New-York tribune., 1875-12-23
STRANGE EXPLOSION IN BOSTON

| A ROADWAY, BUILDING. AND BRiDGE DAMAGED By
TIE BLOWING UP oF A GAS sMAIS-sEYERALLIvks
LOST.
BosToN, Dec. 22.-Shortly before z O'Clock
this evening terrible explosion occurred In South Bos
ton by which large number OF persons were injured
and several killed 1t that the large gas main run
ming under the Federas bridge South Boston, and
thence along the waters edge under the pavement
on Federal-st, exploded with loud report, tearing
up pavement for distance Of $50 feet more. The
thronged with people at the time, and many
were buried under the debris. Crosbys grain ware
house badly shattered and will have to be taken
down. The foreman instantly killed 1t is supposed
several persons were blown into the water
Several dead bodies have already been taken out
The following are known TO have been hurt;
Edward +. Sanderson. foreman Of Summer Crosby's
grain warehouse, killed; H. n. d. Kemp Chief Clerk OF
the Pension Ohce, killed; Patrick O'Brien, supposed
fatally injured; Timothy Sullivan will die; Chas
Grim, supposed fatally injured; Jerry Mccarthy,
teanster, blown from his team, and taken
up unconscious; John Mahoney severely injured Ed
ward Remington, jr, blown into the water and slightly
injured; Ellen Field and her son Michael Field, slightly
injured Samuel Collins badly hurt about the head and
face; Kate Mellls, slightly injured; Thomas Grim.
teamster, thrown from his team and badly injured;
Bernard Steepes of No l52 Dorchesterayc blown into
the and slightly injured Jacob Cranch and John
Fernald slightly injured.
Six or eight persons known to have been in the vicinity
OF the explosion missing, and supposed 10 nave
been blown into the water and drowned People are now
engaged with graphing dredging the river for
bodies
As yet there is positive knowledge OF the cause of
the explosion but 1t is supposed that the recent cold
caused the pipe to burst and the ground becom-
Ing impregnated with gas ignition from cause took
place. The of the explosion is thronged with
hundreds Of anxious and curious people. The
main pipe about five inches in diameter passes through
under Federast bridge and along the oauscway leading
it up DOrchester-ave Ohe continuation in South
Boston OF Federal-st) This causeway is composed OF
three feet OF dirt and gravel, with the pave
ment resting n foundation OF plng, aud on
either sde for Il feet or more, is the river
Eyewitnesses state that the first ntimaon Of the ex
posion bright fash about the middle Of the cause
way, followed by sharp explosion, and paving
stones, gravel and debris flying In oil directions
Almost Immediately the causeway the right
hand side fell into the river, carrying
over with several persons The number Of these in not
ascerned but is feared several were buried under
the debris the bottom the river The pavement was
completely up for distance OF 175 feet from the
wooden portion OF the bridge TO Crosbys ware
house, which is built upon ping Had the explosion
occurred five minutes later the loss Of life would have
been far greater as draw OF the bridge had been up
for some time and crowd OF 300 400 persons, on
their way from city their homes in South Boston
had collected this sde and in few minutes would
have swarmcd upon the causeway.