The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.
,vrNry rnorsiND GHAR6Ks or
D. CLINT POWDER FIRED.
r..x,his scene Of Disaster at the New
s...cn Tunnel one Man Killed aud
n'so,. Wounded, ms Far ms kpown-i'iass
far Twenty nliles Around,

,..,. Wounded, MS Far ms hnoWn-ttnss
S.a,,.rsd for Twenty Miles Around,
e,or,lv before IL O'Clock last night
A., Of fire illumined the western portion OF
,ba west iloboken Palisades. 1t was distinctly
as,,, Nav York. and Eve seconds afterward
terrible explosion followed. Th4 .vN rumbled
ike an a-"'hhs;Geke. scd spread terror among
the inhabitants OF Jersey City, Hobo
ken, and the surrounding districts. In the
midst Of all, the ERE bells rung out an
llarm indicating Pulisade avenue as the region
OF the explosion. chief Engineer Farricr OF
Jersey Ci,y started instantly for the heights
On the way through Grove street, in upper Jcr-
sey City, the effects Of the explosion could be
seen In the shattered windows, riven doors and
syorcd ssshes.
On tho sidewalks along Twelfth, Thirteenth,
and Fourteenth streets lay the debris OF the
wreck. Storekoepers were hastily putting up
their shutters, while In the streets thrungs Of
people gathered discussing the possible cal NIFTY.
on reaching the head OF Ferry street, Hobo
ken II WIS ascertained that the cause OF the
terrible Icvulsion was the explosion OF cart
ridges In tho magazine, situated on the brow
Of Bergin Hin, snd belonging to the contractor
the new Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
tunnel h. d exploded aud everybody was willing
TO believe that hundreds OF lives had been lost.
Ascending the elevator the crowd that packed
the rear platform Of the car unAlOusly question:
ed the conductor and engineer.
THE car had just been placed on the plat
form" said the engineer, "and the signal was
given, ind just at that moment fash lighted
everything around us. As quick as you could
wave your hand the explosion came. i was
thrown back fiat on the platform. and tho con-
ductcr and driver of the were forced back
through the windows"
In Palsade avenue aud Ferry street, about
hve bundled yards from the scene of the ex
plosion, Puhlman's Park and Hotel is situated.
On the opposite eide Is Robt VOLTS lagerbeer
saloon, and further ON Schreck'n concert gar
den. Every window pane, sash, and
door IN the buildings were riven
from their places and the hcaylng window glass
lies shattered into myriad fragments. In many
places the W lis and ceilings are cracked and
many OF the houses will have TO oe pulled
down. In jefferson avenue, op- o. lie where the
OF Major Alexander Harris. Mr.. Harris WIS
IN oed - IN. tie' ana SO violent
The getting fell with crash. aud tho winoows
and doors were ctnshe In a. II they were splin-
weight cut through the roof, and missile car
RED win 1t struck iir. Harris ON the breast and
cheek, wounoinghim severely.
In conversation with one OF the workmen at
the tunnel. tho reporter learned that the maya
zine was but small hrck structure. only nve
feet square and about ten ieet in height. 1t Was
built Tor he storage OF 5000 nitro glycerne cart
ridges, and IL Is believed tnat tnat number were
IN The nuildiDg.
Some conception may be formed Of he fearful
work that can bs done by one Of these cartridges
rock ten tons IN weigh, into particles.
Tue theory Of the explosion Is. that one OF the
dry car RIDGES. by some oiunder or neglect, be-
osme mixed with some OF those unprep1red.
aud thus combustiop followed. by some It Is
some OF the 400 men on strike at the tunnel.
The damage done by toe explosiop will proba-
aud Washington streets, Ho6oken, and as lar
west as Marion, ana as far south as the Morris
Canal p Jersey City, windows were broken aad
doors broken In.
Mr. Fisk, of Jersey City, was IN saloon at
Desbrnsscs ana West streets, and was in the
act Of lifting a gl, 50 to his lips when It was
shiyered to pieces IN his hands.
