The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-07

reant Van Buskirk. at the First precinct station in
before eleven O'Clock. 1.-THE windows shook and the
buildings rocked. l was sinpened for several min
utes, expecting something more dreadful"
The reporter Immediately repaired to the
he was informed that a terrific explosion had taken
place on Jersey city Heights The force OF the con-
scussion was 50 great that the lamps were extn
guished on iIoboken avenue, Ferry street ana
ralisade avenue The building known as the Rock
Tavern was completely shattered, one OF the side
walls falling In. Within seven minutes
walk OF this building IL the entrance to the
tunnel on the east end. and the rocky ridge 200
feet westward OF this entrance stood the magazine
twelve by ten feet II was walking along Pallsade
cnuc," said Mr.. William Hapin. .when was thrown
on the sidewalk and became stupefed. When re-
covered saw thick smoke. and didn't know what
20 think. When reached Ferry street man told me
that several persons had been killed. The gas in
the saloons was cxtinguisied and over 100 persons
had congregated at the corner OF Palisade avenue
and Ferry street. "Thcse fellows have got square
with McAndrews,n said one. "Ycs. but it's terri
BILE thing we don't want any Molly Maguires here
to destroy our houses" was the reply.
A rumor was circulated that shaft No. 3 was TO be
fred an hour later, but no faith was placed in It.
Along the line OF Bergen, Summit and Central ave-
nues crowds collected, and It was not till squad
OF police sent from the Third precinct station
that the people were dispersed. A large crowd
assembled at the Five Corners and
discussed the strike Of the tunnel aborers in an ex
cited manner. It generally conceded that the
explosion was the work OF some malicious persons.
In the lower district OF Jersey City tho effect
almost as perccptble as on the Heights.
Windows were broken in several houses even as
far east Us Cole street The officers Newark
nue. sounded an alarm and aroused the neighbor-
hood. Up to two O'Clock this morning crowd OF
excited people could be seen on Grove street. Jersey
avenue and Newark avenue. The Fire Department
was in readiness but it was not found necessary to
sound general alarm.
STATEMENT OF A POLICE OFFICER.
Alta quarter to eleven O'Clock officer Philip Short
was walking his beat on Palisade avenue, when he
noticed sudden flash OF light that lu-
minated the whole neighborhood. At the same
moment q terrific explosion took place. and the air
was darkened by masses OF bricks and stones which
were thrown up, and fell In showers on
the roofs Of the houses and In the
streets. All the street lamps and the
were instantly put out and but for the clear NOON
light the whole OF Jersey City and Hoboken would be
enycloped In complete darkness.
Along Palisade avenue and the streets In the i'm
mediate vicinity the windows Of most OF the
houses and some OF the doors were smashed In,
some by the force OF the shock and others
by pieces OF stone brick which were hurled against
them In some instances the roofs were stove in
by falling stones, and altogether the scene was one
OF the widest terror and confusion Ocer Reinhard
who was also on duty near Palisade avenue,
In the vicinity Of the tunnel Of the Della
ware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad tun-
at right angles TO it, noticed the
flash and the shock, and as both officers knew
OF q quantity OF blasting material which was
stored at the entrance to the tunnel at
the foot OF the hill and about 200 feet
down from Paisade avenue, their attention was i'm
medately turned in that direction. All the In
habtants Of the vicinity had turned ont, and
In q few minutes it was ascertained that
the explosion had taken place In very small brick
house in which quantity OF cartridges which are
said to be nitro-glycerine, was stored.
IN JERSEY CITY AND uoBoKEN.
The explosion struck perfect panic among the
Inhabitants 1t seemed TO them Us though fearful
earthquake had suddenly been developed. The
shock ratified their doors, broke their windows and
in many cases brought their chimneys rattling
over their heads down over the roofs. Houses were
rocked to their foundations, and the residents
thereof rushed iranticay into the streets, each In
quring OF hts neighbor what the trouble was! This
question was more easily propounded than an
swered, and there they stood ut the street
which direction the explosion came. Some said 1t
was in New York. others said 1t was some OF the oil
tanks In Hunters point while again others adj.
vanccd the theory that the shock re-
by the operations OF tho disconnected
workmen lattery engaged in boring the new
Bergen Tunnel How far any OF these theories