The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-25
BLOWN UP.

EXPLOSION CAUSED BY THE LEAKAGE OF GAS
NARROW ESCAPE OF A FAMILY.
An explosion of coal gas from defective m3in last
night completely demolished one story franc
shanty at No. 215 East Eightieth street. Michael
Flood occupied the premises wagon
shed. He resides with his family in
an adjoining frame building. Last evening Mrs.
Flood alarmed by an overpowering smell Of gas
in the house. As there were no connections with
the gas mains in her household she could not
account for the suffocating odor. Directly OPP
posite is grocery store kept by
Mr. wilkining. The latter also discovered that
his premises were filed with the foul
odor; but that fact equally to him.
as he burnt nothing but kerosene. After comparing
notes with the Flood family messenger was de-
spatched to the Office OF the Harlem Gaslight
paid no attention to the alarming report as they
aware that they did not supply gas 70
Gf Flood n ths nd
ing that the difficulty was increasing. she and
her children being driven into the street to
cellar of her house to ascertain the cause
of the trouble. The lad lit match to
make a searching investigation, but he was COM
PEELED to beat hasty retreat, and by the time he
reached the open air he in half supefed condi-
ton. With more courage than discretion he again
entered the cellar and managed to remain sufficiently
long to discover that gas was escaping from
leakage in the main sewer pipe. At the same time
the street. while engaged in putting up his wagon in
the shed. was almost overpowered with the vapor.
He rushed from the place and stood in dazed condi
ton on the sidewalk. with his hands pressed to his
throbbing temples. when he was joined by the lad
who had just emerged from Mr.. Floods cellar.
They remained together for about ten minutes inter-
changing their mutual experiences and comparing
notes when suddenly loud explosion startled tho
entire neighborhood, and simultaneously the wagon
shed took somersault and completely
demolished the debris being scattered in all direc-
tons This startling report attracted the atten-
ton Of the police and the Fire Department.
LATE.
After the harm done. fortunately without
any injury to the surrounding inhabitants
or loss of life. official investigation
was instituted. Mr. Balmore, superintendent
of the Harlem Gas Company. soon arrived
at the of the explosion. He said that the acct
dent was unavoidable and almost unaccountable.
There was no gas connection with the premises. He
said that in his opinion the gas main had burst i'll
the street. and the escaping vapor had passed into
the sewer and from thence into the drain pipe.
the latter connecting with the wagon she'd
The mystery still remained how the accommodating
Gaping gas had been gnited. considerable time
having elapsed after the boy had quilted the cellar
until the explosion took place. Mr. Balmore thought
that some passing pedestrian had dropped half
lighted match a smoking cigar outside the prem-
Uses. and, the air was surcharged with gas. as
matter Of course explosion followed.
That the accident attended with no loss OF life
is almost miraculous There were several people in
the vicinity at the time and Mrs Flood and her fam
ily were next door. The latter slightly pros
trated from the shock, but they had recovered wher
visited by q HERALD reporter last night