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

Al explosion thai caused a terrific re-
port. and, simultaneously. showers OF
paving blocks, pieces OF iron and a
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 ~cannonading and sooner
thai 1t takes to tell II, Broadway for a
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, 1t was found that
no one was seriously injured, although
adjoining property was considerably
damaged.
The explosion. 1t 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 unit
after a thorough investigation by the
inspectors of both companies will the
exact cause be known.
The iremen and police. however, ad-
here to the theory given, and so re-
ported the cause of the explosion.
Broadway was damned 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
hnl val camn hiC nauipp- bln,ks ,aiyb
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 l25 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-
smeared the whole interior and started
The several occupants out into the street
In mad haste.
Other heavy blocks fell on the side
walk, cracking the paying-stones, one of
which narrowly missed the head of Max
street. He collapsed with fright from
around him but he luckily escaped any
thing more serious than a mud bath.
Zweig & ~Sussklnd'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 or the tables ominously.
The frat imP,resSs G,I n Of f the proprietor, tors
exploded. while others thought that an
earthquake had occurred. No one, how
ever, waited long enough to ascertain
| whether the disturbance was of a seis-
mic ar SInar1cia1 chs ructpr hlf iOinpI
in a simultaneous rush for the narrow
stairway.
1t was a panic that was not by
any means confined to the basement, for
the several hundred occupants of the
| uppe floors rushed pell nell down the
stairs, falling over each other In their
haste to reach the street. A number
torn, but none was so badly hurt as
to need the attention OF the ambulance
surgeons, who were summonalA~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
piosion occurred. declared that he was
thrown on his feet by the shock.
He said that the occurrence was SO
sudden that i was impossible for him
scene. The air, he said, was full OF
| steam n 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 W 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 dia,
meter. through which a partial view OF
| the wrecked subway could be had.
Twisted and broken pipes could be
plainly seen through the steam, some
iattened out as II by n mammoth roller.
The street car tracks were torn up,
blocking traffic by that route and by
order OF Capt. McCullaugh the street
was closed at both Mercer and Broad
way. No vehicle could pass the abyss
made by the explosion, anyway, hut the
~precaution was IKE 10 prevent any
| one being injured in case of another eX-
plosion, which the Captain seemed very
much to fear.
1t is not known yet Just what the ex-
tent of the damage Is, but II will be con-
siderable. Several big houses in the
vicinity that depended upon ELECTRICITY
or gas for light may have to burn ell to-
hight.