Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-10
A VOLCANO IN BROADWAY.
a spent o. cssssesssuss, mud, and steam
ssartles Pedestrians.

Sforttee TeoettSe1ss
New York Times, sth.l
Ate o'clock yesterday morning the 10
cpbic feet Of pavement In front OF No. 4s
Rroadway was a. smooth. ~ even. - calm,
a. serene. IA perfect work OF art as that
any wbere else along he greet thorough
S,re, The street was M busy and bnstling
ne 81 ,,suaIIy Is at that hour Of the morning.
Nicbt.w,,cbmeu were on their way home,
afier lonely night vieIls IN the great build
Inrs: officc-boys were lazily sweeping the
sidcxalks; jsnitos were dumping ashes
info the receptacles at the cur5stone. while
the great army OF clerks, shop-gir's, me
chanics. and lsborers were hurrying down
10 the Offices and stores.
Ats:15 O'Clock the 10 Guile feet OF pave
ms nj still smiled a. serenely as ever, the
ash receptacles were calm and unmoyed.
the army Of clerks. shop-girl. mechanics,
and Iaborers still swept hurriedly past, and
the occupants of the Offices and stores were
as serene In their Ignorance OF impending
danger as 1906 years before we're the cit'.
zens OF PompeIi and Herculaneum oil the
deadly intentions OF Vesuvins. But un-
derncath the calm exterior OF that 10 cubic
feet Of payement maleyolent force lurked
IN ambush. like anger In the bosom OF John
l.. sullivan. At S:l6 o'clock Percy Van
Trenor Livingston was on bis way pist No.
AZ broadway, en- route for the Office
y here be copies insurance policies. Percy
was attired in perfect English hat, n
light colored check suit, patentleather
boots, and a new dra5 top-coat that was
the pride Of his young life. Percy walker
Ieisurely down Broadway, With his silver
handled walking-stick under his arm, be-
cause 1t Is vulgar to hurry. A smiling
youth, who ofiiciates at the cigar-stand In
No. 48 Broadway, looked out OF the WIN
dow as Percy Ioitered past at SIT O'Clock.
admired the perfection OF bis collar, MS
gloves, bis hat. his trousers, his boots, his
top-coat-a admired, in fact. what Percy
would have himself called his "toot
ongsam."
At S:1s O'Clock Percy was due west Of
the cigar-store door and due east OF the 10
cubic feet Of pavement; an express-wlgon
an omnibus, a licensed vendors cart. and
q cOupf were rattling past in the street an
ample woman, q neysbov. several clerks,
and porter were on the sidewalk, when,
with terrific explosion, the 10 cubic fe5t
OF pavement sprang mp IL feet into the
air, followed by 10 tons OF dirt, water. sand,
gravel, and mud, which mounted 10 feet
higher. and came down in shower
upon the sidewalk, against the windows OF
the cigar-store and in the street. Percy,
with a scream Of terror, burst into the cigar
store and almost tainted on the floor. His
beautiful bat remained outside, crushed
under lG-pOund cobblestOne; his drab
overcost was covered with mud. his shi-
ming collar was soaked with dirty water,
the lustre OF his patent-leather boots was
gone forever. The youth III the cigar
store ceased to smile, and rushed Mortified
10 Percy's assistance, while the white
aproned gentleman at the buffet dropped
trayful OF dishes and threw pail OF ice
wafer upon the wrecked young gentleman.
Outside there was fearful carnage. The
apple-woman had caught ii cobblestone in
her basket; two more stones had crushed
a handbook in the express-wagon, aud the
licensed vendcr was so frightened that he
ran away at full speed and collided with the
horse attached to the coupe. The shop girls
screamed almost as loud as Percy had done,
the clerks swore In chorus, and black,
treacheTous hole close TO the sidewalk was
in the place where but few short months
before the 10 cubic feet OF pavement had
smiled so brightly, aud tons OF dirt and
mud surrounded II upon the sidewalk and
in the street. Everybody in the vicinity
rushed out OF the way fearful OF another
explosion, and then great cloud OF steam
issued from the Jagged hole in the earth
and created fog from Exchange Place to
Beaver street.
The pedestrians gathered In awe-stricken
groups and asked each other what 1t was.
The apple-woman excitedly predicted the
end OF the earth. A scientific barber issued
from an adjacent basement and explained
that 1t was probably volcano that had
been covered up at previous geological
period, suddenly awakened to activity, and
he advised an instant exodus TO Washing
ton Heights. The newsbov gave no atten-
ton to theories, but proceeded 10 throw
mud at an omnibus-driver, and all was
mystery until a wagon ratified up. II bore
upon its side the legend, "New York
Stcam-Power aud Heating Company"
and the driver plunged into the fog.
"What is ity" inquired everybody
when he emerged again, five minutes
later.
Steam-pipe busted" he replied briefly.
Then there was calm. The log driited
away. Six labOrers came TO repair the
break. business went on again. and Percy
was assisted into cab aud driven home,
-. l.. 4. l. e,