New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-23
TONS OF ROCK BLOWN UP.
HUGE PIECE HURLED INTO THE STREET.

CRASHING INTO AN ENGINES BOILER-RUNNING
FROM ESCAPING STEAM.
An explosion that shook the buildings in the
Immediate neghborhood. and heard for half mile
away, occurred at 23O yesterday at the eIcava-
tons on los Nos. 500 ana 500 Thrd-ave.. between
Ihiryeght and Thiryninth sts People toward the
spot from all directions aud when clouds OF steam
were seen 10 Ill the streets, and a roaring sound
was heard the impression got abroad that boiler had
e1piohed and that much damage had resulted.
Patrick Norton is the contractor for blasting cellar
Tor large shaped fat which will occupy the two lots
on Ihird-ave. and single lot No. 152 Thirty
ninth-st Tho rock encountered thus far has
been rotten and disposed in layers inclined
toward Third-ave at an anglo OF thirty degrees.
IL was deemed advisable yesterday afternoon to throw
out great section OF extending the front OF
the lots The surface about four feet below the
street level and steam drills had been at
work all day drilling seven holes varying from
lour 10 six feet In depth and about six feet apart.
Testimony varies to the strength Of the charges used
but the residents upon property declare that
heavy charges Of dynamite used. Fuses were
used with three of tho lighter charges. but the four
main charges were connected by wires with bat
terry which was operated by John Barry,
the foreman. Spectators said that ex-
traordinary precautions, moro than upon any
former occasion, taken, nagmen being sent more
than block either side and the elevated trains
and Immediately afterwari tho main loads
were exploded with deafenng roar.
great ragged rock. weighing several TONS
was seen to rise about ten feet in tho air and whirl
across the sidewalk crashing against upright steam
boiler which outside the street
t1rning It, Smaller pieces Of rock filed the air scatter
ing in all directions, but luciliy doing damage As
the boiler fell tho hood thrown oil and
largo hole was knocked in the side.
the steam blew out the heads OF the flies and great vol
ume OF scading vapor poured directly into Camp
bell Gibson's restaurant at No 59i Tbrdave.. the
first house north OF the excavation. aud into
Edwards Bros. butcher shop next door, at No.
500. 4 number of persons eating
the restaurant when the explosion
Cured and they confronted with clouds OF scadng
steam which poured in at the door They climbed over
another in HI Sht amt took refuge in tho back
yard. where they remained until tho active volcano In
front moderated "A soon as determined that the
boiler would not explode laDorers got TO work with
sledges wedges bars and broke the large rock
into pieces, which carted away Several loads OF
rock were removed from the street and sidewalk.
Engiueer Frank Darby, had charge OF the
boiler said: The boiler was usea for supply.
registered eight horsepower 1t was licensed To
carry niety pounds and my gauge resisterei eighty
pounds Mr. Nortons horse was standing only ten feet
away. and - saw the boiler topping ran toward
him.. fearing he would be sealdel. lt was a
wonder that the whole boiler did not blow up As
tn nix tho breaking Of the fcei-ppe and safety
valve liberated the swiftly thtt 10 avertei
terrible accident also feared that the water would
of and that the fire would thon superhea tho re-
muiling steam and blow Things Up II any one in the
restaurant had br-aihed the steam wOnd most likely
have killed him. Hal been standing directly In
OF the door he would have been fatally scalded
The prOprctors OF the restaurant said that the place
Instantly hlcd with steam and that 1t was impossible
o the doors 10 close them.
Ex-Aderman Robert Hall owns the building at No.
1856 East Thry-ninth ST.. which Ia devoted To livery
purposes. He stated that the building appeared TO
iuup the air inch two The stable men
said that the horses frightened. tripped
at their hdcrs and kicked francay IN their efforts TO
get away. Real Estate Agent John Kyle OF No. 5o6
Thrdave SAID that the charge was much too neavy TO
be used the midst OF densely populated neighbor-
hood, aud A. j. Van Boln, grocer at No. 593 Third
ave. stated that rock fell upon his pavement On
former occasions small pieces of rock had struck MS
WINDOWS.
szrs from pieces large ones fist to tons IN woght
chained were buried under the debris. ana
tools, and boards were dcernbe half covered
by splincrs OF stone. Looking down into the hoe
the wall to be cut dowh clear
from top to bottom, distance OF eight
feet. running clear across the plot. The marks
drill holes were there aud rock had been
lifted out for distance OF fully fifteen feet. beginning
at point twenty feet from the street line. Experts
who specrd the work 1t their opinion tht ex-
tranrdinary charges must have been used 80 com
plefely away the wall or rock and
I'm frarment weighing into the street. although
heavy logs. chained together were paced on top.
Foreman John Barry admitted hrlng four Charges at
once explained that the trend OF the strata WAS
such as TO cause the blast TO take un-
expected direction. He would neither deny nor admit
mat ne dynamite The buildings on either side are
not shored up their foundations rest upon tho
rock being blasted, every shock shakes their walls
in alarming manner.