The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-12-12
Nitro-alyc Again.

anu Lcn Inl1utSS.
Nitro-G -Glycerine Again.
Yesterday at noon FIVE hundred pounds Of
.nitro-glycerine exploded near the line of the
New York and Boston Railroad in Yonkers,
killing George Hill, aged twenty-one, and
Michael Gallagher, aged sixteen; mortally
wounding John Donnolly, aged nineteen, and
seriously injuring Wm. Terry, aged twenty
one. The New York and Boston Railroad
is to pass about three miles east Of the city
of Yonkcrs, and one mile west of Bronxville.
Blasting has been going on in that vicinity.
of late, and as a great amount of this work
is necessary, nitro-glycerine has been depos-
ited at different points for use when wanted.
Yesterday Hill, Gallagher, Donnolly and
Terry while out cunning found five cans
containing one hundred pounds each. A pit
about four feet deep had been dug, and the
cans placed in the excavation: A strong
fence had been built around it, and ON all
sides were iplacards bearing the words; "Dan-
GER" Beware" aNitro.Gl lyce.ine."
The boys walked around the fence COM
menting upon the improbability of danger
from such harmless looking cans, and Hill
proposed that as it was Evacuation Day they
should create some fun by smashing the cans.
The others readily consented, and all four
clambered to the top ola large rock about
fifty feet above the glycerine, and rolling q
stone weighing about fifty pounds to the
edge of the rock. Hill and Gallagher pro-
posed to tumble itinto the pit. Terry said
the darned thing might strike fire and blow
the stuff up. Hill, laughingly, said alet
her blow; we'll have some fun anyway. -
Terry seized Donnolly by the arm, and run.
ming away about two hundred feet, they hid
behind large tree, at the same time jeered
by Hill and G GAlagber. III III sheH tAss.
stone down. It struck the cans, and the cx-
plssion which followed was heard and felt
for ten miles around. Trees, stones, and
even great chunks Of earth were hurled in
every direction. The rock where stood Hill
and Gallagher, weighing hundreds Of tons.
was blown into fragments. The ground was
torn up hundreds Of feet around. A drst-
class earthquake could not create greater
havoc: Every pane of glass for miles was
shattered, and the inmates terrified. The
explosion was heard in White Pluins, larry.
town, fremont, Washington Heights, and
even over in New Jersey.
Workmen from the railroad hurried to the
scene, we'll knowing what had happened
They found Tory and Donnolly Sith their
clothing stripped from their bodies, lying
about two hundred feet from the scene of the
explosion, groaning in agony. Donnolly'a
body was badly lacsrated. His legs and one
arm were broken, his budy was black and
blue, and one eye was gone. He vas NOR.
tally wounded. Terry was the least hurt
and will probably recover. He is the only
one left to give an account Of the affair.
When the smoke had cleared away search
was made for Hill and Gallagher. Hills
body was blown to atoms. His entrails were
suspended from the limb of q tree Eve hund
red feet away. Other parts of the body were
scattered for hundreds Of feet around. Only
small part of his remains, however, had
been found last night Gallagher's body wal
not blown into SO many particles as l1ilPs
His legs we're found severed FROM the body
which was perfectly nude. Even his boots
had been torn to shreds and scattered among
the debris. The body, minus the arms anc
head, lay about fifty feet from the legs. The
scalp and face without the skull, were founi
in another place. The arms were shattered
and only portions were found. The skull il
is still missing.
Capt. Mangin, of the Yonkers police, wa
soon on the spot and took charge of tn
wounded men. They were taken to Sain
Johns Riverside Hospital. Donnolly is in
sensible and will not recover. Terry was to'
badly hurt to give q full and detailed accoun
of the explosion last night. Coroner Smith ar
rived in the afternoon from Hastings, ant
began preparations for holding the inquests
\ Hills remains-all that can be found-wil
be viewed this morning by the coroner's jury
The excitement in Yonkers, and in fac
throughout the entire neighborhoed, wa
terrific. All sorts of conjectures were ad
vanced as to the explosion. Some insiste'
that He'll Gate had been blown up, while
others thought there had been an earth
quake The superstitious fell on their knee
in prayer. The irreverent trembled witt
fear, but everybody anxiously inquired wha
the matter was One old lady in the suburb
of Brenxville was in her yard when q piec
of the fence with the word "Danger" fell a
her feet, and she tainted on the spot
All four of the boys lived on what is call
ed Hog Hill, within the city limits Of Yon
kers. Hill resided with his parents, ant
Gallagher boarded with his aunt. They wer
of the poorer class and worked atodd jobs ii
Yonkers.-N. y SIN.