The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-29
EXPLOSION OF NAPH1HA.
Three Men Burned to Ashes in the
Lighter Caution"
A SHOWER OF BURNING FLUID.
Narrow Escape or Neighboring
Shipping.

At noon yesterday the lighter Caution reached the
jey running into tho North River in front the
Metropolitan Gas Company's Works, NJ tho loot OF
Forty first street on board were nnety-nvs barrels
OF Aaphtha. which had been brought from Lombard,
Ayers Co.'S oil works, at West Sixty
NTH street. and which was TO be used
for rectifying purposes and in the
production Of coal tar oil. The establishment OF the
Metropolitan Gas Company is long, rambling struc-
turc, covering all tho between Forty first and
Forty-se streets from Eleventh 10 the
In front Of It long pier runs out into the
with tramways on It for tho
vcyanco OF COAL and beside this but
moved from IL about lfty feet. ID the
jctty a. which ths lightsr was moorcd. Word had
been sent TO r. Isaac Hcrzoc, chief engineer OF the
gas works, OF tho arrival Of tho naphtha, which
wanted at once and he instructed u gang OF mon to
begin unloading lighter Immediately after dinner
time. AS the hour for rosuming work drew near .
number OF mon proceeded TO tho end OF the tram
way pier and Rudolph Bremen, who had charge
of tho donkey pump for hf,ing tho oil from
tho lighter. stationed himself his engine alongside
the lighter. Two then known be board Of
her. Ono was tho Captain, William Smith, OF Sixty
Nth street and Tenth avenue, the other Charles Fink,
OF sixty.sccond street and Tenth avenue. There
no else employed on tho Caution, and no one was
Of the presence Of third person board hoe
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION
Just tho steam whistles shreknr out the hour
OF one AMI the machinery In tho gas house set
in motion, tho neighborhood startled by terrific
explosion. red tongue OF flame into the air At
the end OF the jetty aud a confused cluster Of
timbers aud barrels hurled aloit. fol-
lowed in q moment by dense black volume
OF smoke Adolph Bremen, standing 1t his
pump was flung backward by tho shock. and ut tho
same moment a sheet Of nre rolled past him, while .
shower OF burning oil was poured upon him, the
wooden planking underneath and upon tho sheds
near at hand Blinded by the flames ara stunned by
the din, he tell to tho ground half unconscious but
with movement which seli-prcscrvation suggested
lie tore up his shirt and rolled about his taco and
neck and then struggled to the other end OF tho ctty,
where he was picked up and carried to . place OF
salcy. As he was borne away no was barely abls to
cry out that thcrc we're two mon in The lighter, and
then he became nsensibe
RAIN OF BURNING OIL
Meantime the wooden planks had caught IRE and
the hcht framework OF some outhouscs igpitng
lono heard the explosion and seeing glare OF tho
nro gave The alarm ard Tho Fire Do
~s,s, 1aqd ssa
tho blazing jeuy and upon the lighter which could
hardly DO distinguished in the CLOUD Of smoke that
veoped IL But the wood OF the pier all anrc ana
the vessel was thoroughly saturated with OIL and
either tho water seemed 10 be poured Ia vain. Upon
tho river itself oaca largo patches OF burning oil and
some were carried down stream TO tho imminent risk Of
tho craft moored there
Not TIL four O'Clock and after great coal Of labor
had been expended was the FIRE got under control
ana 1t was oven then hazardous 10 approach tni
vessel as the piles OF the Jetty had boon burned
cinders, ana tho lighter was reduced 10 a cherred
wreck. Some OF the fremen reached the dock. how
ever and began search for the unfortunate men
whom Bronner mad said wore on board.
| THE SEARCH FOR THE DEAD.
water, was found The body OF tho Captain, William
Smith. Tho upper portion was burnt to cindera The
lace was quite beyond recognition. and only few
Close by Charles Fink tho mate, was founa.
he. too, had boon amos. reduced 10 ashsa wnns
M In n nQ faYtu In
the hremen stumbled upon headless human body
from which tho limbs. too had been partially burned;
nero stump remained Of the arm which bad been
raised as II to guard tho lace from the
vourng element In this POSTURE too, the bodies Of
their effort shut out the sight
OF death. Whose this third body was could toll
with canvas till some ono should appear who
could identity the few remnants OF cloth.
who had sons Of theirs working '' in
tho gashouse throngcd about tho place. Tor the cody
recognized him. iii John Kelly, NO lIs West Fsrty.
first street, came along He lifted the canvas slowly
ana reluctantly, y seemed from the dead body. and:
away and began TO weep In tho charrcd trunk he
had recognized his ton He was boy OF sixteen.
Michael was hts name, and for somo timc past BIO has
been employed on board a canal boat, when
moored at the tramway pier What brought him on
! Coroner Eingcr had been notified OF tho tragic 70
suits OF the explosion. and, accompanied by Deputy
Coroner Goidschmidt, he viewed the bodies ana the
scene Of the burning AMI made some inquiries regard
ing case, be used, doubt In the evening in.
vcstigation. He had tho bodies OF tho captain and
mato removed 10 tho Morguc; that oil the boy Kelly
was taken home
Herzog me chief engineer Of the gas works, states
that the conveying OF tho naphtna 10 tho pier IN
barrels 10 unusual occurrence, and he
does not approve OF It. Ho believes that
carrying tho oil otherwise than in q largo
tank, 10 tho usual way, is dangerous. Yesterday
tbcrv dearth OF nsphtha Ia tho works, and ~
the material was wanted word scnt 70 Lombard,
Ayrcs Co. send IA, 900 gallons OF It This they
did, storing II in barrels.
THEORY THE EXPLOSION.
Mr.. Hcrzog thinks that in 1xng tho suction pipe "a
Of the barrels the hammer used, doubt, threw
of spark, which ignted the naphtha and exploded
the whole cargo.
Tho damage done by tho hro no estimated at only
000 tho etty being valued at 1900 and Tho htcP
at about the same figure.
In speaking OF tho disaster Mr. Hcrzog spoke very
clay fitted by his GOODNESS and sagacy to occupy mis-
position, which was known TO be one OF great
portancc.
survey OF the scene Of the explosion would serve
To show tnnt tho fire caused much less harm than
might have been expected Close to the lighter only
beyond the tramwuy pier 10 located receiving tanks
for the oil, and these escaped only by . marvel.
Az tho rst SOUND OF tho din the In tho gas works
anclcd that tho gasomcter which exploded Two years
ago again the cause Of the trouble and general
stampede, which might have been attended with dis
nstrous results, was imminent
BROOKLYN COMMON COCNCIT