Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-11-17
prNAMIrE ExrLosIoN.


LocKPoRT, N. ", Nov. ia ter
rifle explosion Of dynamite occurred in
the main wheel pipe of the Catarac Con
struction Company's tunnel, Niagara
Falls, Mt 9.45 o'clock this morning The
magazine, containing about 1876 pounds
Of high explosives, ignitcd from some
mysterious causes.
The report was dcafcning, buildings
were demolished and windows, doors
and debris Of every character filled the
air. 1t was only a few moments before
the fire reached the explosives the dis
covery was made, and worhmcn pre-
cipitately flew for their lives.
John Hoben, "a years Of age, q mas
ter mechanic in Contractor Douglass
works was blown $50 feet and killed
Another man, William Welsh, was
severely cut about the head and shout.
ders. A number Of other employees,
were more or less injured.
DETAILS or THE DISASTER.
A Niagara Falls special says: This
morning about 9.45 O'clock, the earth
was shaken by a terrific explosion. Ii
came from the tunnel district, and there
Il scene OF wreckage exists.
The shock was caused by the explo-
sion Of gunpowdGr house belonging
to Contractor A. G. Douglass, who is
building the canal and sinking the big
wheel pit. III this powder house q sup
ply sufficient for the day was kept, the
main supply being kept nearer the out
skirts of the city.
So far as known eight boxes of dyna-
mite exploded and the effect was terri
Bile. A machinist named Jack Hogan
was picked up dead 400 feet away. He
was with man named Bill Kelsey.
They saw smoke arising from the house
Hogan started to run and as he was
running it is supposed stone struck
him. There was cut across his throat.
Hogan was 2G years old and single. Ills
parents live at Welland.
Kelsey received scalp wounds, but
not serious. Arthur Mccall, a stone
mason, had one of his legs injured BY Il
stone. A negro and an Italian were
also slightly injured.
About the neighborhood Of the place
signs of the force Of the explosion are
seen. Along one side Of the fine new
paper mill Of the Niagara Falls Paper
Company most all Of the windows
are broken. The fronts Of the
saloons belonging to Anton Forel,
J. McDonough, Pasquali GiaI.
leila and Mr.. Dorgan are broken
in. Windows and doors in many nearby
residences are broken. The commissafy,
the office Of Messrs. Douglass and John
son, machineshop, boiler house, cement
house, blacksmith shops and other
buildings are wrecked. some buildings
are completely demolished.
Where the powder house stood there
is a hole five feet deep and there is
nothing but splinters left Of the house.
The damage cannot be estimated ut this
writing.
No one seems to know Just how the
explosion occurred. II is known that IL
stove was kept i'll the house, in which
was tire 70 warm the dynamite, and il
is probable that in some manner the
boxes of explosives and the building got
on fire.
Contractor Douglass is out of the city.
Engineer Baxter and Walter Burd had
u narrow escape They passed the house
q moment before the explosion occurred
and We're lowered down Into the big
wheel pit.
People on the streets were thrown
from their feet and women in nearby
houses fearfully frightened. 1t is re.
markahle that the death list is not
greater,