The morning call., 1890-04-30
SHOOK THE EARTH.
Terrible Explosion Of Pent-Up
Gas on Powell Street.
Three Men Have a Narrow Escape From Death
in a Cellar-Loud Noises Under the
Street Almost Cause Panic.

A gas explosion, which nearly killed
three men and shook the earth for some
blocks around where it occurred, took place
yesterday morning about o'clock at the
corner of Jackson and Powell streets, and
was followed by repeated shocks like the
vibrations of sharp earthquake, and q
loud rumbling sound similar to the roll of
distant thunder beneath the streets.
People rushed wildly from their houses,
and were still more frightened at the sight
of manh0le covers flying upward, impelled
by some terrific force underneath, which
was then unknown and added to the excite
ment. In places the pavement was looSened
by the force of exploded gas, and some
houses were slightly damaged.
The residents in the vicinity have for the
past week or tie days been annoyed by the
strong odor Of escaping gas. Plumbers
were employ ed and frequent searches made
to discover the leak, but all to no purpose.
The gas meters showed no appreciable loss
over the regular quantities consumed, yet
gas was escaping in large quantities, prob
ably from the mains.
Finally yesterday morning the odor in
many houses on Powell street became over
towering, and particularly so in the drug
store of j. II. Drossel at the corner. So
strong was it there that even pasSers-by
were staggered by the smell, and people
living close by compelled to leave their
lower rooms.
HOW IT OCCURRED.
Drossel decided to have a thorough ex-
animation of his basement made at 80
O'Clock in the morning, and for that pur-
pose hired the services of Charles Hoffman,
a plumber. Accompanied by Hoffman ana
August Drossel, his eldest son, he went into
the cellar to discover the leak. Pipes were
carefully examined, bat no escape could b o
found, so the plumber decided that the gas
was coming up from the sewer pipe, which
Is directly under the center of the building.
They dug away the earth, and the deeper
they went the stronger became the smell of
gas.
AT last the pipe was exposed, and from it
came al oppressive discharge of the crude
hydrogen with its carbonic compounds gen.
Grated in the sewer. Hoffman took lighted
candle in his land and bent down to see if
he could find break. Instantly there was
an explosion, and the house shook TO its
foundations. Following it was a bright
flash of light, which enyeloped the three
men, who, luckily, were hurled back against
the wall before the flames reached them.
With no more injury than little shaking
up and fright they rushed upstairs and out
on the street.
There they found men, women and
children running from their houses in
state Of CONSERVATION. In a few seconds
the streets were filled with an anxious
crowd all terrified by explosions and eager
to know If some terrible catastrophe was
really pending.
ALMOST A PANIC.
Immediately after the first loud explosion
thundeTous rumbling came from the
ground and it sounded as if great guns were
being discharged beneath the peoples feet.
Ii continued along the street, following the
sewer line with a roar as tie burning gas
exploded at intervals on its way. Mean
while the ground kept vibrating and trem-
Hing and the SOLEMN hpOu5 mi n tfla1 wit II,
the cries of the people.
Julius Herzog, who lives at 927 Jackson
street, was about to cross Powell street, op-
poslte John, when the noise startled MIN,
and not second later the iron cover of the
manhOle in the center of the street beside
him was blown about thirty feet ABOVE his
head and fell IN fragments, frightening him
badly. The manhOleS from Clay street to
Broadway had been looSened and some
broken.
Quite recently a new gas main was laid
n Powell street, and 1t was thought that
the earth was not properly packed before
the pipes were put down. When the loose
clay was tanped over the main the earth
beneath settled, causing the pipe to sag at
the Joints until they opened.
The escaping gas passed into the sewer,
where 1t accumulated until exploded yes
terday by the presence of a lighted can
die. The flames ran through the main
sewer and caused the explosions at each
manhole.
The escape of Drossel, his son and Hoff-
man is considered remarkable. They were
not even burned.