The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-08
THE REND ROCK EXPLOSION
spIIyrERs FROM TIE WRECK AND
rruOEs or THE BIG SHOCK.

. Glance nt the Rain ON bergen Hih-nie-
,., DveIlinas Demolished-The TingiinG
Hs" vinsow Glass In Three Cites Every
- saving that the strikers Oid IL.
r,,o ,ersey city and Hoboken ferry boats
80, i,res mutitudes toward the scene OF the |
,..t,n a, bergen 1Iil tunnel at an early |
,.,s,sr,lay and all day long the tide OF |
-, seers was coming and going. Extra cars |
-. rnn on the West Hoboken. Weehawken |
.rd rnion Hill routes, and more than 1000 er- |
s,,. viewed the ruin. After ascending the |
Ferry street elevator you could comprehend the |
extent OF the destruction on Saturday nisht.
Al pohlman's Park and Hotel, ut tho elevator
landing, the two hundred windows were blown
out, the doors were forced from their hinges,
and were twisted and turned as though mere
wires The ceiling OF the large ballroom on
the dancing pavilion lay on the floor, and the
chandelier hung from sh;vered ath and josts.
Ihad ball here" said Mr. Pohlman, land
the band was playing waltz when the shock
oame. Before knew where stood, the build
fnu seemed to waver and the floor TO rise up.
Then the glass was heard to crash, and soon the
whole ceiling fell. Some Of the ladies' tainted
x,id all OF them shrieked."
Mr. Pohlmans family OF little ones slept In
the third story OF the hotel building. Tbev were
oil awakened by the shock, and the four-year-
old daughter was thrown violently to the floor.
The ceiling fell on the bed and floor. but no Ill
fury was done to the sleepers except a few
scratches. Mr.. Pohlman estimates the damage
to his property at 5000.
Dutmar's Hotel, at Paisade avenue and
Franklin street Is about, half mile from where
the magazine exploded. Tho supper hall and
ballroom are In four-story building firmly
constructed OH the brow OF the hill. The cell
ine Of the ballroom was Jared OF and the win
dows Oh the east side were shattered. Pieces OF
eass we're driven three four inches into the
board wall. The billiard tables were thrown
from their positions and the marking strings
were snapped.
In Robert VOLTS saloon, at Ferry street and
pssade ,venue, IN Freeholder Feiier's restau-
rant djoinins, and In the houses north OF both
plao IS, there is not sound window sash. Tho
doors OF the saloons were hung into the yards,
aud blinds were lifted from their fastenings and
carried away In splipters. Glass ware was ground
10 atoms, and the shelves OF the saloons were
shattered. Bricks from the walls of the maya
zinc were embedded In the southern fronts of
all the houses in Ferry street, and in many cases
drove the weather boards into the rooms
That the inhabitants OF the residences above
the mouth Of the eastern entrance TO the tun-
mel. and facing the spot where the magazine
stood, escaped death Is considered miraculous
Five houses occupy the street line from Jener-
eon avenue to MnNefloy street. On the bloCk are
the dwellings OF Major Alexander Harris, Col
John Rogers James Barton. and Charles Roe,
Clerk Of the Boara Of Freeholders. Major Har,
Tiss house, frame, three stories and
Mansard roof, was one OF the most nearly
hnished on the Heights. 1ho, explosion made
were shivered, the heavy glass plate was
smashed to fragments, sasheS were torn out
were riven and cracked. From cellar to garret,
not particle Of plaster remains on the ceiling.
ond story front. The sensation was that Of being
lifted, rocked once or twico slowly, and then
Jared asanst the wall They awoGe 70 t nnd @ .he
earth. and missiles of every description 1lng
rear room room o:susisd BY her children, Lille, ased
fourteen, md Paul, aged seven; They ,w.re
upon the bed On lighting the Gas. Major Harris
discovered that his wife had been struck
sha, be had been cut on the face neck, and
Ghost, and that their night gnrmonts were
forced It's way through the house, struck q
closet door on the other side OF tue room. went
through the panel ana S again th,SSuge tns wal @aa
OF Mrs Lewls's children, who was Mrs. Harris's
guest. The beds,ead Ia Mrs. Harrls's sleeping
, apartment was struck by a brick within few
Inches Of where the Majors head lay. and with
such force as to carry away piece OF the walnut
btx inches In thickness. The chandeliers
brackets, and glassware In the house were
smashed. and everything movable shared the
general destruction.
