The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-06-16
WRECKED BY DYNAMITE.
A Workman'S Carless Act
Causes a Frightful
Explosion.
HIS CLOTHING BLOWN TO sHREDS.
But he Will Probably Recover
Many Buildings Damaged by the
Crash-Similar Explosions.


probably result in his own death. About
a dozen other persons were injured more
or less and property was damaged TO the
extent of at least $4,000. Buildings were
shattered, pedest rians were Knocked
prostrate on the street an d pieces OF Tying
debris were carried into the Hoboken
meadows almost mile away. The ex-
plosion ana subsequent incidents created
the greatest excitement in the usually
quiet township and people have not
stopped talking about 1t yet.
1t appears thar Contractor Curley has
the co ontract for the building of sewer
between West Hoboksn and Jersey City.
In making excavations Contract or Cur
ley's workmen have found 1t necessary to
use dynamite to blast the rocky surface
or tile Hill A quantity of dynamite
cartridges and powder is always car
ried about bv The workmen dur
ing the day. At night the
explosives are securely locked in q
tool box and the box is generally placed
as FAR away from any habitatioB or street
as the work will permit. Sometimes as
many IS twenty sticks OF dynamite and
several pounds of powder and cartridges
are carried in the box. Las. night. how
ever, Just as ths men we're a bout to quit
mite and few pounds of powder and
fuses left iu the box.
The men were at worg near the corner
.. of Summit avenue and Paterson street
ali day. Although this neighborhood is
not very thlckly populated, further down
on Summit avenue are located many
dwelling houses and stores; in fact. this
j. The most thickly populated portion OF
the town.
WORKED OVERTIME.
The men worked overtime last night.
They usually quit at six O'Clock. but in
order To finish a certain portion Of the
work the foreman ordered them to work
until half past six O'Clock. The work
men, most of whom were Italians, went
about working on time In q lazy indolent
way.
At exactly twenty minutes past six
O'Clock nBe Of the workmen, whose name
is believed to be Nicola Garco, filled his
ripe with tobacco and asked one of his
companions for a match. Although
dynamite is almost always in their
midst. 1t appears that there were no
restrictions against the workmeu carry
ing matches or smoking to their hearts
content.
Thsre was slight breeze blowing at
the time. and Garco walked over TO the
siisn- v. in which the tools were stored, to
light his match. The tool box, contain
/ ing the deadly explosives. Was just out
the x was open.
Garco scraped the match inside the
6oor aud calmly lit his pipe. Then he
carelsssly threw the match away. The
match, lighted and only halt burnsd, fell
in the box of deadly explosive. One of
1he other wOrkmen had been watching
Garco, and when he saw where CARGO had
thrown the lighted match he let a. yell as
though Thousand devils were pursuing
him and dashed down Paterson street,
calling on his companions TO follow him.
The other workmen believed The man
mad until they happened TO look over TO
the tool house. There they saw some
thing which made them sick with horror
aud fear. A blue flame was issuing from
the box which contaiued the explosives
The blue fatlies crspt higher and higher.
For moment only We're the workn1en
peirified with fear. Then yelling and
praying they also darted down Paterson
street.
CARGO AWAITS DEATH.
All except GascO. He gazsd stupidity
at the deadly box. Realizing what he
had done he was SO fearful of the conse-
qnences that he quskei aud tire mbled
with deadly fear. He tried to run, but
his llinDs were weak. He had gone but
few feet when terrific explosion took
place.
The whole town was upset by the
shot. Frame dwellings rocked to and
fro like rowboats. Big paues of gla
half mile away wers shattered, Perso u 8
who were just sitting down TO their
evening meal were dumbfoundet at ses-
ing the dishes on the table tremble. In
the immediate yicinitY people were
knncked PROSTATE, nthets were cut by
fiyiug glass. A huge piece of rock was
lifted clean over the wnoie town and
landed on the top nf one of the freight
cars of the Erie Railroad. which was
lying on side trnck at the foot of the
West Hoboken Heights.
The Fire DeDartment bells were soon
ringing and the primitive voluntser de-
partinent was on the scene. There was
little for them to do, however. When
the smoke cleared away an Investigation
was made.
CARGO A FEARFUL SIGHT.
Not vestige OF the Loohouse or its
contents were visible. All that remains
to mark the spot where they stood was a
hole in the ground at least six feet in
depth. CARGO was found abeut ten feet
away from where he was last seen. He
presented pitiable sight. He was bleeding
from wounds in his head aud his clothing
was torn into shreds. Long splinters
Of wood were sticking all over his body.
Que big splinter protruded from within
an eighth of an inch OF his eye. He was
unconscious and was carried to drug
store close by. After long wait an am
bulauce from Christ Hospital arrived ana
CARGO Tas taken there. The physicians
at glance saw that his chances of recov-
ery were very slim.
In the meantime a great crowd had
gathered. 1t seemed as though every
body in the immediate vicinity had been
injured by dYjng glass and spiinters. All
tue drug stores were crowded. The only
one seriously hurt, however. was arco.
ELDoRADo FOR GLAz1ERs.
reporter OF THE JERSEY CITY NEWS
visited West Hoboken this morning.
The explosion OF last night was the sole
topic of conversation. Ali over the town
GLACIERS did land office business. 1t is
strange how soon the news OF an explo-
sion reaches the glazier deniZsns OF New
York city. They fairly swarmed to West
Hoboken this morning, and the local
GLACIERS were as mad as hornets.
The nearest house to the explosion was
the two-story frame dwelling at No. lob
Summit avenue. Thfs.Was badly wrecked.
Half of the sldeboards were torn away
every door and window in the house WAS
demolished, and not sqnare foot OF
plsstering was left on the walls. Sc veral
of the tenants were slightly cut BY lying
DEBRIS
The house Of Max Hestle on the op-
nestle side of the street was also badly
d imaged. The doors aud windows were
smashed and ceiling csyed iu.
1ax Collector Conlon's house suffered
also. Mrs. Conion was knocked prostrate
by the EXPLOSION and besides tlisIocated
arm she is su fferipg severely from shock.
~ AS 'T3yetk (rYfsI OlrT