The New York herald., 1876-12-26
DANGERS OF GAS.

a
MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED-A SHOWER OF
BROKEN WINDOW GLASS.
At about fifteen minutes past six last evening the
buildings in the ncighborhood OF Broadway and Cedar
street were shaken by the explosion OF gas
the sub basement OF the American Exchange Bank
building, at No 12s Broadway, which resulted in
seriously injuring man and damaging considerable
property. Many a nervous passer by. whom he
heard tho terrible noise, imagined that The dire
threat contained in the ouer from the OHIO
woud-bc destroyer OF Trinity church to His
Honor Mayor Wickham In reality being
carried out and tha. Trinity celebrating Christmas
Day in an unlocked for manner. The noise made was
Of dull rumbng and smohcred nature just as II the
Akron gentleman hand with powder. slow
match and all his blowing up apparatus and had gone
to work in a very determined aud business like way
crowd gathered and there great constcrna-
ton. The explosion was so severe that 1t was very
easy to imagine that there at least deaths
There mystery about the affair, and
the faces OF the bystandcrs alive with cx-
pectancy which could be easily changed into sincere
sympathy Tor the expected manned. But when it was
found that the accidents were confined 10 The
messenger and to the properly the people moved
away.
now 1T HAPPENED.
HERALD reporter was promptly at the scene Of the
disaster and gathered the iacts stated below
Yesterday morning It seems sc me plumbers were at
work liking the pipes IN the Exchange Bank building,
aud Il is stated that through carelessness they went
away leaving the Iipcs IN an unfinished state
In the evening Edward W. Condor. messenger for
the bank, imagined he smcit gas escaping, and, de-
sirous OF discovering the truth OF his went
down TO the cellar, where The meter located Ac-
cordng TO one statement he carried lighted candle.
but the more correct theory that he waited till he
reached the gas ixiure when he struck match. The
smell from the cellar and he opened the door
OF that part VI the building the came rushing out
nearly ovcrpowering him with It's oppressive
ness Instead oi opening any means OF exit for
the gus 10 escape he struck hight, and in on
instant occurred the explosion The was
blaze OF fire aud the large structure shook. Tho
ground all around was felt to carry the shock and for
even block and more away tho houses trembled
they themselves had been the chief sufferers Condor
was found the cellar covered with bricks plaster
glass and wood and with the burning gas playing
about his clothes aud body His face hair and hands
were badly burned. He was removed to the Chambers
Street Hospital IN an ambulance
BUILDINGS DAMAGED.
The principal damage done was to The building
OF Cedar and Broadway, in the cellar Of which
the explosion took place On the FIRST oor right above
the oil the accident, the desks overturned
and their contents scattered the floor which
covered with glass and rubbish. The cellar, which
was reached by narrow ladder placed there by the
nremen. entirely blocked up with plaster bricks
windows halt inch deep OF the thir.ynve
windows OF tho bank building on that side
not one, i. Is % thought Su,.,, was as,,,l lott with
had but one Of Its forty-lvo windows Cedar street
LETT untouched. The shock had blown the glass
outward tho street from the bank building, while
of the Equitable II had sent the glass in that
covered the hJor With the exception OF the cellar
and ground floor OF the Exchange Bank there no
great damage done TO any OF the buildings The In
ternal Revenue building. No S3 Cedar street, had the
windows the first and stories blown out and
that OF the British American Assurance Company suf
iercd IN the way. The loss Is roughly estimated
to be about SIS, 900 or $4,000
CoSDoN's IyJUMES.
The injured man Ii aged forty five and is by birth
Irishman. He Is a widower and lives in the upper
part the Exchange Bank building His greatest in
jury is from scalp wound caused by some one OF the
heavy things falling his head, but which at present
Is not supposed 10 be fatal
CAPTAIN PErTy's STORY.
Captain Petty, Of the FIRST precinct being asked for
the within his Knowledge said that he made
OF the disaster at about fifteen
He Immediately started out and with squad OF police
under his command arrived promptly the scene. !
He thought the damages might reach the sum of
500 O00 and that they could hardly be less the diff
ferent buildings were badly shaken. The glass in |
Cedar fully two-thirds of inch Deep Tho
explosion had immense force, bending tho iron bars of
the windows outward
ACTION OF THE rIRRMEx.
Engine No. O. Of Cedar street, within block and a
halt OF the place. the 1rst arrive there The
shock was distinctly felt in The engine house. When
they arrived the bank they out word TO the
other engines fearing the hre might spread rapidly
The flames from meters pouring out into the
street, and they were both OF great volume 1t was
impossible for time to get the pipes, and
was played the fire prevent its spreading
After time the hremen enabled TO approach
closer and by the Of towels and other
things At hand the flames temporarily prevented
from bursting forth, the gas then OF and
further danger avcrtcd The bank building was sup
ported by a number OF arches in tho cellar AMI many
OF these broken down. Ono OF the nremen stated
that when he approached Condor the latter all
covered with debris. To the inquiry, 'Arc people
hurt 7" he answered, al the only one.n II is
thought that he had wonderful escape received
slight injuries considering the danger hc was ex