New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-06
A TERRIBLE EXPLOSION AT NEWARK.

ONE OF THE BUILDINGS OF THE CELLULOID MANU-
FEATURING COMPANY DEsrRoYRD-PIvE LIVES
LosT-THREE PERSONS ISJURED-CAUsE OF TIT
DISASTER.
An explosion occurred at the works of the
CeluoId Manufacturing Company, at Forty and Ash
bridge-sts In Newark, shortly after 10 o'clock
yesterday morning. which attended by considera-
bic Of life, and the partial destruction OF the
cOmpanys buildings by fire. The disaster Is similar 10
which took place Mt the works of the
Mechanicst, Newark two years when the build
Ings OF the company totally destroyed.
The explosion In the conyerting-ro0m large one
story building detached from the main works. At
the time IL occurred there were in the room
about twenty and boys. who had only
gone to work yesterday morning after be
ing idle two weeks. large and powerful
man named Frederick sites busy at one OF the
grinding machines and him boy. fifteen
years old. named william FiDdes At half
past O'Clock the explosion occurred at the
machine where Stiles was, and almost instantly
the whole interior OF the room was In flames
The report startled the hborood and persons y
ing the factory that immediately aferward
they saw ames Issuing from the windows and the
employees either rushing from the doors or eapng from
the windows. An alarm Of fire sounded from fire
box by and portion OF the redepartment respond
ed; but the flames having gained considerable head
way, and threatening the main buildings. which
were filed with innammabe material,
general alarm sounded, and through the efforts OF
this remen the fire confined TO the convertDg-room
building which was entirely destroyed with all Its
tents.
THE LOSS OF LIFE.
The alarm and the rumors that a number OF men had
been killed. attracted several thousand excited persons
TO scene most OF them coming out OF the neghbor
ing factories II was soon ascertained that
three men had been seriously injured. their
names beng Elmer Bogart Horace Pierce and Spencer
Ar ha wo mentOned aken In
nelghboring saloon and were quickly attended by
hysicians. Pierce presented sickening spec
tacle his face bands legs and body being terribly
burned that the flesh peeled of in strips. He
lived in Pacific street. but taken to ST. Barna-
basis Hospital He died at 10 o'clock last night.
Bogori was also fatally burned. He lives at
No 54 Blum street. and was also taken TO 81. Bar
nabas'- Hospital. Spencer Atwood had been injured
e nso received bad Wound IN groin ten
minutes after ne was removed stephen WWade, sixteen
years old hviug No. 67l springfed-ave., badly
burned about the arms Edmund Blum. another en-
poye was fssfGy burned firm the waist up and was
Fee belief that several OF the employees had persisted
RUNS and IN an hour the bremen came upon blackened
trunk, which was recognized as the body OF boy
and 90 the to the elbows wns Se
unrccO9nizabe Underneath this body lay that of
mass 1t said that when the explosion took
place Sites snatebed up the boy with purpose OF
5y ~" names He Is sa - have been crushed TO the
floor his way out by Some falling bales OF paper.
Shortly aftcrward the body Of Charles Gates found
near where the others recovered and this too was
burned in shocking manner The excitement in the
neighb0rh0Od intense while the bodies being
taken out The widest rumors prevailed throughout
the city.
CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
An official OF the company, being inerrOgated as to
the cause OF the disaster said that 1t impossible TO
tell with accuracy, yet 1t probably occurred
at the machine where Sites worked This ma
chine is used for mixing and grinding the
material. There was undoubtedly an explosion OF
gas, but what produced 1t is yet TO be found out II
probably from the vapor OF acohol and from the
material used in the manufacture. What the
was 1t seemed impossible 10 learn.
WHAT THE woRKMEN SAY,
One Of the work linen employed In the building at
time OF the disaster said the explosion occurred at
OF the grinding machines the east end OF the ROOM
Almost Immediately the whole interior Of the room
which contained stocks OF ceuloid and crude mate
rials was in flames. He followed the example OF At
wood and sprang out the window. Jumping over the
later's body, which PROSTATE ON the pavement
Assistant Engineer Cook, OF the Fire Department |
stated that when he arrived the spot IN answer |
ablaze. great crowd OF persons had gath |
cred, and the scene was one OF indescribaole |
The operators IN the main building. |
and c0ildren became paDicsirIcken and fed
doors In every direction. As soon as 1T became |
known that OF the had perished |
hi the n mes the excitement became intense aud
friends of those employed III the works added the
,onfuson by running bac and form. When a search |
vas made tor the victims, the bodies OF stites
aud FIndes were found claspfd IN each others arms
ear one the doors leading into the street One
liners found the centre OF the ROOM Tue
hing found near Siites was a leather poeket-book
II was very nard fire 10 fght on account the In
IIs Of g iuIol0 bafned freely even when wafer was
brown upon them. For sometime II was extremely |