The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-29
THE DEADLY DYNAMITE.
SIX PERSONS KILLED AND MANI
OTHERS INJURED.
An Explosion Yesterday Morning Shakes
tho Length and Breadth of Long Island
Clty-Much Damage Done.

LONG ISLAND CITY, Dec. 8.-An ex-
plosion which shook the length and
breadth Of this city occurred at 8 O'Clock
this morning at the mouth Of the shaft
recently sunk by the New York and Long
Island Tunnel Company in Fourth street,
causing the death OF six persons, fatally
i~njuring two others and |wounding twenty
more.
The following is a list Of the killed so
far az could be as%certalned tonight:
Mary Grayden, aged twenty-one, a walt
ress: Henry O'Brien, Grovers Clarke,
aged ~thirty-three; Mrs. Rocco, wife Of
Petro Rocco. a barber: John Hopkins,
aged twenty-five. proprietor Of a restau-
rant; Nicola Lodano, brother Of Mrs.
Rocco.
The scene OF the explosion IS the rlost
thickly settled portion Of hunters Point.
In the vicinity are the Long Island fay
ings Bank, Davren's Flats, 2 row Of four
story brick buildings. the postoillcc. PetrO
Rocco's barber shop, John Hopkins res
taurant and +. Plaina's jewelry store.
Next to the postofice is Frank McDcr-
motifs saloon with two apartment floors
above. Seventeen families occupy these
buildings. The tunnel~ company's shaft is
about twenty-five feet long by twelve feet
wide. A few feet beyond the lower end Of
the mouth OF the shaft was q rude shed
In which steam chests for thawing out the
cartridges Of explosives were kept. This
shed was within ten feet OF the rear walls
Of the pOstofiice and Barber Rocco's
rooms. No one has yet been found who
can tell exactly how the explosion Oc-
CURED, but the following facts have been
learned:
Some fifty cartridges Of Forsyth's pow
der had been brought up from
the storage house on the meadows early
this morning to be prepared for sending
down to the drillers working I'm the head
ing which is being blasted out under
Fourth street at a depth OF eighty-hve
feet. As the explosive was frozen Fore
mar McEntee placed the cartridges in
the steam chests to thaw out. They had
been there about fifteen minutes, when the
explosion occurred. All that was left Of
the chests and sheds was a few splinters.
a hole IN the ground about three feet
deep and eight feet wide told the story
of its downward force.
Davren's flats suffered worst Of the
buildings in the neighborhood. Broken
glass did most of the mischief 10 the dead
and wounded. One mans throat was cut
80 ne uleu instantly. OundS from that
cause are innumerable. Many people
were hurt by flying bricks and splinters
and by being caught under falling walls
and timbers.
Tn horror Of the occasions was inten-
siiitd by the bursting out Of flames on
the third floor Of one OF the apartment
buildings. The flames spread rapidly.
and. before the hremen got them under
control, nearly the whole row OF build
ings was Quilted. The damage was no.
confined to the flats. For half miles in
every direction the window panes In the
stores and houses were blown out, fall
ing on the heads Of many people passing
along the sidewalks, by which many were
cut and otherwise injured, and scores Of
men and women could be seen rushing
TO the drug-stores and doctors Offices TO
have their wounds attended. The side
walks were covered with the broken glass.
In many OF the stores articles were
thrown from The shelves and counters.
At least twenty families were rendered
homeless. most Of them losing every
thing they possessed, except the few
things on their backs. Nine workmcn
were in the TUNE when the explosion Oc-
Cured. one OF them said they felt the
shock. n thought the shaft had col
lapsed. 1t was nearly half an hour be-
fore any Of tn IN would venture TO in
and ask to be drawn to the
surface.