The contractor for the tunnel is Mr.. John Nc
Apdrew, and the superintendent OF the work Is
MIR. Oakley. Neither Of them could be found
Tx-Aiderman Cumbersons house Mt Pnlisado
end Pros2eet street was badly shattered ana
PietSy coverei With The ayios pieces Of glass,
but she escaped miraculously by the window
Mrs. McI;,iire. Who resides on Pallsade avenue
was severely cut upon the head by dying bits Of
glass, As were Major Harris and wife. the latter
quite severely. Inc GrVer on one OF the cars
about - be elevated was knocked completely
OF his feet, the horses wore both thrown down.
Car windows were broken, and the air was nle
witt flying misseis.
All tie windows in the Eric paint shop, more
than mile away, veIe completely GEN Olisle ed.
The windows oil lagerbCer saloons at the ( OF
Of Couria1d street, and also those Of the ferry
lie waIchman Of the magazine. Mr. Michael
Andrews, was eagerly sousnt for but In vain
II on duty he must have been un1oubtadb
Killed
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
For about two years past there has stood
on he side u the hill below Palisade avenue
near the mouth u the Delaware aud Lackawan
ha tunnel, small brick building about six eel
sy e n wn ndeT R oI in Is 9HHSs GTntane'
Alderman Humbe-scn, Major Harris, and
Others protested against the storing of such a
dangeToI, COMPOUND wl,hin about two hun
dred yards Of a thicklY populated ncighborh ood
Their protests however, were unavailing.
feeling ween the Delaware and Lack wanna
Company's contractor, McAndrews, and III.
men employed IN the tunnel; He gradually re-
struck, demanding al ~ y day.
Last Monday the strikers 10 the number OF
about 2Ul marched through the tunnel. and
thsttime operations have been carried on sacretlS
men were in the tunnel prepared 70 blast
when the explosion occurred. "A nash OF
faue seemed said an eyewitness, WIN
$40 about three hundred yards on
ITO mount 70 tho moon. Then IL owed report
and n conclusion which shook the ear h
kho .kct down men and horses, and crashed the
%mdo"- doors, and furniture Of houses on
Iais'de avenue and in the neighbOrhood. Even
Inc ~. Gen walls Of sound houses were broken
IL the house of Mr. Barton, the head carpenter
thirs do.troyed but "'I,' the wills wills
Sal Ham who lived near by, was hurt In tue
saNu ~ N"e +id-n VI MS NlHuONs, ana MS Wlle
was a's' wpLntrd IN the face. The handsome
touse OF exAlderman Cumberson was
WrccE. His wife was reclining
on ,he Ted up -iairs, when the magazine ex-
b'dei. lhe Ina Of a window fell on her and
ptotet''d her from the shower OF glass and
Woo VIII % 1lowed. Ia Mr.. BaIton's house,
Jist orp .si'" tue magazine, woman nan ed
Maguife WAS badly cut
.Ol the Magazine itself nothing was left
where It bad TODD was "A hole In the ground
about TX icrt decp, not a bilrk Or ve5tige o. q
Clsmny.
lhr -U% reporter was assured that man
nAhf! james 'tit "a had he N employed as ID
WatcHin %, hid ~ was his duty 70 be around tho
m'gaHiit "a high'. NutNilg has been seen OF
nm slic'' Not "a pie-e u ilesh " bone could
All over Jersey cry and on Washington street
Boooker. p'a,, Was broken Even on Chris
topheI street. New York, tle glass IN the win
dow oi saloon VS. sluH.. .ed.
About Two mon Il, a-a, owing 10 tie care q ,s
ness - drulheu men. there was 10 -il sht exn.lOD
zion in tho tunnel, when Two men were haal,
hurt.
There was plenty of loose powder from ba,
cartridges ~ the magazine.
THE EFFECT III THE CITY.
IN eveIy part Of Manhattan Island, but nor
particularly on the west side below IhIrtlatl