, 1892-12-28
A TERRIBLE SCENE.
A Dynamite Explosion in the Mid
die of a City.
A Number of Persons killed and In
jured, Houses Blown Down and
Crushed window Panes Broken
The Details.

LONG ISLAND CITY, l.. l., December 28.-
At O'Clock this morning a box of dyna-
mite exploded i'll the shaft of the new East
River tunnel, near the junction Of Jackson
and Vernon avenues The explosion set
fire to four-story brick building adjoin-
ing, and shattered every pane of glass in
the buildings for blocks around Nine
bodies are already reported taken from the
shaft. A score or more persons were in
iured by falling timber, glass, &c. The ex-
plosion was so terrific that nearly every
person on Jackson avenue from Fifth street
to Borden avenue was either destroyed or
badly damaged. The structures include
the postofice and Sylvester & Co.'S factory.
Fire Immediately started in the debris and
it is now burning.
AS far as learned three were killed and
score wounded. Killed, Mary Graden,
aged IA; Mrs. Roger Lon Henry O'Brien,
aged 81. Many of those blurred sustained
hurts by rushing out OF the houses when
the explosion occurred and being struck by
falling debris. The shock of the explosion
was like an earthquake and to add to the
excitement the wreckage took fire and
quickly began blazing fercely. Tenements
Fl to 20 Jackson avenue we're shattered
with the stores and offices below. At the
postoffice in number 27 the mail was
buried beneath tons of ruins and the cell
ing will be ruined by water if not burned.
When the explosion occurred the letter
cases were knocked into STRIPS and clerks
hurled reeling into the debris. A wave of
flame seemed to sweep the lower part of
the demolished tenements Immediately
after the explosion. Some of the stunned
and bleeding tenants managed to crawl to
make their escape. The three killed were
all in their homes near the point of explo-
sion. Firemen carried out those too badly
hurt or too badly scared to move. The eX-
plOsion was caused by an attempt of work
men to thaW out three barrels of dynamite
cartridges with bonfire in the rear of the
tenements. A number of the injured may
die.
1t is now said the postmaster saved all
the valuable letters in the Office. Directly
opposite the scene of the explosion a row
of tenements was occupied by fifteen fami.
lies. Every apartment was wrecked and
the debris Immediately caught fire from
overturned stoves. The scene following
was terrible. Partially clad men, women
and children rushed wildly from every
possible exit, screaming loudly. 1t is one
of the most thickly settled districts in the
city. For half a mile on Jackson and Yer
non avenues there is scarcely a pane of un-
broken glass. Gray's refrigerator factory
on Fourth street, opposite the scene, was
completely wrecked, and number of en-
ployes injured. At noon the fire was burn
ing fercely in the ruins, the fire depart
ment being totally unable to cope with the
/ flames.
The corrected list of killed is, Henry
! O'Brien, Mrs. Rock, John Hopkins, John
Delaney, Barber Rock. The lass three died
in the hospital. A number of others are
expected to die. Mcintyre, the workman
in charge of the dynamite, was arrested for
criminal carelessness. He is severely
wounded. He says in thirteen years ex-
perience with dynamite, this is the first
accident that has occurred. He can't &C
count for it. The dynamite was in box
through which steam pipes ran to thaw it
out. 1t is reported that an Italian who
slept in shanty near by was blown to
atoms.