New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-29
CHEMICAL WORKS BLOW UP.
MANY BUILDINGS SHATTERED.
THE vARNIsH MANUFACToRY OF FREDERICK
CRANE AT SPRINGFIELD EXPLODEe-
SHOOK FELT FOR MILES AROUND.


SHOCK FELT FOR MILES AROUND.
The Crane Chemical Works, at Springfield
~ D.. blew up last night, and several Of the
buildings which composed the plant, were shat
tered. A number of houses in the vicinity were
blown down, IA number Of people slightly injured
and is missing. The shock was trf-
mendous, the vibrations being plainly felt in
Orange, which is four miles from the scene Of the
explosion. At Mburn. which lis but mile
and a half from the works, windows were shat
tered. crockery thrown from the shelves and the
large colorcd bottles in drug store were thrown
from thir pedcstals. In Orange, every one sup
posed AT first that the explosion was in that city
but when no fire alarm sounded. the conclusion
was that it was an earthquake. In Milburn peo-
pie rushed from their houses and sought safety
in open fields, fearing that their houses would
tumble about their heads.
The Crane Chemical Works consist of num-
ber OF bri * and wooden buildings. comparatively
isolated from the village of Springfield. There
are not more than half a dozen houses in tie i'm
mediate vicinity of the works. and these are oc-
cupied by employees of the works. The company
s engaged in the manufacture of vamishcs and
lacquers and carried an immense stock OF oils and
chemicals, most of which were highly explosive
and infammabc. Most of the more dangerous
wares were stored in small wooden buildings,
which surrounded the large brick structure. Every
prccauton had been taken 10 prevent such an
accident aS occurred last night
A few minutes after o'clock the explosion oc-
currcd, and in moment building after buil'ling
was shaken ~ pieces The houses in which some
Of the employees lived succumbed 90 the conclusion
and fell about the leads Of the inmates. At first
it wa. thought that large numbce had been in
iurcd, but later the probable fatalities were re-
duccd to one. For over two houis after the en-
plosion no trace could be found OF the enginece
and three ircmcn. who were known 10 have been
at th,Ir posts wNcn the or,.c came. Al ahont
10 80 o'clock the engineer and two Of the flremen
were accounted for. but the third, colored man,
was still missing. 4 Mrs. Tciicr, who lived neal
tie seem. was carried from the wreck Of her house
in an unconscious condition. 1t Is not thought
that she J., seriously injured.
Hardly had the echo of the explosion died away
before the ruins burst into flames, and in few
moments fed by the chemicals and oils, they hal
spread over the ruin, and threatened tJ set FIRE to
the buildings which remained standing, and which
contained morr chemicals.
The ttiz,n, of Springfield and Millburn fastened
10 the scene. and a. there no fire department
nearer than Orange or Newark. they formed bucket
line, and began TO fight the flames. Volunteers
at the iisk OF their lives, began 10 remove the
chemicals and = avert the danger of another cN-
plo,ioa ~ much possible
The office. Of the Crane Chemical Company arc
at 80 Al Barclay-st., New-Norl< City The works
are supposed 10 close down for the night at 6
D. H. Tie negro who j. missing l. said 10 haN"
STAYED behind after the other workmcn had left
the works He is supposed TO have caused the
explosion by handling or disturbing some gun
cotton ,torcd In factory No. u. There were
twenty buildings in the plant. OF thcS', among
the Others, was the laboratory This building.
with much valuable, material was totally de
stroyed by the explosion
At II o'clock last night the fire wls out and
the excitement in the neghborho"l caused by
tire eApl SION, had abitcd, rs IL wds said there
was no dan-cr Of another explosion.
Among the buildings destroyed near by, was
la Ily wrecked The members Of Mr. Muford's
family were severely shocked, but none WAS
seriously injured Justice Muford says that
10 explosives or dangerous compounds were used
by the factory at any time.
The expulsion at the Crane Chemical Works,
in Springfield. distinctly felt IN EhZairtI.
nine miles distant, and shook buildings IN the
northern t1iburi" Tie lpwkcr icrtllzlng
fT--urv d mile south of Elzabcth on staten
UaiIs and some Of tie big beams were cracked
The watchman while making his rounds, was
knocked down. and all the clocks in the building
stopped. The night men at the works ran ont
panic strikcn. he factory Is built on piles
and. Therefore, the force of the conclusion was
greater there than anywhere else in Elizabeth.
The clocks in many housca IN that city were
stopped by the shock.