The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-27
The Boston Calamity. /.

The calamity in Boston, which is reported
In the news columns of the HERALD this
morning, If not without parallel, is so far at
least, without explanation. An explosion of
terrific force suddenly occurred, and the eye
witnesses of the accident unite in saying
that bright flame suddenly burst from all
the doors and windows of the building, when
the structure crumbled and fell, burying in
the debris many of the occupants and
some of the people who CHANGED to be pass
ing in the streets. The scene was a heart
rending one, and as yet its full horrors have
not been revealed. Wounded men and women
were rescued from the ruins, and there
are still some of the dead and perhaps dying
victims of the calamity beneath the
crushed and fallen walls. Every incident of
the calamity is in itself tale of woe, and
the details form chapter Of disaster only
less terrible than the breaking away of the
dam at Mill River year ago. Even
the falling wall which crushed in the
roof of ST. Andrews church and killed
and wounded 80 many of the worshippers
was not SO appalling in its effects or SO sug-
menace the unsuspecting multitudes in great
cities. If my building is secure
against disaster this Boston structure,
if we may judge from the accounts which
reach us, ought to have been safe. The
ediice was we'll built. and apparently
every precaution had been taken against acct
dent. The premises were to all appearances
safe and harmless drug store no dangerous
chemicals SO far as is yet known
with any degree of certainty, we're
stored in it. and yet almost instanta-
neously and without warning Of any kind
The building was shaken from its founda-
tons and fell to the earth, burying
all its inmates in the ruins Such was
the force of the conclusion that even
a passing street car was overturned in
the street. and the passers-by had no
time to escape from the falling walls. We
search almost in vain for parallel
to the calamity, and the cause is n
complete and overwhelming. We shall be
compelled to wait for a day or two for on ex-
PLANTATION OF this singular event; though
we believe it will be found in one
Of two hypothesis Either the soda
fountain in the drug store exploded
with such force as to destroy the building,
or some chemicals considered harmless by
the proprietor produced all this havoc
and death. If the latter should be
found to be the cause of the
explosion no rebuke can be too severe for
the temerity which thus exposed so
many lives 10 constant peril, and, in the
end, resulted in such great loss, 50 much
suffering and 50 many deaths. The
former hypothesis, however, will prob
ably b. found to be the true solution
~ the disaster Explosions Of soda
fountains sometimes occur from causes
which may escape the attention Of
even the most vigilant, and their force is
known 10 he something terrific. While il
seems almost impossible that a simple soda
fountain should work such overwhelming
ruin, We can see no other explanation of
this disaster that has SO much the air
Of probability. Should it turn out that
this hypothesis is the correct one these
little engines Of efferyesccnt refreshment
will be invested with terror which
few Of rs imagined belonged to them
And IN such case new duty will devolye
upon every vender Of the cooling beverage
II would not do 70 have an engine
Of destruction 70 powerful in its
force Al almost every street corner in our
towns aud cities, and yet our people viii b
slow 70 give up . luxury which is within the
reach ol an There must be a remedy, and
now that tho unsupported danger seems SO
terrific the remedy must be found and APP
piled. Even IL il should turn out
that tho explosion was due % another cause
aud there Is an allegation that there was nitro
glyccrino 10 tho building-thc disaster win
serve . good end IN promoting greater pre-
cautions IN the use .; material with such
immense explosive force