The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-05
A Nysterious ExpfOslou.

a Mysterious Explosion.
TWO LIVES LOST ny THt UNEXPLAINED BURST
no or AN CID METER AT THE MUNICIPAL
GAs-wORKs.
New York Herald, Yesterday
A large meter in the old works OF the
Municipal Gaslight Company. Forty. first
street between Tenth and Eleventh ave-
uues, exploded Yesterday afternoon, killing
Charles Burns. a g1s.fitter, thirty-eight
years old. resident OF WILLIAMSBURG, and
john Ford, laborer, thilty-fye years old,
OF Forty-tirs, street and Seventh ave.
nue.. The explosion was loud, and
by the conclusion the structure in
which it occurred was shattered and the
windows OF The adjoining buildings broken.
Its origin is a mystery which neither Coro.
ner Brady nor any OF the experts in the en-
ploy OF the gas company were able to eIuc-
date last evening. II is, however, attributed
TO escaping gas, bat those in authority posi-
lively assert thai there was no gas ia the
building at the tine OF the explosion, eX-
cepiInQfhat obtained from the street-pipes
aud used for Illuminating purposes. From
The surroundings this theory is strongly
borne out. and 1t is probable that the mat.
ter will never he property explained.
Tue SCENE OF TIE ACCIDENT.
On the 1t Of February, 1877, the NUM-
clpai Gaslight Company ceased manufac.
turing gas IN their works in FOrty-iirst
street, and on that day opened their new
works, foot Of FOity-fouith street. North
river. since then the establishment has re-
NAMED IDLE, but IN the possession OF the
company. During last summer it was de-
termined by The Board OF Directors to util-
iZe the old wolks and open them to their
engineers and chemists for experimental
purposes. Some alterations and repairs
were required, aud Mr.. Thomas f. Row
land. OF the Continental lron-WOrnS,
Greenpoint, was given The contract. Gangs
OF men have for The past three months been
engaged IN the building, and the wOIk was
atm st completed Yesterday. The purifying
room stands about twenty feet apart from the
main structure, whIch has a frontage on Elev-
enIh avenue. II j. built of brick, one story
and basement, 30X3J feet. Tnete are two
puIifiers IN the pace. An extension ten
feet square ODens mic the puTifying.roOm.
In this apartment was placed ten DAYS aeo
a meter. The meter was secondhand, hav-
iug been used some time ago In PhilaGel'
pima. IL was purchased from the American
Meter Company, Tenth avenue and Tween
ty-SecOnd street, and was supposed to be in
GOOD order. The meter is fOIty-eight inches
long, three feet in diameter, circular in
form, and made Of iron an inch in thick
ness, IL was placed on horses. and was
connected with inlet and outlet pipes. The
former leads TO receiver and the other ia
the easometer. Both the receiver and the
pasometer were empty. and their lids have
been omen for days. The receiver connects
with the retorts. Eight men, under The
charge of Foreman James Mccormack, have
been working in the buildings during The
past week.
THE EXPLOSION.
After dinner Yesterday the foreman in
strucled Burns to sweep out the meter
room. Between l and . O'Clock in the al
ternoon Ford was seen TO enter the purify
irg building, and few minutes after Burns
was noticed by fell0w-laborer. named
William Graham, crossing the yard with
lighted pe'ticoat " lamp in his hand. He
entered the purifying department an(
crossed into the meter-room. a second OF
20 later loud explosion was heard-glass
bricks, iron, and timber being thrown blgl
into the air. One end OF the meter WA!
blown across the yard over the gasomeler
and was found fifty feet away. Th'
other struck an eight-inch partition
of brick ana shattered il. After TIT
excitement had somewhat abated McCOr
mack entered the purifying-room anu look
ing into the Joining apartment was horn
tied at the sight when was presented to III
guZe. In the northwest corner lay the deaf
BODY If Burns, and few feet away, to
ward the rear part OF The meter, wa
stretched The hfele>s corpse OF Ford. Th'
remaining men were Immediately set Il
work, and after removing the Debris th'
bodies were placed in the purifyIng'roon
10 await the arrival OF CoIOner Brady ant
his deputy, DR.. Ratfle. The meter, which
was rested aud capable of bearing pressure
OF $50 pounds 10 the square inch, was
complete wreck.
THE POSSIBLE GAUSS.
Wba: brought Ford into the meter.roon
and what had caused the explosion at I'M
time could not be cODjecured. The LAM
was subsequently discovered near the spo
vbere Burns's body lay. Crowds Of people
residing in The neigbbOrhOOd were attracted
by the report and eongregaled around TIT
gate. Coroner Brady visited the scene
the accident las evening and questioned
William II. bradley, chief engineer, in TIT
employ Of The Municipal Gaslight Company
James Mccormack, the foreman; William
Gfaham, and several other OF the workmen
All the connections with the meter weri
found intact, and, when closely followed
did not lead to any chamber or tank IL
which gas or any cOmbusllDie llquid Wa'
stored. Experienced engineers, VINO eX
amlned the place, were OF The OPINION, al
were also some OF the officials in charge
that probably small quantity OF gas haC
,emlined in one OF the inner chambers o.
the meter from the time il was in use IL
Philadelphia, and that one OF the men was
handling The water.drop cock, when th(
escaping gas igniled from The lamp, and ih'
explosion followed. The purpose for whici
Burns brought The lighted lamp lnlo INT
meier-rovm remains unexplained. III wa
well lighted by a window on The s0uti
side O: the building and directly Ia 'front.' o
the registering end OF the meter. Smoking
i prohibited within the works, aud had
nine or cigar been found in the room !
would have settled one portion OF III
mystery. According to The statements
those engaged in searching The apartment
no tob leco or pipes were discovered ineTe
hermit was issued for the removal OF IN
remains OF the unfortunate workmen u
their homes. The time for the inquest ha
not vet been fixed. Coroner Brady TOOL
charge OF several pieces OF the DrokeI
meter, which were discovered against I'd
wall on Forty.first street.
Tue purifying building was erected du
ring the year 1868 or 1869 by The New for
Oxygen Gashght Company. who then owne'
the works. They failed, and aftcrward tn
Municipal Gasligbt Company purchased ID