, 1872-12-02
Three Men Killed and Two Fatally
Wounded by Careless Blasting Mt
CarmanSyi1lc. N. Y.

From the Ne,o York Tribune, Nor. 28
a high ridge OF rock divides st. Nicholas
avenue, from Seventh avenue, at the point
where 0ne-hundred- and forty fifth street should
connect the two thoroughfarcs. This barrier
contractors, during tho past two years, have en-
deayored to break down, but as yet the work OF
opening the street has not been accomplished,
moved.
The work .has been delayed on account Of
many 1aborers refusing to work On the spot,
they asserting that the place was haunted from
the frequency Of accidents which happened to
those that labored there. Two years ago blast
premature1y exploded and two workmen were
killed and three severely wounded. During the
past summer, however, the WORK OF blasting
away the rock was resumed by Fairchi1d d.
Walker, who obtained the contract for opening
the street, and appointed John G. Wilson, of
White P1ains to superintend the work.
Two blasts were exploded at noon yesterday,
and in the afternoon the workmen prepared sew
eral blasts to remove large ledge of rock.
Among others who wero filling with powder the
chambers drilled WAS Edward Foley, aged 40, of
One Hundredth and Forty-frat street, near
Eighth avenue. After filling one Of the cham
berB with IS pounds of powder, Foley poured in
sand and began pounding it down upon the pow
der with an iron rod.
l1r. Wilson, the Superintendent, had strolled
down the hill toward Seventh avenue at the
moment, or he would doubtless have prevented
Foley from using the iron rod, the use Of any
rod to ram down sand unless tipped with lead
being forbidden. Foley found some difficulty in
pushing tho rod into the chamber and impatie1t-
II rammed it's point down upon the sand.
The iron point Of the rod doubtless struck q
spark from the hard rock, which fired the pow
der, for with awful yiolence the ledge WAS riyen
into fragments by an explosion Of the charge.
Pieces Of tho rock thrown in every direction
with tremendous force struck Elany OF the work.
men, two Of whom wore instantly killed, one SO
severely injured that he soon died, while several
received injuries Of such severity that their re-
covery is dospaired Of. Among the dead WAS
Foley; every limb Of his body WAS broken, the
back part Of his head WAS blown off, and his face
60 burned with powder as to be absolutely un-
recognizable.
Another Of the dead, Nixon Ralpph, who lived
in One Hundred and FortY-drat street, near
Eighth avenue, had his left arm torn from its
socket, every particle Of clothing blown off his
body. and his face also WAS 80 burned with
powder that 8 friend sould not identify him.
Patrick Conway, who lived in One Hundred and
Forty-third street, near Eighth avenue, had his
left leg broken, lis lower jaw broken, the base
Of his skull fractured, and his face fearfuly
blacEencd and charred With the flame OF the
powder.
Michael Buckley, Of One Hundred and Forty
eighth street and Eighth avenue, had his right
arm broken, and one side Of his head badly cut
By fragment of rock which struck him. PATROL
man John Armstrong, Of the Thirty y-second Pro-
cinct, who was passing by Mt the
me moment s Of eet the .ns explosion n Mas hsd hddd
cut his face, broke several Of his ribs, and re-
ceived such internal injuries that it is feared lie
cannot live. Peter Mooney, Of One Hundred
and Forty-second street and Eighth avenue, was
hurled twenty feet away By the explosion, but,
with the exception Of q slight cut on the head,
was not otherwise injured.
Captain Wilson, of the Twenty-Becond Pre-
cinct, on hearing Of the accident, went to the
spot with an ambulance aud several stretchers.
He took back the dead and wounded to the sta
tion-house. Conway was yet alive, but died five
minutes after he WAS brought into the station
house. The bodies Of the dead vera sent to tho
Morgue last night, and Coroner schirmer was
requested to hold an inquest. Buckley was
geons declared his recovery doubtful. Arm
strong was kept in the station-house it not being
deemed safe to remove him to his home.