The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-04
EXPLOSION In WEST FARMS.
IHE BiOUING UP or Mr.. HIMIL TON's
C.iRTHIDGE I.ICIORY.

Devices Hotel Shhkcn ~ BY an Earthqunks-
y Man and ~ Ghl Hiovn Ia Pieces-The
Second ot Jsnpiitons Factories nestroyed.
On Saturday afternoon last the village of
West Farms. Wcstchcstcr County. was shaken
hy the explosion of Hami,ton's nitrO-glycerino
cartridge mandatory. Il milo distant Tho
Catnoh" protectory is three-fourihs OF "A milo
northeast Of the factory. About 300 yards from
II Ia Dcynes Hotel. the nearest building. 1t
was shaken as though an earthquake had rolled
undcr IT, Tho factory belonged to u Prussian
who went by the name Of Hamilton. but who
was little known TO residents in tho noighbor-
hood His business was With outsiders entirely.
Hamilton carried ON tho Same business in n
rough board shauty in the outskirts Of Mount
Vernon. n few miles north OF Wcst Fnrms thrco
years ago. anl four Of his employees wcro
Killed outright In an explosion TINT blew tho
shanty to kindling wood. He WIS compelled
to leave the town. as the residents were bound
that he should moi longer carry on this business
there. Then he removed To West Farms and
his factory has blown up once. injuring no ono.
The factory wis really only a one-story
shnn'y about 20 feet square. consisting OF
framework OF beams covered with hemlock un-
planod inch boards. II was shingcd with
wood. II stood in secluded dell which wns
seldom visU ed. and which children were varied
were tempted near il to pick up old cartridges
or imperfect ones. Tho farmers protested
ngalnst The building " the factory On the day
@, thc clpl9-.on "a farmer was pl9ughng 200
ieot from the factory. and his children wrro
Playing tag not 'lr from IT. The children
We" thrown down hS the con 'u~sinn
nam ton w"s frequently In West Farms. hut
stayed ihcre only short time His working days
wrrr spent ~ the factory. Olcru waok usually
on on Sal9rdnyi hr packed into nnoN", NE cartridges
Whom he could gpt i;irls to pack tho cartridges
h" did so. hut the people wrro dis'ru-tful. and
said That tio.r children were iu cnustint danger
20 get pocket money Tor a particular purpose.
h.wevrt,E Eir,s wore Induced e, pack the cxpo-
siVe materials Tor shipment Hamilton was ar-
custor"d To- c0tu the hous $ Of people in mod
crate rlrcumstances and oiler good wages Tor
on Friday lasi Hamilton wen, to tn house OF
Mr.. Long VINO works in the West Farms t1n-
merry, and asked that his daughter. MARY Long,
snouid "a X gartrdses nest day. Mr Long re-
ltilr danger Tier. really was IN his dauglter's
work there. There was a large kettle In tho
@ nirc of the shauty, When he had on his rub
explained 10 Mary's father, there wns some
danger. hut ho rarely worked NJ that ON Satur-
days. SO Mary woJld not hc exposed to danger,
morning Hamilton came after Mary. who WAS
pnpll IN tho publ" school in West Farms but
clined 10 take hor sslc. but Mrs. Long urged
Mary TO go. On the next day Mary was to havo
Farms Roman Catholic Church for the FIRST time,
ant she had bern anticipating the qualification
OF buying to wear on that occasion n ppir Of
white KID shoes She had earned sis at dollar
day in the cartridge factory IL she would
wcrk on Saturday she could be dressed as
finely as She could wish, her mother said. Mary
WIS a remarkably bright. pretty and Intelligent
girl OF l3 years. her schOomates say. and re-
ceivrd a medal only week ago for best scho-
nrship and department during the week in
large school. Neither Hamilton nor Mary Long
was seen alive after Saturday morning.
VISITORS TO the ruins saw first spluters OF
hemock boards blown in every direction. some
$50 feet from the place where the shanty had
stood. The girl and the man were torn limb
from limb their bodies quartrrrd and scattered
over tho ground. For two days the tpwnsucoplo
picked up remnants ~ the bodies. HamiitOns
rubber sut WAS found cinging to portion ot
his headlcss trunk. The back head of the girl,
with long hair clinging to il. was found on Sat-
urday, and the entire face was found on Nom
day under piece OF board. Dr. Il. A. Joyce
OF fremont who visited the scene after tho
the CIR > body that was found WAS an arm with
part OF the shoulder attached. Parts OF the
bodies were found 100 feet from tho site OF tho
lacttry. Slrcwn around were cartridges sizo
ls-lOO. some cNplo ted and others still loaded.
Bits of boxes Wore seen with the label: Triplo
strength nitro -gYcerinc eXploders.' The piaco9
OF the bodies were buried YESTERDAY On the
day that Mary went to the factory Hamilton
tried 70 procure the services OF another girl in
town, but she would not 20. In pocket Of tho
sull thnt Hamilton wore WAS found n bank book 1.
with a large amount Of money ~ his credit. lie
Is SAID 10 have no relatives in this country.