeding
and he seriously hurt about the limbs and trunk
Several persons who standing In tho vicinity or
passing at the time were also seriously wounded John
Nolan &C. living at the corner or Oak anu Janessts'
was picked up iuscnsble. He passing ut the time,
and was quite near to the truck He very danger
ousy cut and bruised and died after being removed
to the Park Hospital
william O'Connor and Mr.. Hartford were passing
through Bceknans at the time returning from Fdlton
Market where they had lunched. Hartford was badly
injured In the head and OConnor IN the foot beside re-
ccying slight the face The latter removed to
bis residence No. co Hoboken and Hartford
was also taken home. man about % years
OF age son Of Kenny Couillard, formerly Captain
Of tho "Back Ball" line Of packets. happened
to be passing the time the accident took place. and
was discovered by some friends One Of his arms was
broken and his legs and right side were badly bruised
He was carried to the store Of Stephen H. Mills Co. IN
south.s and there kindly cared for. His home Is In
Westcd, n. j. and his friends obtained carriage, In
tending to take lin to the railway station in case the
doctor decided that he might safely travel to lis homo
last evening Henry Rcichart OF No 1l5 Colunbll-st
age 49, received compound fracture of tn Left ie aud
severe accrations IN the face He Is under treatment al
the Park Hospital, and will recover.
John Hanshaw is labOrng man in the employ OF
James Sullivan, who owns cellar where coa stored
immediately und. the of Klueber and Goldschndt
where the explosion occurred HLEshaw had juss re-
turned from suiyans house in Pcarlst where he had
been assisting him put tun Of coal in the cellar
Henry Brown the lad who was killed, had been Win
Hanshaw in Pearl-s aud after returning to the cellar
in Beekman-st., to Fulton Market whero be pur
chaseda couple OF apples Of which he gave Han
shaw and the other etened for himself The boy was
sitting ON the step of the cellar ct the instant OF the ex
plosion eating his apple. few seconds AZ
ter Hanshaw had received his apple, he heard
tremendous report, and was thrown VIC
lently back tie coal he had been shelving Afusn OF
sawdust Stats and mortar, came down the cellar OPEN
ing and completely blinded him for the instant "hen
he came 70 his somewhat he rushed for what he
to be the outlet OF the cellar but which proved
I'm reality to be only grating On discovering his mis-
take he made q second attempt, and finding the cellar
steps, excedy to the other side OF the street,
Here he father Of the lad Brown rushing iran
tcaly about and nquirng Of every one where Ills son
Henry was. The two first turned over tin awning
that WAS blown from in front of the building No. 126
Beekman.st finding lad whom they did not recognize
underneath it. They then figure leaning against
post near by, and on approaching olseoVereo
an old man quite insensble and apparently dyihg hee
they were met by another of Brown VINO ran up U
them weeping and, pointing to BODY lying Oh inc op
pose side of the street. said, ooh, father, mere ne
Isl here poor Henry" The men followed the iad' anu
approached Just in time the police OF the Second
Precinct taking the body Of the boy to the
He was IA years Of age, and bright smart au, wei
known about Fulton Market where his oDlsihg aspoS
ton had made him many friends His race was not us
figured, but his neck was broken ana Lbs legs
tered ., -ouo ort ord Town IN
attacking manner. The Jaw Of one was fractured and
mass of the flesh torn away. There were also cuts on
various parts Of his body and limbs The other had
long cut in the sde exposing the enra and there was
hole in his hip large enough to thrust mans hand
into II was believed that no chance OF saving
them and humane bysandrs urged that they be
killed and thus relieved Of their misery An agent OF
Mr. Bergb the President the Society for the Proven
ton of Cruelty to Animals teleSraphed for to come
dawn and decide whether tho animals should be killed
or not and they were finally removed TO stable and
cared for.