New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-20
EXPLOSION IN A SUBWAY.
AMANHoLE BLOWN UP IN BROADWAY.
FRIGHTENED Guests RUSH FROM THE CONT,
MENTAL HoTEIr-A WAGON RAISED IN TILE
AR-BRICKs AND STONES COME DOWN
IN sHowER-No ONE HURT.


AR-BRIcKs AND STONES COME DOWN
IN sHowER-No ONE HURT
There was an explosion which resembled the
discharge of heavy field piece, at Broadway and
Iwentleth-st shortly after o'clock last even
ing, caused by the ignition of gas in the subway.
Inc street fortunately comparatively free
rom pedestrians at the time and as no one
CHANGED to be at the street crossing, there was no
one injured
There was great excitement in the neighborhood
Immediately afterward, and many people who
had felt the shock and were not aware of the
cause imagined that the city had been visited by
another earthquake. The shock was extremely
severe, and there was perceptible vibration In
the street and buildings close by The Conti-
mental Hotel is situated on the northeast corner
OF 1wentieth-st and Broadway, within fifty feet
OF the subway and some of the windows were
shaken violently, but none was broken. The
guests were alarmed, and many Of them rushed
INTO the street to escape from the unknown dan
ger. AS soon as it was known that the explosion
was in the subway the guests returned to the
hotel, and things went on as usual.
The precise spot where the explosion took place
was at the manhole on the west side of Broadway
in the middle line of Twentieth-st The large
manhole plate, which weighs several hundred
pounds, was torn from its position and hurled
upward about ten feet. 1t was not broken to
any extent, although there were several small
pieces Clipped from the corners and sides. The
heavy paving stones for a space of about ten fet
around ths manhole were thrown into the air
from fifteen to forty feet, according to the
testimony of different eye-witnesses, and were
scattered in all directions within radius of
TWENTY-FIVE feet. The dirt was thrown into thc
street near the manhole, and hole was left
between two and three feet deep. As far as
could he learned last evening the subway was
not damaged, and the wires within were intact
The force of the conclusion was so great that
the impulse was carried through the subway
pipes in a southerly direction for block, and
at Nineteenth-st. and Broadway the paving stones
and manhole were raised several inches above the
level of the street
At the time of the explosion Moneys express
wagon was coming down Broadway in the rail
road track, and was within about five feet of the
manhole. The horse had passed it. The wagon
was driven by Charles Wade, boy living at No.
81 West Thirty ninth-st. When the gas exploded
a tongue Of tame about six feet in length burst
from the open manhole and reached under the
wagon The wagon raised from the track
ana hnded on tW0 WncelS, Dut ulu nOU Jufn
entirely over. 1t was tilted sufficiently TO dump
several trunks into the street and the trunks and
Wade rolled into the gutter on the east side of
Broadway. George Francis Train was sitting in
front Of the Continental Hotel reading a copy of
his own travels in Europe in s57 He was read
ing some things he had written about the eruption
of Vesuvus when the explosion occurred and nearly
knocked him out of his chair. As soon o. he
recovered his senses he rushed to the
rescue of Wade and pulled him
from under the trunks. The horse was
htdly frightened, and after turning the wagon
around, started to run up Broadway. He got
only few feet, however, before several persons
seized him by the head and stopped him.
Policeman Long heard the explosion at Twenty
second-st. and Broadway, and he rushed down
the street thinking that some one had been Killed.
The stones and manhOle plate appeared to hlm TO
have been lifted about twenty-five feet, and he
felt the ground shake under his feet The officer
Immediately sent word 10 the 1hirtieth-st. station
crowd from Broadway. The Subway Commits
sioners were informed of the explosion, and Com
missioner Hess soon arrived on the ground In
short time he had gang of about ten men at
work repairing the damage The men had con
siderable difficulty in getting the manhole plate
IN position, as the brickwork below seemed TO be
displaced BY midnight the street was clear and
the stones were laid.
The watchman at Lord & Taylor's, on the
soutlrypst corner of Broadway and Twcntleth-St
said that the windows in the store were shaken
with great force, but that there was no damage
10 the building.