Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-01-27
DIED BY DYNAMITE.
Long Island City Torn Up by o
Terrific Explosion.
fhe Scene, a Tunnel Shaft in a
Populous Block.

A terrible explosion Of dynamite occurred
IN Long Island City, Y. Y, at eight O'Clock
a few mornings ago, By which five persons
lost their lives and some twenty or thirty
persons ware severely injured. The acct
dent occurred in the works of the Long ISL
aud and New YORK Tunnel Company, at
jackson aud Vernon avenues.
The vorkingmen enploye oy THIS corpor-
alton have bean engaged there for a con-
siderable time driving headings under the
surface AMI have used great Quantities OF
the powerful explosives in prosecuting their
work.
There have been several minor explosions
of dynamite at the plaza Buildings have
been shaken and window glass shattered,
but no one until this OCCASION becam9 VIC
tim to the accidents,
The pushing OF the headings has been
prosecuted with vigor recently AMI great
quantities Of dynamite have bss1 kept meas
the works in order TO economic time IN the
blasting.
Residents of the neighborhoo1 have pro-
tested against the apparent carelessness OF
the company, and have appealed TO the au-
thorities, but with no effect. There vera
nearly hundred men who had been en-
ployed in tbs tunnel about an hour when an
alarm came OF premature explosion.
There was a panic at once, but before
anyone had time to save himself the earth
shook with the explosion of dyna mite and
the surface of the ground in the vicinity of
the tunnel rose in the air. scattering the
fragments of the unfortunate persons near
and the debris of the tunnel in every direc-
ton.
The flames from the explosion set fire to
the large four-story brick building adjoin-
ing the tunnel AMI shattered every pane Of
glass in houses for docks about.
The dead were: Mary Graden. aged nine
&oo,, Opr Island CitU. iyva-6 HopEioc
Peter Rocco, Mrs. Peter Rocco. Henry
OBrien, aged thirty three, clerk, Long
Island City.
When the explosion occurred all the work.
men were in the tunnel except Rocco. who
was place., in charge of the dynamite at the
head of the tunnel. He was blown to
pieces. None of the men in the tunnel were
injured. The cupola of st. Mary's Roman
Catholic Church on Vernon avenue and
Fifth street was smashed into pieces by the
conclusion.
Work on the tunnel has been progressing
about two months. The city, it is said, has
been warned time and again of the danger
attending the work. but no action was taken
for the protection of the residents of the
neighborhood against a disaster of this
character.
The fire, which at first set the brick build
ing ablaZe soon extended to the adjoining
ones, whose walls had been warped and
cracked by the force of the explosion, and
they are now in imminent dar ger of falling.
The tenants are supposed to have escaped
with safety.
In the building which was nearest the
tunnel was the po5toffice. When the shock
occurred tons of debris fell in this part of
the structure and completely buried the
mails. They were at once removed to No.
SO Borden avenue, where temporary Office
was established.
Hundreds of people, attracted to the
place by the explosion, aided the firemen in
rescuing the wounded. Wagons of all kinds
were used in conveying the manned people
to their homes and to st. johns Hospital.
All of the doctors in the city hastened to
the scene.