New-York tribune., 1890-01-12
PRICE FIVE CENTS
FLYING MANHOLE COVERS.
TWO SUBWAY EXPLOSIONS AT FOUR
TEENTH-ST. AND SIXTH-AVE.
BIG IRON PLATE SENT AGAINST THE ELR
WAITED RAILROAD STATION THE SIDE
WALKS CROWDED, BUT NOBODY HURT
GREAT EXCITEMENT.


The street at Fourteenth-st. and Sixth-ave.
was torn up by an explosion in the subway few
minutes before o'clock last evening" and there
was great excitement in the neghbOrhood for a
time There are two manhOle plates at this
place. one being on the southeast and the other
on the northeast corner For a second before
the explosion there was deep rumbling sound
and a trcmuous movement of the earth, similar
TO that which is caused by a heavily loaded
truck, and then there leaped long cylindrical
shaped flame through each of the manholes that
reached nearly TO the platform of the elevated
railroad station. There was a loud report like
the boom of a heavy cannon. and in second
there was another report not quite so loud that
seemed to come from a point further up Sixth
ave.
Two manhole plates, weighing several hundred
pounds each, tossed into the air like corks
and struck the elevated railroad. The the
southeast corner driven with great force
against Of the heavy iron beams which sup
port the station platform and made large dent
in it, The plate was broken and shower Of iron
fell into the street The full force of the ex-
plosiOn was felt on the southeast corner, and the
paving stones were torn up about eight feet in
every direction from the manhoe. The stones
flew into the air about ten feet, but did not
scatter, and fell back almost into their former
places.
THE CROWD TERROR-STRICKEN
The dry earth was blown everywhere and
looked like cloud of smoke. Several passengers
were going up the stairs leading TO the elevated
station and others were waiting the platform.
The force OF the explosion shook the structure so
violently that some of the passengers imagined
that it was falling and ran down the stairs to the
street One Of them, a young woman,- sprained
her ankle in stepping into the gutter She was
taken away by her friends. Macy's store
filed with the usual large crowd of Saturday
afternoon shoppers, and the explosion brought all
business to a sudden end. Everybody felt the
building shake and heard the loud report. but
knew what II was. The talkatlye cash girls
and salcswOmcn were silent for one moment, at
least and one of the women said atterward thai
the store still that She could hear hearts
beating with fright all around her.
When the moment of suspense was over tho
customers rushed out Of the store and mingled
with the crowd that passing through Four
tecnth-St. In the rush several children were
knocked down, and Mrs. Murray. who lives in
jersey City, had her shoulder hurt by being
pushed against pillar of the elevated road.
The detonation was heard several blocks away,
and people came rushing 10 SlNth-ave. and Four
teenth-st. There was a rumor that a woman
had been killed by one Of the paving stones, and
this added TO the excitement. \ SiXth-ave. car
hut did not leave the track. The passengers
Jumped out Of the car with wild rush. and the
car went away empty
\ VETERANS NARROW ESCAPE.
Colonel A. J. Scheck, of No SO East Teuth-st.,
was walking across FOurteenth-st. when he felt
the earth shake and heard terrific report. He
was partly stunned by the cOncussion and a large
piece of the manhole- plate fell within few inches
of his head. lie hewildered that ha
thought that he had been shot in the head. lie
staggered against pillar, and leaned against 1t
for a few moments, until he recovered his senses.
lie was not hurt He said that he a veteran
and had heard the noise made by all sizes Of
guns. but never heard anything TO equal the
sound made by the explosion. Officer GenOre Of
the Nineteenth Precinct, who is stationed al this
corner, was severely shocked. but recovered in a
moment. He said that two young girls were
nearest to the manholc when IL went up. lie
knew that they were not hurt, because they ran
away 50 fast that he could not catch them.
The policeman reported the explosion TO the
precinct, and notice was sent the Board of Elec-
trical Control, and in short time men were as
work repairing the street Policeman Crn0re slid
that if the explosion had occurred ten minutes
later the street would have been packed by the
clerks from Macy's. and in all probability there
would have been loss of life. The explosion Is
said to have been caused by an accumulation Of
gas in the subway.