The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-22
EXPLOSION OF CARTRIDGES.

A Whole Family Almost Annihilat ted
The Danger OF Playing with Fire
One Child Fatally Injured and Four
Other Persons Dangerously S0-Two
Persons Blown Into the street.
Passers by in Dey street, about noon yesterday,
were thunder-struck at hearing the terrible report
OF an explosion which seemed to shake the very
air around them. At the same moment there
came from the inner portion OF a store a cloud OF
dust and heterogeneous PARTICLES which for a
few moments made 1t impossible to see ten PAGES
before one. II was evident that something very
singular and unusual had happened. and by
ISLANDERS who, for the first few seconds after the
explosion seemed to be paralyzed, rushed to the
spot. The full extent OF the catastrophe could
then be seen.
It appeared that about the time mentioned Mr..
Nathan Harsh, who keeps hardware and govern
ment store warehouse at 40 Dey street, was stand
ing al the back part OF the store in company with
another gentleman and his three sons, Forrest,
Harry and Grinlth Harsh porter, Charles Leon
ara was also near by. Mr.. Harsh was at the time
endeavoring to extract the powder from metallic
cartridge. The instrument came in contact, 1t Is
supposed, with the decorating powder, OF which a
part OF the cartridge Is made and it exploded. The
ball. flying through the air, struck with full force
against box of the same kind OF cartridges which
stood close by. In a second the whole box gave
one terrific explosion followed by number Of
weaker detonations. The entire building was
shaken TO the foundation, and several buildings
adjacent received more less OF a shock. por-
ton OF one Of the walls was torn down, and
number OF articles in the store were thrown from
one place to another, so that the whole was a
scene OF almost unparalleled confusion and dismay.
Mr.. Harsh and the man Leonard were the first
to receive the discharge, and both were frightfully
mutilated and burned. OF the three sons Of Mr.
Harsh, two-Forrest and Griflth-were very badly
hurt, but the eldest, Harry, boy OF about seven
teen years OF age escaped all serious injury having
only few slight bruises on his hands and face.
When the explosion took place two gentlemen
Messrs Kingsland and Theodore Haeglen-were
talking together In the front portion OF the store,
but in spite of the multitudinous missiles which
new around they were untouched and unframed,
but were literally blown out OF the store. The
four injured persons were taken to the station
house in Liberty street, and an ambulance soon
arrived and transported them to the Park Hospital
| or all, the man Leonard seemed to be the most
severely hurt and presented fearful sight OIL sur
fering. He was not recognizable and seemed to be
suffering horrible torture
| During the evening reporter OF the HERALD
called at the Park Hospital, where the sufferers
confined they are all placed IN ward
were Immediately attended to by Doctors Fluhrer
and Hardy II was found that the young boy,
! Griffith, was the worst injured OF all. His face,
! neck, hands and parts OF his body were literally
black with the burned powder. His eyes had been
DuTucu 10 CIHueT, 50 tndt even SUOuu lie recover
! it is impossible that he should ever regain his
| eyesght. 1t is thought by the doctors. however,
| TO be exceedingly improbable that he will live. He
lies in his bed IN the ward perfectly quiet but pre-
| senting In his appearance little that Is human
| The man Leonard is the next most injured,
but 1t is probable that with the aid OF his natural
health, he may get over the effects: but he must
remain disfgured for lie. His arms and hands,
face and neck burned on an their
surfaces and are covered with bandages. He can
barely speak, The father, Mr. Harsh, is also
terribly injured but will no doubt live. Here Also
the face and hands and neck have suffered most
His hair Is burned quite from his head, and
nothing remains but a charred mass. He was con-
scious enough last night to speak OF what had
occurred. He says that when the explosio took
place he was picking cartridge. but does not
believe that 1t was this which caused the explo-
sion He believes that some must have
stepped hard on one OF them and thus caused the
explosion. He was perfectly sensible after the
occurrence and did not feel the pain for
some time. He thinks 1t very fortunate
the 'front.' door was open, allowing a
vent for the air to pass out. Had 1t been closed
the whole building might have been demolished.
II was In the back part OF the store that he stood,
and the explosion also found vent through some
skyghts in the rear. At any other place probably
every one In the store would have been killed.
Mrs. Harsh was at the hospital the whole after
noon and evening attending to all the wants OF her
family. This calamity has been o terrible blow
to her.
When the explosion took place several FIRE
engines rushed to the spot, but as there was no
fire they soon returned. The extent OF the damage
may be estimated at about eight hundred dollars