The New York herald., 1872-11-26
KlTRO-GLYCERNE CATASTROPHE.

terrific Explosion ~ YonkeFs-Tw0 Per.
sons Insta ntly Killed and Two Others
horribly Mutilated-A Terrible Warm
ing 10 Young Men-setting . Death
Trap in the WOods.
Another frightful addition to the catalogue OF
hOri ors occasOned by the subtle and destructive
properties OF ntro-glycerinc took place at Yonkers
Wsschester county, yesterday, when two lives
were instantane0usiy sacrificed and two others
placed in imminent peril. The shocking aralr also
conveys terrible warning to mischievous youths.
whose daredevil propcnsities are often source OF
constant sorrow to their relatives and perpetual
annoyance TO the communities In which they live.
10 appears that four youths named respectively
George Hill, Michael Gallagher, John Donnelly and
William Terry. whose ages ranged nom sixteen to
twenty one, left their homes in YOnkers yesterday
morning on
CUNNING EXPEDITION.
Shortly before twelve o'clock the party found
themselves In the woods, about equi-distant from
the Hudson River and Harlem Railroads, and inl-
mediatey on the line Of the New York and
Boston Railroad, now being constructed in that
vicinity. Here, it seems. they discovered several
large cans containing nitrO-gycerine deposited in
an excavation about two feet deep and surrounded
by some rough boards In the form OF fence, on
which were distinctly traced the words,
"BEwARE-DANGER-GLYCER
What transpired to bring about the accident Is
not yet definitely known, but about noon q trc-
mendOus explosion took place, which was dis
tincny heard Tor many miles throughout the
county, and which shattered the windows In
houses situated q quarter Of mile from
the spot. Some farmers who were IN the
vicinity, on Fastening to the scene OF the
explosion found Hill and Gallagher dead while OF
discovered with his clothes burned Off and himself
buried IN heap OF mud and Terry. crouched be-.
nlnd tree, covered with blood and In an uncon-
IN dying state, having received injuries which, it
II said, must result fatally. He, together with
Terry was shortly afterwards conveyed to the
Riverside Hospital, where everything that medical
SKIN could prompt was done to assuage their
Accompanied by Coroner Smith q HERALD repre-
sentative drove out last evening to
THE SCENE OF THE CATASTROPHE
which presented u truly hOrrfying spectacle. The
% striking I'm In the the extreme; cavity in the earth
era feet deep evnccd the terrific force Of the ex.
ploslon while sundered rocks of huge proportions
OF their bark almost persuaded the spectator
that an earthquake had taken place there
Of Two hundred feet from nc eayy ss
lay the charred and mutilated trunk Of Hill q
youth Of twenty.one, the face and almost the en-
tire head gone. the lower limbs blown away from
ana various portions of the entrails hanging in the
surrounding trees, at q height or at least
FIFTY FEET FROM THE GROUND.
The trunk was perfectly nude and afforded 4
sckeninS sight. Deceased had lived with his
parents IN Orchard street, Yonkers.
The body Of Michael Gallagher, aged sixteen, was
blown under q projecting rock. the clothing torn
away, the body shOckingly mutilated and the
features bruised ana blackened beyond the posi-
bility OF recognition. The parents of Gallagher are
both dead, but his aunt, who appeared on the
scene as night was closing in, made the woods re-
sound with her Wild lamentations.
:, According TO the incoherent statement of
Terry, whose injuries not considered
TO- be OF necessarily fatal nature,
Hill t0Ok up large stone, and
standing directly over the cans OF nitrO-gycerine,
announced his intention Of dropping 1t in order to
see what effect il would produce. Gallagher, al
most equally az daring, took up position near
HIS MORE DESPERATE COMPANION,
While Terry and DOnncly stood behind trees in the
immediate neghbOrhOod. When it Is estimated
that the cans contained several hundred pounds of
the explosive material named the result can hardly
be considered surprising
After reviewing the remains and the scenes of
the casualty Coroner Smith instructed the under
taker, Edward COnnel, 10 gather up the fragments
OF humanity and convey them to the homes Of
their relatives, preparatory to nsttuting thor
Ough investigation OF the case to-day.
1t was thought last evening that DOnnelly could
not long survive. as, in addition to having Of
his limbs broken and his right eye almost forced
from its socket, large piece Of his neck was car
ried away and his body rightfully burned.