Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-03
BLOWN INTO ATOMS.
Dynamite Works Are Destroyed by
Disastrous Explosion.
FIVE MEN INSTANTLY KILLED.
Indescribable Scenes in the Vicinity Of
the Catastrophe.
HOUSES SHAKEN TO THEIR FOUNDATIONS
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH. I

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE prsPATcH.l
NYACK, n. Y, Dec. 2-The entire east.
ern side of Rockland county was shocked at
2:3O O'Clock this afternoon by a terrific ex-
plosion which was soon found to be at
Haverstraw, at the dynamite works located
! near the base of the West Shore tunnel at
that place. How it happened cannot yet be
told, but throughout Haverstraw, Congers
City, Nyack, Rockland Lake and other
places within 12 miles, glass windows were
broken and people were much startled.
Immediately after the explosion occurred,
people in Haverstraw rushed by hundreds
toward the scene of the disaster, but as
other buildings containing dynamite were
yet standing, they realized their danger and
stopped. A few, however, proceeded to the
spot and learned the true condition of
affairs. The building which was blown up
was the main house, located near the river.
1t was high frame building, 5ox15O feet,
and was used to put the dynamite in proper
condition for blasting purposes.
The Engineer Killed at His Post.
When the explosion came John Wads-
worth, the engineer, was at his post, and all
that has so far been found of him is two
legs and hand. Wadsworth was a mar
ried man about so years of age, and leaves
widow and three children, two daughters
married, and one son. Peter Carlnssa, an
Italian, who keeps peanut shop in Haver-
straw, was killed, as were also Joseph Will
Jams, aged 25, and Joseph E. Adder an
italian. Perry Lounsberry, of Peekskill,
in company with another man had lust
rowed into shore.
Lounsberry had stepped up on the dock a
moment before the explosion occurred and
was instantly killed. Elmer Nash, the
foreman, was on the dock and escaped in
jury. Two boys named Farrell and Mott
were in the building when the explosion
came and both miraculously escaped. Cor
oner MCGOWAN, OF Haverstraw, has charge
of the bodies, and he said tonight that he
could not tell when the inquest would be
held.
The Sensation Was IndescribabIe.
Josiah Felter, Supervisor of Haverstraw,
was walking through the tunnel at the
time the explosion occurred, and he saws
he thought the world had come to an end
His sensation, he says, was indescribable,
George Swartwout and his two daughters.
of Rockland Lake, were driving along the
road about 300 feet above the scene of the
explosion, and they were so startled that
they have not yet recovered from the
shock. There is tonight terrible scene of
devastation in the vicinity of the explo-
sion. Large trees, which have been grow
ing for years, are torn off and in some in
stances driven as if by lightning.
The railroad tunnel being far above the
building is uninjured. The effect of the
shock at many points within few miles
up and down the river was terrific, houses
along the shore trembled on their founda-
tions and those on the tops of adjacent hills
had glass broken, furniture knocked over,
and doors taken from their hinges. The
dynamite buildings belong to the Clinton
Dynamite Works, of which Wilson F. Foss.
OF Haverstraw, is manager. There are sew.
eral buildings located from 100 to 100 feet