The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-12-21
The NilrO.Glycerlne Explosion at
HOmkern. n. n.

Yesterday at noon 500 pounds Of nitro-glyce
inc exploded nesr the line Of the New York q
Boston r.ilrosd. in Yo.ksrs, killing George Hill.
aged twenty-one, snd MisAsel Gallagher. aged
sixteen; msrtally wsundiny john D0nslly. aged
nineteen, and seriously inJurinH VIM. Terry.
aged twenty-ons. The New York q Boston
railroad is to Pas. about three miles east Of the
city Of Yon.srs, and one mile west Of Bronxvills
Blasting has been going on in that vicinity Of
late, eni as d. great amount of this work 10 re-
cessary, ny:ro.slyo.rine has been deposited st
different points tor use when wanted. Yestsr.
day, Hill, Gallagher, Donolly AID Terry. while
out cunning. found 6vs cana containing oae
hundred pound. each. Apt about four feet
deep had been dug, and the cane placed in the
excavation. A strong fence had been built
around it, and On .ll sides were plaoards bearing
the words, DANGER Beware" "Nisro-Glyo Ger.
iue."
The boys walked around the fence comment
ing upon the improbability OF dagger from such
harmless looking Oan', and Hill proposed that
n. it WAS Evacuation Day they should create
some fun by smashing the osns Tho others
readily consented, ana I'll four ol.mbersd 70 the
top Of large rock abolt fifty feet above the Rly.
ceriue, and, rolling s,ous weighing about fifty
pounds to the edge OF the rock, Hill aud Gala.
CHE, proposed to tumble it into the pit. Terry
said the darned thing might strike fire aud blow
the stuff up. Hill, Isughingly said. Let her
blow; We'll have some fun anyway Terry
seized Donolly by the arm, and, running away
about two hundred fes:, they hid behiAd large
tree, at the same time lssred by Hill aud Gala.
CHER. Hill then rolled The stone down. 1t
struck the cans, and the explosion which follow.
ed, was heard aud fel, for ten miles around
Trees. stones, and great chunks OF earth were
hurled in every direction. The rock where Hill
and Gallagher stood, weighing hundreds Of tons,
was blown into fragments The ground WAS
earthquake could not have created greater havoc.
Every pane of glass in tae houses for miles
around was shattered, and the inmates were ter.
rited. The explosion was heard in White Plains,
Tarrytewn, fremont, Washington Heights, aud
even over in New Jersey.
Workmen from tho railroad hurried to the
scene, we'll knowing what bad happened. They
found Terry and Donoly with their clothes
stripped from their bodies, lying about two hun.
dred feet from the scene Of the explosion, grosn.
ing in agony, Donollyi body was badly lacera.
ted. HIS legs and one arm we're broken, bis body
was black aud blue, aud one eye WAS gone. He
was mortally 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
Al 'oo 'ot LII Suo LII oVoy WeU
blown to atoms. His entrails were suspended
from the limbs OF a tree 500 feet away. Other
parts of the bodies were sc.ttsred for hundreds
Of teot around. Only small part of his rsm.ius
however, hid been found last night. Gala.
gher's body was notIolown into % many particles
as Hilps His legs were found severed from his
body, which WAS stripped perfectly nude. Even
his boots had been torn to atoms and scattered
among the debris. The body, minus the arms
lay about fifty feet from the logs. The scalp and
face, without tho skull, were found in another
place. The arms were shattered, and only por.
tions were found. Tho skull 10 still missing.
Captain M.nsio, Of the Yonksrs police, was
soon on the spot and took charge Of the wound.
ed men They were taken 10 st. Johns River.
.ide hospital. Donoiiy i. inssnslhls aAd will not
recover. Terry WAS too badly injured to give .
full and detailed account of the explosion last
night.
The excitement in Youksrs, and in fact
throughout the entire neighborhood was terrific
All sorts Of consotures were advanced AZ to tho
Some insisted that He'll Cate had
been broken up, while others thought there had
be.n earthquake. The sspsrstitieus fell on
their knees in prayer. The irysvsrent trem bled
with lear, but everybody Anxiously inquired
what the matter was. Oue old lady IN the su.
burb- OF Bronxville was in her yard when piece
OF the fence with the work danger" iell At her
feet, and she tainted On the spot.
All tour of the boys lived on what is called
Hu. Hill, within the city limits Of Yonkers
They were of the poorer class, md worked y.
odd jobs in Yonkers.-N Y. Sun, Nor. 90.