The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-16
B E N I'm E.
AN EXPLOSION IN SIXTH AVENUE
Policemen and Firemon Seriously injured Care
lessness Of Glove-Cleaner,sf from Erin.

The dangers arising from the careless use and
negligent manipulation Of explosive substances
have been descaned upon time and again by the
press; scarcely week passes without leaving be.
hind 1t a record OF some fatal result as q warning
and an example TO those who handle innammable
and explosive solids, liquids and gases; yet all the
warnings produced by the horrible catastrophes
caused by bprnings and blazlngs ana blowlngs- up
OF such dangerous materials appear to have failed
In exercising the salutary effects that might
be expected on obstinate and stupid human
nature. Young ladies' In gauzy dresses will
persist IN standing nearer to the unscreened parlor
fire than anybody else In the room, and will buzz
around the open stove like silly moths over the
blazing gas Jet Servant girls will persist in pour
ing the can OF Kerosene their kndling wood in
the morning, covering their muscular persons with
sheet of flame that either spoils their brawny
beauty or sends them past that bourn beyond which
the fire Is not lighted by kerosene OIL and wet blan
kets have no reputation worth Mentioning
Mothers that never should nave been given the
honor OF that name, still leave the benzlne bottle
within easy and comfortable reach OF their chill
dren, and the consequent Coroners' nquests repeat
THE OLD STORY
to no preventive purpose. Ancient maidens who
have seen any number OF the years OF understanding
and are not known to their acquaintance generally
as absolute idiots requiring careful watching will
fill their solitary little lamps after first ignit-
ing the wick 10 show them light; but
the pieces OF skull and punches of IRON
gray hair that Immediately get stuck 10 the
walls and ceilings are all thrown away upon the
initiative, unwedded sisters. Intelligent contra.
bands will yet enter blacKsmiths forges with their
coattail pockets full OF gu1powder; amateur sports
men every day look down Into the barrels or their
shot guns at un1avorable moments; Pat sill
TO enter a magazine before he mas lighted his
THE CAuTIous yANKrE
VIII sometimes SIT on a box OF nltro.glycerine In
preference to the cane bottomed chair but the very
brilliant examples tnat are constantly being made OF
such prudent persons inspire dread Of fre in the
hearts OF such children OF Eve have not yet been
Tne public have Just been afford ed one more
.,trghtful example, of the perious careiessnes Of
those who are permitted to handle the dangerous
substances alluded to.
The house No. 7o1 Sixth avenue in this city, is
and basement are occupied by NJ Z. Gommery, a
FrenChman 'de ParIs,' as his signboard informs
he who dyes for LYME and scous
mencable object The first floor is used as an office
and store, the basement as a workshop. About
nine O'CLOCK yesterday morning one OF Mr. Com
mery's wOrkmen, glove cleaning exile from Erin
named John Duggan, was engaged at his occupa.
hight, SO he lit the gas and carefully left 1t burning
while he afterwards opened a can OF benZine which
he lad occasion to use. The
ESCAPED FUMES OF THE BENZTNE
srayed towards the gas jet and or course took fire.
and then MIR. Duggan found himself surrounded by
flames and smoke. For a wonder he had sense
enough to make his way up into the street and give
the alarm: the llremen were quickly on the SPOT,
and before the flames had time 10 effect any con-
siderable amount OF damage they were extin-
guished Having SO FAR completed their work some
OF the nremen descended into the basement TO take
up their hose and remove the smOuldering debris.
ana and Were Were being followed BY two police
keeping back the crowd and who now proceeded
to ascertain the eXteLt ana nature OF the
filled with benzine exploded with a terrific report
and horrible results. The two policemen. who had
Just reached the bottom Of Inc stairs leading down
die o. the street, and the unfortunate remen were
scattered IN all directions, many Of them badly in.
Engineers william w. Rhodes and Thomas Suln.
van slightly injured. Both were able to go home.
kins Of Engine Company Nc. %: james Cleare aud
Jas. c. Fisher. OF Hook and Ladder Company No. 2;
James J. Hurley and Albert Mcfarland, Of Hook ana
Ladder Company No. 4.
The two policemen were oficers Michael DAILY,
OF the Twenty-second precinct, and James Quimby
OF the Nineteenth. Inc latter was not much IN
Jured and was able to go home; but
In the head, face hands ana legs and had to be
carried 10 the Twenty.second precinct station
evening when he was convened to his residence.
Police Surgeons Waterman and RobOrg promptly
WeTe meateV Conveyed to ST. s nf Hoses
The damage 10 Gommery's stock, &C.. amount 10
about al $3.50; not insured The damage done the
r. Mckee, and insured for $4,000.
Abou. seven O'Clock yesterday evening HERALD
ton house, where Oncer DAILY lay suffering from his
injuries. He was sleeping Oh his RICH, side, cot
bed with MS hands, legs ana face bound up oiled
linens HIS burned and once manly looking ana
rather handsome features presented
A MOST LAMENTABLE APPEARANCE
dis6gured mass OF roasted flesh. All his comrades
and particularly MS captain, expressed great sOr-
to DAILY. He was in the thick Of the crowd When it
was fired on last Wednesday, and That and every
other occasion bore himself with great courage
ana cooness, having no fear except an apprehcE- |
sion that some unforeseen circumstance might in |
terfere with the performance Of his whole duty He
was born III Dunmanway. Ireland, is twenty-seven |
years OF age; has wife and Two children. who live
at 6l9 Ninth avenue. and father and mother living
IN Westminster county. lie has been on the police
lorce about three years, having been previously
conductor on the Eighth Avenue ne. Ills injuries
are very and painful, Will take some time
TO heal but there can be doubt as to his ultimate
restoration 10 heath and usefulness.
Leaving the police station, the reporter at once
ST. LUKE's HOSPITAL,
where he was shown, by the opngne gentleman
the ward where lay the injured hremen The first
patient he saw was James Ceare, a native OF Ire.
three children. living at the e SI1s an Of
Fiyfirst street and Ninth avenue. Ceare is most |
dent about whose recovery there are any serious |
apprehenslons. 1t Is hoped, however that the gal
liant fellows life VIII be saved.
Near Cleare lay Oliver Hawkins who is also badly |
burned His face ana hands arc cruelty roasted and |
present sad appearance. The reporter approached |
his bed on tiptoe. thinking he was asleep or ma |
stupor, but the poor fellow smiled, and asked that |
his case would not be marked .'serlOus' In the |
HERALD to-day, as that might brighten all his rela
lions" The request can rea lily be complied with.
for, though his injuries painful, his case Is con-
sldered by the physicians as not at all serious
Hawkins is native OF New York aged twenty eight
Is married, ana lives at 563 Seventh avenue.
The other wounded hrcmen are Albert A. McFar-
land. native OF Long Island aged thlrty-one. ana
lives at No 1913 West Twenty seventh street; James
Hurley, native of New YORK. single severely burned
~ face and hands; Joseph Creage, native OF New
Ork city, aged twentyeight, lives at No. 600 Ninth
avenue; John a: Ripple, native OF New York city,
married, aged twenty nine, lives In Thirty seventh
street, near Ninth avenue. None Of these four are
dangerously injured, and the two aforementioned
IRE not confined TO bed at all, but walking about
With their wounds baDdaged John Duggan the
Unhappy author OF The explosion, was slightly |
corched in the face and neck and went to his home
IN Staten Island