The Morning herald., 1878-03-11
CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.
FIRE, sHIPwREcK, EXPLOSION.

A special to the New York Herald says:
The little village of Harrison, on the west
ern edge of this county, was the scene of q
frightful gas explosion last night, riddling
the new Town Hall, killing two or three
people and ipjuring number OF others.
The building was entirely new, having been
completed only few months, aud was in
tended for public use entirely. The first
floor had the post Office, Mayors Office and
q room for fire engine, while the second
floor was fitted for public ball. The
building was lighted by gas generated from
gasoline, the machine being known as the
Van Kelear or Cincinnati machine. 1t had
not worked well, ever since it was put in,
two weeks ago, and an agent OF the manu-
facturers had been working to find out the
difficulty. Last evening, when he left, he
put man named Rupp, Councilman of
the village, in charge.
THE EXPLOSION.
About o'clock Rupp, accompanied by
Councilmen Fisher and Probst, entered the
cellar for the purpose Of making some al
teration in the machinery, it is supposed.
They had been there but a moment when
the catastrophe occurred. The explosion
was terrific. The building seemed to rise In
the air and then in momen. fall to pieces.
The post Office was filled with people who
had come to get their mail from the train
that had just arrived. Then, to add to the
horror, the building at once took fire. A
panic ensued that was terrible. Those who
were able to get out rushed forth, wild with
terror, while the people on the streets, at
tracted BY the cries OF those within the
building, hurried in to rescue them.
New BRUNSWICK, N. j., (east side Of
the river,) March 9.-The railssy bridge
which has been in process of construction
over the Raritan river, at this point, wat
this morning burned to the waters edge
The fire was discovered at the draw al
about q. m, and every attempt to save the
structure was unaysiling. The fire begin.
ming on the draw, which has been rebuilt
extended away from the city, cutting off al
| attempts to reach 1t with fire apparatus
and sweeping away some thousand feet o
the old structure. Before clock the
last timber of the old bridge tumbled into
the river.
| The telegraph line crossing the bridg,
was consumed, and Communication by tha
means was completely cut off. This bridg,
was an old structure, built principally o
wood, and was erected In 1887. 1t wa!
| originally toll bridge as well as well as
railway crossing, and its total length wa
about 25O0 feet, embracing fourteen spans
| OF late the railway company had begun
rebuilding, and q new draw had been nearly
completed by the Keystone Bridge Com
pany of Pbiladelphia. During the worl
| upon II there have been many accidents
| On Sunday night last q wstchmsn namet
Peter D. Garretson fell through bereatl
the stringers and was instantly killed.
On Thursday night Daniel Kelly, an e.m
pioyee of the Keystone Company, fel
through one of the upguarded death trap
and received fatal injuries. From these &C.
cidents there has been considerable feeling
feeling, and this has undoubtedly givel
birth to the rumor thst the FIRE was OF in
cendisry origin. From the best and mos
reliable information 1t is believed the fir,
was wholly the result of aceidept.
| LONDON, March ga despatch 70 Reu-
ter's Telegraph Company from Trisst'
says; ..,,