New-York tribune., 1876-05-08
THE EXPLOSION AND ITS EFFECTS.

bo oexposions OF nitrogycerine compounds About nine
years ago explosion occurred by wmch hne lives
were lost Nobody within ten-mie circuit OF Jersey
CITY who was awake at 1045 Saturday evening need be
told when the last explosion took place. 1t produced
great sensation aud excitement especially on the New
Jersev side and the west water front Of New-YOrk
The night was still and the air mild and fresh. The
moon shone almost at full obscured occasionally by light
clouds The theaters not yet out and few people
sauntered along the streets Suddenly those who were ID
view Of Bergen Hill behed black column shooting up
from the brow OF the HILL apparently to the zenith ana
accompanied by round ball Of fire which cast urid
light over the river tremendous conclusion and reso-
nance followed which not heard all at once but came
struggling along like the broadside of frgate intended
to he instantaneous or the heavy rumble OF sudden
earthquake. The next moment white cloud noalihS
toward NewYOrk from the spot whore the powder
MAGAZINE OF the tunnel contractors stood all that
remained OF the phenomenon and heard In New
York.
The people Of Jersey City, West Hoboken, and the
ghts rushed from their houses in alarm Those IN the
near vicinity felt their houses tremble, and
were showered with bits OF glass and the falling plaster
of the ceilings Furniture topplcd over and doors
riyen and in some instances chnneys were thrown
down All the gaslights the NewJeTsey side and on
the ferryboats, and the West-st. water 'front.' OF
New-York. were extinguished. The hght OF tne
moon prevented OF terror which would have re-
suited from such flash with succeeding darkness and
shock but tho returning quiet and beauty of the night
were reassurng few families on Bergen Hill were IN
sad plight with their shattered houses People more re-
mote inquired anxousy for the cause and searched tho
SKY for indications OF confagration In few minutes
the alarm OF sounded from box 40 PaiSade-ave
which was taken up by all the frebells in Jersey City,
and the whistles Of ferryboats and tugs The reengines
were driven to the avenue, and people acquainted with
the tunnel and the magazine of blasting material conec
tured the of the explosion and fastened TO
the spot.
The force OF the explosion seemed spend itself in
cast and west line Directly east at distance OF two
miles from Bersen Hil on West-st.. New-York, and
Christopher and Spring sts window glass anu sashes
were blown out by the conclusion, and telegraph o
orator In the Western Union building Is said TO have
been thrown from his chair At the time OF tho explo
sion car of the Union Hill horse railway limo was on It's
way up on the elevator, five blocks distant The horses
and passengers were thrown down and the car glass
shattered. c. F. Staples, member or the New-York
Produce Exchange whose fine brick residence was
few rods away between Lis home and the brow OF
the hill when the explosion took place. He realized the
situation and ran to take shelter under his porch to
escape falling missiles but heard nothing fail He thinks
the "rendrock" cartridges exploded at great hight In
the air which might possibly account for the proonga
ton of the noise Of conclusion.
speculaon as TO the cause Of the explosion was rife
Some ascribed to spontaneous combustion former
empoye of the tunuel said the cartridges to
for two would explode of themselves He thought
one cartridge had exploded from this and fired the
remainder The fact that 400 laborers in the tunnel had
been on strike and had threatened the contractors
gave rise to the suspicion that one OF them had caseu
the explosion The statements Of several policemen who
had overheard threats Of strikers and the actions OF
strikers after the explosion, strengthened thls theory
DAMAGE IN JERSEY CITY AND NEw-YoRK.
The magazine was brick structure with a tin roof
about 2 feet long by 10 feet wide and or 10 feet In
hghtbuit upon level foundation entirely above ground
and surrounded all sides by vacant lots III was Oh
the hill side over the tunnel Of the Delaware ana lacEa
wanna Railroad Company, and nearly In line with the
month ~ the tunnel The magazine was built about
three years ago as for the powder used In
blasting out the tunnel and which up to that time had
been most carelessly stored. IL was designed
TO contain 10000 charges OF blasting po"der'
and 1t is supposed to have been stored WIN
10000 charges at the time of the explosion The build
ing was blown to atoms and not trace OF IL remains
upou the spot where 1t stood. hollow about feet
deep aud 20 diameter was scOoped out under the
magazine leading many to suppose that tho latter was
partly under ground The tunnel was not damaged ana
no buildings persons in tho plain below the magazine
we're injured Tho force Of the conclusion was felt for
miles around and assertedlyeserday that window
glass within the radius OF mile generally broken
Tho serious damage confined, however to com
parativey small and principally to Pasade-ave
which along the Hghts parallel to the brow OF the
hill and at its nearest point about 100 yards distant
from magazine The housesn the vicinity the
explosion built OF wood and for this were better
able to bear the violence of the conclusion II these
buildings had built OF brick, much groator loss of
property and a serious loss OF life must have resulted
This shown from the fact that the few brick buildings
in the vicinity situated several blocks from the maga
zine. seriously injured, their cornces chimneys,
and plasering being thrown down, while the wooden
structures near them escaped with broken window panes
building
double house standing directly behind the magazine,
owned by the railroad company, and at present
occupied by Major Alexander Harris ana Col
Rogers The northern half OF 1t, occupied by Major
harrs Is shattered than the other part The sides
and roof were considerably damaged the front windows
"ero completely demolished, and there Is not whole
pane OF glass In the house. Tho bolts to the ront doors
were broken and brick driven through one OF the
panels and half buried In the wall OF the staircase. In
the parlor the chandelier partly torn away. Tho
upper front bedroom occupied by Major Harris and his
wife, was filed with plaster and glass, and several bricks
sndarge pieces forced through the walls and
Windows Of them falling upon the bed while another
passed through the opposite wall and through O closet
wall beyond into back chamber, finally falling upon
the bed In which Major Harriss sister niece
sleeping In the third story the is
p'ete The plaster fell from every ceiling in the house,
aud In several upon beds occupied ny ombers OF
the family The headboard OF the beds covered
with pieces Of glass driven deeply into the wood but the
two occupants Of the bed escaped without scratch
Major Harris cut In the face and head by glass and
fragments OF brick and stcne but aside from these slight
nesl wounds the entire family Of six per-
sons escaped uninjurod. Major Harris went to bed
about 10 O'Clock. and sleeping soundy at the time
OF tbs disaster He stunned by the cOncussion. and
Goes not remember hearing the noise of it lie first
stonsed from his stupor by hearing his wife CALL "The
mouse IL falling come and help the children" He re-
pned that the house not falling but that II had boen