The evening world., 1894-05-28
RAINED BIG STONES.
Spring Street Pavement Wrecked
by q Gas Explosion.
Windows Shattered by Huge Blocks,
Mud and Gravel
Supposed Cause n Leaky Gas Main
and Electric-L Light Wire.

An explosion that caused a terrific re-
port. and, simultaneously. showers of
paving blocks. pieces OF iron and guam
titles OF dirt, occurred at l2.l0 this after
noon. in Spring street. about midway
between Broadway and Mercer street.
There was a succession Of reports that
sounded like a c~annonading and sooner
than it takes to tie. II, Broadway for n
block in either direction was damned
with people.
All sorts of rumors as to the cause and
result were set afioat. but after Capt.
McCullagh and a detachment OF thirty
police from the Macdougal street sta
ton had cleared the street in the vicin-
ity of the explosion. It was found that
no one was seriously injured. although
adjoining property was considerably
damaged.
The explosion, II Is believed, was
caused by gas from a leakage in a drain
becoming ignited in the electric-light
subway by contact with a effectively
insulated or broken wire. This theory
was advanced haphazard. for not until
after a thorough investigation by the
inspectors OF both companies will the
exact cause be known.
The firemen and police, however. ad-
here to the theory given. and so re-
ported the cause of the explosion.
Broadway was jammed with people at
the time, but fortunately most OF the
people from the commercial houses and
factories in the street had passed along
on their way to lunch. When the up
heaval came. big paving blocks. weigh
Ing from thirty to fifty. pounds were
thrown up TO the roof OF the six-story
Prescott Build ing. and the big. heavy
manhole. at the corner of Broadway.
over lbs feet away. was blown off and
hurled many yards distant.
one big stone was blown through a
plate glass window in Tyroler's cigar
store. accompanied by a shower of sand.
mud and gravel that completely be;
he several occupants out into the street
in mad haste.
Other heavy blocks fell on the side
walk, cracking the paying-stones. one, OF
RobInski. a tailor, passing through the
street. He collapsed with fright from
the dirt and debris which fell in showers
around him but he luckily escaped any
thing more serious than a mud bath.
Xweig X Susskind's restaurant in the
basement OF the Prescott Building. at
filled with lunchers. The shock shook
the walls, put out the lights and ratified
the dishes on the tables %ominously.
The first impression OF the proprietors
was llIhl Nl' ne p'ii'i III 'i' = iit'i
exploded, while others thought that an
earthquake had occurred. No one. how
ever. waited long enough to ascertain
whether the disturbance was OF a sells
mic or superficial character, but Joined
in "A simultaneous rush for the narrow
stairway.
it was a panic that was not by
any means confined to the basement, for
the several hundred occupants of the
upper floors rushed pell nell down the
stairs. falling over each other in their
we're bruised and had their clothing
torn. but none was 30 badly hurt as
to need the attention of the ambulance
surgeons, who were by a
The windows OF Steinberger. Field &
Sims stock brokerage office were plas-
tered with mud and one OF them was
smashed. One of the clerks, who was
staining at the window when the ex-
plosion occurred, declared that he was
thrown of his feet by the shock.
He said that the occurrence was SO
to give anything like "A description OF the
scene. The air, he said, was full OF
steam and chunks Of dirt and stone, and
he thought that the big boiler in the
Prescott building had blown up.
The pavement was ripped up clear
across the street, and two big manholes
on either side were blown out. on the
south side of the street there was a hole
fully six feet deep and ten feet In dla,
meter, through which a partial View OF
the wrecked subway could be mad,
Twisted and broken pipes could be
plainly seen through the steam. some
fattened out as II by a mammoth roller
The street car tracks were torn up
blocking traffic by that route and by
order OF Capt. Mccullough the street
was closed at both Mercer and Broad
way. No vehicle could pass the abyss
made by the explosion, anyway. but the
precaution was taken to prevent any
one being injured In case of another ex.
plosion, which the Captain seemed very
much to fear.
tent OF the damage Is. but It will be con.
siderable. Several big houses in the
vicinity thai depended upon electricity
or gas for light may have to burn oil to-
night.