The front OF the residence OF Col. Rogers is
stud led with fragments of brick The doors,
bare aud b ttered rooms are exposed TO view.
MIR. Rogers was on sofa IN his parior when the
shock re9ched him; he walked 5 TO- the T., wndow,
Ing snip. The house moved to and fro. and
could scarcely retain my feet. l bad got TO the
wildow, then a crash came, and things felt Gs
Enough the house was going To pieces. Then
the lights went out, ana the shots came thick
and fast. tell you went all through red-hot
engagement once, hut II was nothing TO this "
Tie e. lionel pointed 10 brick that had been
driven into thu weather board but lew inches
from the window where be stood.
In Clerk Roes residence and in Mr.. Barton's
was the same destruction Of property, the same
The torn bedding told OF hsirbreadth escapes.
Nj. G. 5. ,Staples's mansion in Reservoir ave-
nue., MIR. HeppenheimeT's elegant fye-stoTy
Swiss cottage opposite, and Mr.. TaussiG's man.
SION adjoining. al Of which were adorned with
handsome dormer windows Of plate glass, have
scarcely sound pane remaining. Yesterday
carpenters wore mailing boards TO the windows
All along Pslisade avenue. Jefferson avenue
and inLersecting streets glass was shattered
Police Commissioner steenkens residence IN
Waverly street was partly htted from Its founda-
uon, and Will probably have TO he rebuilt The
ceilings are all down, and the doors torn OF aud
Shattered.
There is anxiety among the residents of the
neighhorhOod 10 ascert in whether the expo.
sion was the work of the striking miners. Com
tractor McAndrews said yesterday, 81 haven't
been out since the explosion, and have onl,
known OF the fact since reading the morning
eued 10y those men stanton and Mannion. and
don't feel Ike leaving myself liable to hHvin!
my skull crushed in" AS to the origin, he SAID
"Ou, II YVES those notorious scoundrels. They
are leagued t gether like Molly Maguires.
haven't any doubt OF IT,"
"Could the explosion have occurred any other
way thnn 10y cuncusstonY
" No. slr; think there we're about four boxes
Of the cartridges They are made by ths Ra nd
Powder Company. Are composed OF part gun.
powder. trlhe Of fullers earth, and soine nitro
81 cerine. The castings are Of oiled paste board
aud vary in Size some SIX inches in length and
some smalIer. None are more than an inch an d
ahali In width. Each box weighs one hundred
pounds. There was some black powder in IN a
MAGAZINE, hut how much don't know This
could he set On fire hy a slow fuse, and the con-
Cusson would easily start the cartridges"
r. McAndtens was not positive as to who
had possession u the key to the magazine One
week ago, when the men determined to strike
The key was taken by Superintendent Oakley
ana he IN the presence Of the contractor de
lY'ied the cartridges. 1t was hls impression
mt ne last round YVES given out at O'clock
hhen the magnZin" was locked up tor the night
PIT McAndrsws did not hesitate to pronounce
W whole proceeding a conspiracy OF tho strik.
iu3 khen, ana he declares that an inyestiga a.
non must IroNe II so.
iirtiui"hdcnt . lkey says that after he gave
NE chrtr lges out in the afternoon. he gave the
ho) To- Al'iiAp sullivan. the timekeeper. Sulli
Nhu htu not bteh seen since tho explosion, hui
b"th MT; oakley and MIR. McAndrows give hin
AZ rN 'elleht fcput alton. The Dolicemtn whf
went on iu-t at tho mouth OF tho tunr.l ,t