New-York tribune., 1877-05-29
kATIL NAPHTHA EXPLOSION.
THREE MEN KILLED AND ONE INJURED.
IGNITION OF The CARGO OF \ LIGHTER FROM SOME
TNKNOWN CAUSE.

THREE MEN KILLED AND ONE INJURED.
IGNITION OF The CARGO or \ LIGHTER FROM SOME
UNKSowN CAUSE.
An explosion of naphtha on board lighter
at the foot of Forynrstst North River occurred few
minutes after o'clock yesterday afternoon, and three
men were burned TO DEATH and another received serious
injuries The explosion resembcd the report Of heavy
cannon and was audible for long distance. Persons
living in NcwJersty heard it plainly. and on the North
River feryboats it attracted general attention. Inme-
diacly after the explosion heard cloud OF heavy
black smoke WAS seen rising in the air, showing that
Gle followed
Tie uauhtha was brought board the lighter Caution
from tie foot OF siXy-Xhst where oil works are Sit
uated 10 the dock Of the Metropolitan Gas Company,
which extends from the ferry slip at Foriy-seeond-'t
almost to Fortyfrsst. Tine grounds Of the gas COM
rany embrace the entire block, extending from Eleventh
ave- 10 tile river In the corner where the dock does not
quite reach Forty-dIstst the naphtha was being un
oadcl Two men were engaged on tie lighter and the
engineer OF the gls works was managing the pump by
which the narh,ha transferred 20 the company =
tank near Elcycuthaye. and Torty-drstst. Con-
trary to tie usual custom, the naphtha was
brought in barrels. This had not been done
before for year. and the gas com-
pauy preferred that should be conveyed iu tanks In
Tie hold of The lighter. Il l understood that The bar-
rcls were emptcd utoa tank from which the explosive
material was removed by pumping The hune' of the
casks were removed by means Of steel maie caled Z"
"bune pick The cause of tie explosion is unknown
The men had just gone work after eating their unch
and it is thought that they may have had light while
eating. ald that the gas generated when the volatile
uaphtha was exposed 10 the air, set on fire in tis
way Another theory is that the hammer or pick struck
a nail IN the barrel and produced a spark.
The force the explosion threw the mast Of the lighter
40 feet into the and the vessel and its coDtens were
totally wrecked. There about % barrels OF nhphtha
.rf. tfItf. Trflf I. % tg lf
when the explosion occurred. william Smith, tho cap
tain Of the vessel Charles Link, the mate, and Michael
Kcllv a boy who was upon the dock, were instantly
killed uy ihc burning OIL and Rudolph Brcnner the en-
ucrr who was upon the dock attending the pump, was
severely burned. several policemen and the employees
OF the WeeLakcn Ferry Company were no once upon the
scene of the disaster and began to secure the bodies o.
the dead meu which floating in Tie water among
the debris Tney were taken out and laid upon the
north side Of the dock await the permission OF the
Coroner FOR thcir removal In the mean time, 1r Bren-
per was removed 10 his homo at No. SOB West Forty
third.t The bodies were taken away about o'clock.
Keys was taken his fathers house. and the Others
were carried to the M0rgue Coroner Eliusor inyesu
gated the matter as far practicable last evening
but could ascertain the cause Of the explosion IAe
victims Of the disaster are as follows:
GAIT WILLIAM SMITH, VINO resided IN sixy-dfth-st, be-
tween Icuth and E.eyenth-aNcs. Tie leaves IuuiIy'
IIo was so hardly burned as TO be- unrecoSnzdOle.
d lkf
his wife and children IN Tentu-aYe, between SAly-
second and sixty y-tiIrd-sts.
MICHAEL KELLY age 10 OF No. 4lG West Tost ytlrsst
Kcy's father j, thc captain OF Tire cau1lbo2t John
Kelly, which Was lying at ilo gas company r nock
di,cIarcug coke dust. Young Kelly WAS there ana
frequently assisted the workmcn In unloading
nauntha This accounts for hs presence at te scene
of the accident. His head nearly burned Oh and
his features c Juld not De recognized.
At a late hour last night Coroner Eilnger went 10
Erenners residence for the purpose OF taking his ante
u,,rtcln statement Tie physician in attendance how.
ever was hopeful that Brenner would recover, ana the
Coroner decided not attempt obtain Ills version Of
the story at that time told ms physician that he
knew nothing about the accident except that occurred
The workmen he said had just resumed their work, and
m was al the pump when the explosion took pace. io
was badly burned the face and hands lie Is 2l years
~ age, and he resides with MS mother ana several
lrol,Is and sisters al No. J03 West Forty -thiId-sL
ME lilher was owned by Lombard, Ayers Co. OK No.
1o- pearst II is total wreck. The mast projects ont
of the water, aud lies at an angle OF about 4J'. The
burning uaphha lOated out upon the water to con
siderable distance. There damage 10 the dock or
TO any other vessels The companyS loss ls about
800 and there damage of about the same amouu!
I, the fighter An explosion OF similar material occurred
about three years ago At that time large building was
thrown doWu but the WOrkuen Aad Jdst gone nome
one Was hunt.