The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-05-27
MASSACHUSETTS,.
Terrible Explosion.
A BOSTON DRUG STORE BLOWN UP.
Five Persons Fatally Injured and Many
Seriously.
LOSS 100000.

Boston, May 26-At $40 this evening,
terrific explosion occurred in j. ID. BOWS drug
store on the southwest corner OF washington
and Lagrange Streets 525 Washington street.
At a late hour nothing was known OF the
cause of the explosion, though numerous theo->
res are current aud the WI ldest rumors are IN
circulation. At the time there were known to
be about % persons in the building proper,
nearly all of whom were more or less seriously
injured. The first intimation of the disaster
was deep bling sound similar TO report
of an earthquake. The walls of the building
burst outward in every direction, and falling
10 one confused mass, presented scene OF
wreck seldom before witnessed, more complete
than that of any of the buildings blown down
bv gun powder at the time of the great fire.
The force of the explosion was almost beyond
description, and the flooring and other lnf1am-
mable material, which at once caught fire,
made such an undertaking for the firemen as
they are seldom called upon to face, while the
fact that numbers of human beings were buried
in the burning ruins created the widest scene,
thousands rushing to the point from every d.
rection.
An alarm was at once sounded and the tire
department were promptly on the ground: and
the firemen went beroicaliy to work to subdue
the flames and rescue the imperlled livesl in
the ruins At this writing two dead bodles
have been taken out and three others nave
bees extricated, who Will undoubtedly die. A
dozen or more have been sent to the city hos
pital, more or less seriously injured.
The building in which the explosion occur
red is four story brick, with front OF thirty
feet on Washington street, and depth OF
seventy feet on Lagrange street. The ground
floor was occupied by j. d. Dow. apothecary
and manufacturer of soda water. 1t was one
of the most complete and well managed estao-
lisbments in the city. Mr.. Dew was not in
the building at the time, and it is not positively
known who were At the time of the disaster
the streets were crowded with people. A street
car passing was thrown from the track and
upon its side. None of its occupants. were Sc
riously hurt. DR.. S. G. Green, city physician,
was passing along the east side OF Washington
street. His first impression was that an earth
quake had taken place. He felt the irresstl-
Bile force hauling him along for twenty feet or
more, then heard the explosion, and was COW
cred by falling glass. A cloud of smoke burst
into the street followed by the falling building,
while the smell of sulphuric acid was sitting
In removing a mass of bricks the firemen first
came upon the body Of horse attached to
buggy buried near Lagrange street front under
the debris.
The widest excitement prevailed as the dead
and wounded we've being taken from the ruins.
A large force of police kept back the populace,
none being allowed in any direction nearer
than block. The adjoining buildings are
more or less shaken and damaged from the eff
fects Of the explosion.
The second floor of BOWS building was occu-
pied by s D. Frazier, merchant tailor, who,
with workman were taken ont slightly ln-
jured. The next room back, was occupied Dy
Mrs Lizzie Frazier and little daughter. Inc
latter died soon after being taken out. Mrs.
Frazier received severe injuries, but not dam
gerous, The next room, occupied by gentle
man as a lodging-room, who was out at the time
of the explosion. Another was occupied by
James Frawley, agent tor the Bible fupllshing
Company. It. is though he was not in at the
time. The third floor was occupied by Or.
Richardson, corn doctor, not accounted for.
Another room by Madame Lille, clairvoyant
and her husband, both saved. A brother OF
the husband is not yet accounted for. Inc
fourth floor was occupied by widow lady VINO
had a number of shop girls as dodgers.
At this hour, IL O clock, none of these are ac-
counted for save widow Annie Champion, who
was taken out dead. In addition to the above
the following have been taken from the ruins;
Mr. Lord, of 81 East Chester Park, in dying
condition; Daniel S. Frazier, not seriously ID
iured; Mrs. Lille Hersey, do; Mrs Lorlng
Gardiner aud little SOD, do; Mis-. W. A. Coffin,
do; John j. Mahouey, probably fatally ,nJur-
ed; Morris Ackerman, in dying condition;
John Farley, skull fractured and otherwise in
jured; John A. Stetson, slightly injured; Jacob
Valois, badly cut Martna Londen, who occu-
pied an apple stand on the corner, was blown
into the street, and had an arm and leg broken
Thomas Conney was badly cut. Samuel Far
WELL manager of BOWS store, was blown down
into the street and his head badly cut and 9TH
erwise injured. Miss Lizzie Getney was rescu-
ed with great difficulty, ard found to have re-
ceived but slight injuries. The above embraces
the casualties as far as can be ascertalned at
this late hour
@It is difficult to estimate the losses That to
the building proper about $4,000. In view of
tho terrific explosion and general shaking of
adjoining buildings it is thought the losses will
aggregate 500 000 Various theories are adj
vanced as to the nature and causes of the ex-
plosion, but nothing as yet is definitely known.
The most plausible theory, and that most gen
orally accepted is that it was an explosion of
the gas generator in the CELLAR, though ii is as
ssrtel there was nitro glycerine in the estab'
lishment, aud that no other element could have
caued such instantaneous and utter deno!ish-
ing of the building.
At II 10 the dead body of James M. Frawley
book agent, was taken from the ruins. her
bodies are thought to be there, and large force
is still at work The ruins are lit up by a pow
erfu calcium light.