The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-29
THE BERGEN TUNNEL EXPLOSION.
CONCLUSION OF THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

CONCLUSION OF THE INvEsTIGArIoN-sTUB
BORN AND RELUCTANT WITNESSES.
Justice Reese Of the First District Police Court IN
Jersey City, has concluded his investigation into the
cause OF the rcndrock explosion on Bergen Hill He
found great difficulty in securing the attendance Of
witnesses, as we'll as IN eictng satisfactory replies to
questions put by him to the tunnel laborera Patrick
stanton, one OF the leaders Of the gang of strikers
who under bonds for intimidating the workmen at
first refused to answer any question, and denied The
right OF the Justice 10 investigate tho case al all
When he informed that he would be
consigned to cell for his pertinacily he
yielded. When asked about the strike he
said that II business OF tho Court to
inquire into IT. lie allowed time for a definite rc
ply. and he reluctantly admitted that there
strike, but denied that he had anything to do with
when 1t well known hc leader in it, He adj
mit,cd that he belonged TO society, but stubbornly
added that that had nothing to do with the natter
Several witnesses were examined all OF whom testified
that the rcndrock powder would not explode except
when exploded In certain way--with cap and fuse
George Burns, the man who had charge OF the maya
zine up TO four before the explosion testified that
his business was TO give out the cartridges Keep an
count OF them and render the monthly 10 Mr. Nc
Andrews; 20 Keep up The supply Of powder, and in
fact to take full charge OF tho magazine and It's
tents He said that when he left that employ
mcnt there were seventeen kegs OF rcndrock
POWDER several Kegs OF mica powder, SINH
lar substance, aud thirteen fourteen kegs OF
common blasting powder in tho magazine. In
other words, there were l. 700 pounds of rcndrock,
about 1900 pounds OF blasting and perhaps 800 400
pounds OF mica powder IN the magazine when II
ploded Mr. Burns testified that the powder could
explode spontaneously. Mr.. varncy, expert, stated
that the powder could not be exploded unless by a
percussion cap. When asked his opinion as TO tho
cause OF The explosion he replied s'Why, there be
only opinion about III it Is impossible that IL could
explode accidentally, so It must have been done by
design" Several OF the tunnel laborers when asked II
they believed the explosion 10 be the result accident
design would not give any opinion. Others stated
that il tho result Of accident but could give no
reason for their belief Peter McGovern, OF tho
hastcrs in tho tunnel said that several kinds powder
used but they made Of the same ingredients
only different proportions, nitro gyccrine and
absorbent, the latter beng common black powder He
said he had seventeen eighteen cartridges laid
before "A nre which he had built on rock, and Of
them caught ire, and he picked IL up ana threw IL
away He further stated that rcndrock the safest
powder to NM ng operations.
Chief OF Police Champney has obtained no evidence
OF satisfactory character tho subject. although he
is still working up tho Tho Fire Commissioners
have become extremely cautious. An application from
the United States Powder Company for permission to
erect factory at Cavan Point was promptly rejected.