The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-25

O'CLOCK p. NJ, the two gas burners in tho vault
rue person in charge Of The gas meter a. about mat
turned the gas OIL nj the meter wtnout hotinca.
charge Of the shutting Of tho vault, closed il on sat
uray OF course Gas was burnpg in the vault. and
the burners being well us hs es cape had there been
ing, when Mr.. Reeve, chisi clerk oi me
bill room, went IN tho vault, nc NO.
gas COCKS were turned on and he reached up and
turned them on Gas mad undoubtedly been escaping
have been iuil Of IT, About forty minutes aterward
Mr.. Code went in the vault with Mr. Vincent. VINO
wished TO Examine ona OF the cash hooks. when MI.
Code lighted a match and the explosion ensued.
have mad 10 close the office Tor the day. ana havo
vsedsr to proceed repair tho damage done
10 the furniture OF the office, relying upon your ap
probation o. the e1sency o. e oas0 , 70 wants.
pairing tho doors, castings and windows, re-
specially request you TO take suSn action as
out of the vault. We shall candles there here-
alter The department win be open for general ousi-
The Communication OF Collector Tanner was read
anu referred to tho Committee ON Public Lands ana
Buildings.
Detective David Corwin vas IN closet on the Sec
ond story, Just above tho vault when the explosion
took place. He was thrown forward by tho shock,
which tore the door from It's hinges He says he WAS
paraiyzed for a nome nt ana as soon no could
recover himself no ciu,ched a man who had been
thrown down in an adjoining apartment, ana VINO was
led him out, ana they both recovered their wontcd
equilibrium subsequently, upon learning that they had
escaped unframed, and that there wss no impedmcnt
10 their max ng good their from tho structure
When the explosion occurred there were number
OF persons IN the Assessment Department.. on The
second door, where tncy were engaged in examining
assessment rolls Among the number were several
females, who screamed loudly snc ran out
OF the apartment and down the stairs. A
strong current Of fame passed up through
the air from the vicinity oil the vault carrying
with II fragments OF glass; which we're scattered IN
evcry direction The Secretary oi the Board OF Asses
sors. Mr. Dominic Roach, VINO was standing ny his
desk, line between the air shalt and the
door leading into the corridor, was IN tho
act OF administering tho oath 10 tax
was oysrtnrown by the explosion, and ne thrown
head foremost his desk Al the same moment
a heavy window sash, which was hurled from It's poe
had been standing and would have struck him had he
not lost his foothold.
LEFT IN THE CAGE.
In the Second District Court IN the basement OF
the City Hall, "A crowd OF prisoners, lawyers, CON-
plain ants and idle lockers assembled when
the explosion TOOK place The concussion caused
for minute prevailed that the roof OF the
hall had fallen in. policeman on duty
in the court, exclaimed, 'Run Tor your lives; me
.cagen beggca be let loose, but their appeal Was
not attended TO. The rsom WAS speedily vacated
Justice Bloom, who was on the bench, anxiously
made his out in pursuit OF information as 70 the
cause OF the panic.
EXTENT DAMAGE
The chairman OF the building Committee, Alder
man John French, under whose supervision tho
reared said IN answer TO heterogeneous
oil HERALD reporter yesterday afternoon that tue
damage caused by the explosion would not bs more
IMAM from So, 900 IS, 0O0- The building was not
seriously injured, ana lie strength was In NO way
impaired by the accident The gas furnished the
building Is supplied by tns Brooklyn City Gaslght
Company. Ii not the design OF the committee
have pipes placed IN any OF the airght vaults
The pipe the exploded vault was placed thore alter
building passed out Of the control Of the Alder
manic Committee.