The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-27
TORPEDO EXPLOSION.

Shortly after three O'Clock yesterday afternoon an
explosion occurred in tho torpedo mandatory of John
y Hapgood l42d street and Eighth avenue scri-
ously njurng two young women, one OF whom, 1t is
feared viii not survive, and slightly woundng eight
others The building Is . two story franc and has
been occupied as torpedo mandatory for number
of years Eighteen persons employed the ma
jory being girls from eleven to eighteen years OF age
At the time of the explosion the forewoman, Miss
Lavinia Bauvclt, aged thirty years was sitting AZ
bench in the piddle OF the room sepa-
rating quantity of nitrate Of silver in crystals
into small packages TO be portioned out to the en-
ployes. Close at hand lay heap OF minute gravel
stones A few rods distance two sisters, Miss Sarah
Ann and Mary J. Hickman aged sixteen and fourteen
years. sat engaged in making torpedoes In another
part OF the four five girls similarly occu
pied, the remaining employees being in the front rooms
the Same floor. Mss Bauvelt had about half com-
pleted her task when terrific report resounded
through the building, shaking the structure 70 It's
foundation. smashing the wind front and rear and
telling the floor Miss Blauvc and the two girls sit
ting near her The other girls ran screaming from the
room and IN their hurry TO get into the street some
fell To the floor Quantities OF the gravel used 10 the tor
pcdoes hurled the explosion every direction
and the walls and ceiling OF the were ndented
in hundred different places The screams OF the
panc-stricken girls As they precpiiatcd themselves
through the doors, in their eagerncss 70 reach the
regardless OF everything but the one desire TO
their m3gnihed the accident, ana tltno
II believed that several had been killed The
shock and report mad collected crowd OF people,
and word quickly sent to the Thirty second pre-
station house. Sergeant Flandrcau at once tele
graphed for police surgeon. and Captain Davis hur
RED TO the to render all possible assistance
Arrived there he found that, with the exception OF
Miss Sarah Ann hickman, no person was injured In
manner to alarm. neghborng ply
sIcan Dr. Rockingham, had by this time arrived.
Miss Hickman still unconscious, but she soon re-
vved and was removed TO her residence, as was also
Miss Blauvet. The injuries 10 the former were found
to be very serious. Her breast torn IN painful
man ner by the gravel stones. several OF which had
penetrated quite deep Her neck and face were also
laccrated. and her recovery Is doubtful
Tho right hand OF Miss Biauvelt torn and cut so
badly that it found necessary anputac three Of
the fingers. number OF the gravel ston1s had also
entered her arms and shoulder.
The following the names of tho other girls iR-
urcd. Mono OF them were hurt sufficiently 10 need
much treatment-Mary J. Hickman aged iourtcen
residence 150th street and Ninth avenue; Nary Ann
and Maggie Barry, aged fifteen and eleven years same
residence; Mary Z. Donovan, aged thirteen years.
141st street and Twelfth avenue; Jane Dunn fourteen
131th street and St Nicholas avenue; Kate Brady six
teen 147th street and Seventh avenue; Mary Schnei
der twenty, Seventeen street and Ninth avenue and
Susan Gouge twelve, 15oth street and Tenth avenue
Tho cause of the explosion is not definitely known,
but 1t Is thought that IL caused by some Of the nj
trate Of silver falling TO the floor