New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-22
HURT WITH GIANT POWDER.
RESULT OF PLAYING WITH CARTRIDGES.
AN ACCIDENT DUE TO CARELEssNrss-A WATCH
MAN NOT AT HIS POST.

MAN NOT AT HIS POST.
An explosion took place yesterday afternoon
within block Of Central Park which will in all proba-
bility result fatally of the injured boys and MAIN
three others for the remainder their lives Shortly af
ter O'Clock party Of boys composed Of John Burke, age
SIX OF No. 200 West yeighth-st Michael Tylon, age
seven, of No. 232 West Fftyeighthst and William and
John Cottngham respectively eight and six, of No.
207 West Fftyeighth-st, entered lot at Fftyeghth-
g. and Broadway, where excavations being made and
considerable blasting is being done to make for the
foundations of hre-engne house. Daniel Sheridan is
the contractor, and has been using what Is known
bologna cartridges" Of giant powder, largcgrained
explosive containing nitro glycerne in largo proportions
lie usually keeps the cartridges which he does not intend
TO Immediately In an ironned chest, which placed
distance from the excavations. Through some
carclcssness the part Of his employees when they quit
their Saturday, they forgot to collect all the
unused cartridges and left one lying on the ground.
For long time the blasting in the neghborhOod has
been source OF wonder TO the children and yesterday
the boys while searching about the lot for pieces OF
quartz, found the cartridge. One Of them, little Tyon,
suggested TO his companions that would amSe them
to play blasting" and they all assentcd. They
tin dnnerpa standing the place where they found
the cartridge and apprOpriang It, they placed the car
fridge In It and carried it carefully partly finished
building belonging G. H. Weeks, sablo-kceper Of No.
237 West Ffty-cghth--t, at Nos COS and POS OF the
street They found in the vacant building pile OF
rocks and unwindng the fuse which attached to the
cartridge they placed It and the I'm the midst Of the
rocks The Cottingham boys across the street to
where their mother standing and asked her for
matches She, without thinking for the moment
what use they would put them to, gave the
matches and her children ran laughing away The
matches handed to John Burke who struck and
held it to the short fuse but before he could rum 1t
his intention 10 DO, the cartridge exploded hurting
pieces of rock in every direction and Frustrating the boys
Burke, who nearest the explosion struck on the
head by piece Of rock which his scalp open and
fractured his skull His and breast were also torn
The COttngbam boys standing sideways 10 the
blast received grains OF powder I'm their left
eyes. THEN faces were severely cut by TIE bits or rock
rnd portions of the diuucrpa which scattered by
aud Some splmtercd wood by, and received deep
ea-h., the legs aAd thighs which may make AlIn
officer Miller, Of the Twcntysccond Precinct, was
patro,ug li, heat t FIityfftlat when he Heard dull
report iu tho direction Of the Park. Knowing that no
blasting was going on sunday, he jumped on car
and rode Co the scene Ut the explosion lie arrived there
before the children had recovered consciousness. He
found them scattered about the dit floor Of the unln-
i-h,d building. and approaching The condition OF the
! boys hr rang "A call for an ambulance. Burke who
lived almost directly the street from where the
ana carried home where he was attended by Dr. New
comb of No. 1850 West IOry--cuout--t The COtungham
yr HOSPITAL where their ewes were treated and their
wounds dressed. Little Michael Tylon was taken home
The fathers OF the boys al coaclnen employed by
families living ln tue nDEhboiEool Inc GAlHIcu
had Just returned from Sunday school, and were
/ returning home when tue idea ~ en,cIing
Tie lot took possession OF them. The Waterman who
should have been guarding the excavations absent for
some reason known only To himself although De had re-
cc,cd strict orders from his employers not to!oaye his
. post. There was no WHtcnsn at the Weeks building
because three weeks ago the men employed upon II
struck and abandoned the house 70 wind and Weather
Had the building been furnished with doors aud windows
the OF the explosion would. In al probability nave
Killed Inc children Instantly But it was the report was
so loud that 10 startled persons living half milo distant
and shattered the glass IN the houses near the building
where the NpIO-iuG TOOK place.