New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-25
GRoUNDLEss ALARM IN ASTORIA.

MANY HOUSES LEFT VACANT ON ACCOUNT OF
FmGHT-No DAMAGE DONE BY THE EXPLOSION.
Chief of Police A. L. Wood of Long Island
City at O'Clock distributed battalion Of 30 policemen
in such way as TO guard the line Of FuOnst. from the
Astoria Ferry to stevons-s up Stevensst TO Franklin
St. up Franklin-st to Rems nst and following Remsen
ST. 10 the shore road Major H. L. Abbott. United States
Army, had detailed attachments of 10 men each from
three battaons OF the Corps of Engineers stationed at
Wilett's Point under the command Of Capts I. H. Han
bury A. NJ Miller and W. d. Livermore and had given
them instructions that they simply to assist the
lice in case OF necessity and to allow nobody TO pass the
lines without written permission, the passes TO be
turned over to the police Explicit instructions were
also given they not to obey any orders except
those emanatng from the officers in command. The
elerCymen had announced from the pul2s Mt
the clio OF the morning service that for obvious rea
sons which not necessary to state there would De
no session OF SundnyscaOol afternoon service" AS
the hour approached for the explosion, many OF the
houses in the immediate vicinity were deserted the III
mates taking carriages and other vehicles and riding to
the outskirts OF the town Private watchmen were sta
toned about number OF these houses to prevent the
crowd from runn tho grounds after the explosion
had taken place Several OF the heads OF families re-
manned enough TO their residences to Keep close
watch upon them matter OF precautiOn against Tue
ncursons OF thieves dsorderly These house
holders generally expected damage would be
caused to their houses by the simultaneous
discharge OF $4,000 pounds OF explosives as our
ing the surface blastngs two years ago the ceilings In
some of the houses FELL account Of the shock The
servants appeared to be frightened than any other
class Of people, and nearly all Of them were allowed 10
coo IN NeHYork or TO 90 to the suburbs upon their own
request few people crossed the ferry to New-f0fE'
but the number the ferrnaster said was not unusually
large and as many persons went from New-lOrk 10
Astoria a. came away The general impression among
the people ccmcd TO be that II they were on the street
they were perfectly safe. There scarcely house In
,F
dows and doors thrown wide Open aud in some cases
the window sashes were removed. Furniture was
taken out and placed upon the porches some instances
but in general II simply protected from injury ron
falling ceilings by covering it with mattresses pillows
blankets &C. few German families went 30 FAR IA To
take the carpets and remove their furniture u us
taut place OF safety.
No crowd collected until after line OF the guards nae
been stationed The police were mPortuned very siren
uously by many for permission to pass WITHIN the IneS'
but they were firm in obeyins their orders ana IN
short time there were very few people 10 be seen on the
street The rest had gone to the shore road stretching
toward Lawrences Reef and other places where they
could better observe the explosion, few ladies with
their children who found IL nconvenicnt TO follow tue
general crowd upon the sidewalks in front OF their
residences. Some Of them wore a very anxious LOOK
The Astoria ferry discontinued its trips at o'clock, ana
did not resume them again until abOut33O Immediately
after the EXPLOSION the crowd made rush toward the
scene but found upon arriving ut the ferry that they
were prevented from going TO the Point by the ponce
The pushing Of the multitude, however, threw down
fence when hundred took advantage OF the UNI
Guarded point and made rush to the entrance OF tho
shaft The streets crowded with vehicles OF every
kind laden with people who bad gone outside tho Town
20 avoid the expected effects OF the explosion There
was lack Of any excitement after the event. except inc
eagerness to get good view OF tho place Of c expo
sion Every one appeared to have lost the anxious look
which appeared before the explosion and &c had been
succeeded by one Of qualification at the result by care
ful noury in the vicinity OF the Pont. IL was found
that nothing had been destroyed not ceiling cracked
nor a pane OF glass broken. The shock was
similar TO that Of slight California earthquake
and produced only few vibrations. IL was 30
ouiekly over with that no one had the hne
n feel alarmed The people soon departed TO their
bornes end the road from Astoria 10 Long Island CITY
and other avenues were tkroDged with persons return
inc The horse cars though packed with passengers
were insufficient TO satisfy the demands for transporta
zion As the crowd been collected at any par
cular point but scattered along the shore Tor AZ least
mile there was no opportunity for estimating tue num-
bor Of peole present. and 1t was not unt aT they ha
depared homeward that any could form any idea OF
the thousands that had gathered from Long Eand oy
dtrof ourua.