Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-21
Terrible Accident.
A BOILER EXPLOSION In NEW
YORK CITY.
Destruction OF q Building Contain
Ing a Large Number OF Girls.
OVER ONE HUNDRED KILLED AND
WOUNDED.
Several Girls Jump From the Top of the
Building, Five Stories High.
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE STREETS
OF THE CITY.

NEW YORK, December 20. An explosion &C.
Cured at five minutes past o'clock this after
noon, IN the immense candy msnufactory of
Greenfield Il Sons, No. 63 Barclay St, which
extends in the shape of an l. to College Place.
The boiler, which was under the sidewalk on
Barclay St, burst, tearing away the entire front
and scattering the wreck in all directions.
over loo girls of all ages were employed at the
time in tue building. The walls fell within a few
minutes after the explosion.
a policeman on duty near the building SAYS he
saw the front Of the building, which was five sto-
res high, fall into the street. The street was filled
with screaming people. lie rushed to the police
station and rang IN an alarm from the box at
Church and Bar clay streets
Several ghls jumped from the top Of the build
ing into the fire. Several boys were blown through
the roof
Fifty wounded and one dead we're reported
at the Chambers ST. Hospital at CAS- o'clock. A
number were slso sent to the Bellevue and other
hospitals. II Is estimated that the wounded will
reach l25. OF the 215 employed in the factory
but few escaped uninjured.
The number of dead is uncertain until the wreck
is cleared away.
The fire va, under control at $50, and by 6.45
only dense smoke surrounded the ruins.
Mr. Greenfield owner of the factory, could q i've
no idea OF how many were in the building at the
time OF the explosion, but thought about 10. Of
those ABOUT hiiy escaped at the College Place
trance, and a small number got out through the
skylights of other buildings.
The bookkeeper, who was on the Barclay street
side OF the building, was blown out through a
window to the street, and badly cut on the head
Several jumped from the second story and es-
capped, their fall being brokeA by policemsn and
citizens on the sidewalk below.
No fair estimate of the loss of life can be given
tonight, but 1t must be very large. The parties
employed in the factory were principally young
gills and boys from 10 20 years Of age.
ffna sk Ill.
force was employed, one-half working during the
day and the other at night. The night force is
changed at o'clock, and the fact of the explosion
occurring at five minutes past that hour renders
it still more difficult TO know how many or who
are the victims.
The Barclay street angle of the building has
fallen to the ground, as has also Nos. So and 67
Barclay street, on the lower side, and No. 81 on
the upper side. No search can be made for those
buried in the ruins until tomorrow.
The factory building was in the form of a letter
l., having entrances al No. 63 Barclay street, and
No. College Place. la the angle were situated
the Grocers Bank building and ID. ID. Tompkns'
brown paper warehouse, both five stories high.
The latter has also fallen to the ground, leaving
the bank buildng looming up alone over the ru-
ms. The bank building is only injured on the 4th
and 9Th floors, used as dwelling by several jan-
tors who lost all their furniture and effects. The
Sd floor, occupied by law and other offices, was
slightly injured by water, but the offices of the
bank on the ground floor, suffered no injury.
Mr.. Tompkns' loss could not be sscertaned to-
night.
Tue loss Of Greenfield & Sons is estimated at
500, 600; insurance about $4,000.
No. 90 Barclay street, was a frame building,
with a cigar store the first floor, the upper
floors being occupied by Col. French for the last
30 years. Mr.. French his family got out safe
but the former lamented that he had left $40, 900
IN L. >. bonds IN book case on the second floor.
Foreman Joe McGill Of engine No. 80, and
Roundsman Coffee of the first precinct police, vol
unite cred TO 90 in for the bonds. The flames and
smoke were bursting out of the building, but they
climbed upon the awning and entered the window,
secured package OF papers and came out. The
package was found not to be the bonds A sec
ond time they entered through the flames and
smoke and brought out The bonds in safety.
A number of persons who escaped from the fac
tory with slight III hnsss, had their wounds dl ssed
III The drug stores, and went home. Some of the
girls had their bsir burned totally off their heads.
1 he first reports were exaggerated in regard to
the Lumber of wounded. Only IL were brought
TO the Chambers st. Hospital.
The greatest sacrifice Ct life will be among
young gnls, and many OF whom from eight to
fifteen years were employed in asserting and pack
ing candies on the first floor over the hoier,
which was situated in the basement of the rear
end of the Barclay street wing Of the building.
and not under the sidewalk as at first reported.
None of these are known to have escaped
The buildings occupied by Mayor & Knapp,
eDgravefs, on the opposite side OF College place,
caught fire from sparks, but the flames were ex-
tlugulshed with trlfing damage.
Among other buildings damaged those of
Z. w. Little, fancy goods, Nos. 24l and 243
Greenwich stIee. and Charles Westelv6ll, hats
and furs, Nos. 337, Greenwich street.
The total loss Is probably two hundred and fifty
thousand dol airs.
1 he news of the explosion spread over the city
very rapidly, and the widest eXcilemen prevailed.
Some of the evening papers got out extras with
very exaggerated reports Of the extent of the ca
lsmity, which increased the excitement, and large
crowds hurried from all quarters to the scene.
The police kept the crowd block away from the
place. Many persons having children or rsla-
tIves working in the factory the evening wore
on and these had not returned home, sought the
of the disaster and the hospitals and police
stations III search of the missing ones. Their an
xlety and grief were very touching.
At the very lowest calculation, there must be
forty OF fifty bodies in the ruins which are still
reekIng mass.
The hremen will keep streams of water on the
ruins all night, and will have the streets cleared,
aud be ready TO commence digging out the debris
tomorrow.
1t is feared the wall of the bank building is
damaged, and this will be examined before the
work on the ruins l. begun, as the building might
fall on the woIkmen.