The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-05
6 KILLED AND 50 INJURED.
FATAL EXPLOSION OF g As At A hos
TON STREET CROSSING.
The Mnin. at the Intcr-ection Of fremont and
Boyiston streets Leaked tate . Chamber
Above the subway Excavation. and . Troll
ley Car spark Caused tho Expis-isn.

Boyiston streets Leaked late |. Chambey
Above the subway Excavation. and . TroI-
ley Car spark Caused the Expission.
Boston. March Am explosion OF gas which
leaked from the two siS.inch mains which cross
the subway for the underground railroad at the
corner OF fremont and Boylston streets, killed
six persons and injured nearly hfty others at
1l:lj o'clock to-day. Two Of the injured men
will probably die. A boom like that of cannon
was followed by smoke. and then flames shot
upward from the Intersection OF the busiest
thoruughfares in the city.
The list OF dead Is: The Rev. w. A. start,
Bursar OF Tufts College. Conductor @. u. Bige-
low. 233 Northampton street; Miss A. Matilda
Bates. 10 Arlington street: William E.. vinal. 90
state street, private secretary to Thomas W.
lawson: Benjamin Dow ming. hack driver. died
on the way TO the City Hospital: ID. H.. sibley
carriage driver. burned beyond recognition. The
injured represent all ages. Men, women. and
children were cut by flying glass and debris.
There were numerous fractures Of bones and
many contusions.
The explosion came Just as three cars were
close TO the intersection OF the streets. The
first one was on its way directly across fremont
street, keeping straight on Boylston; the second
was just turning from fremont to Boylston,
while the third was close behind the second.
There was another car on Boylston waiting for
an opportunity to turn into fremont, and behind
this were several others.
The first car was almost exactly in the centre
when the explosion came. The whole OF the
wooden work which is used as a bridge over the
deep hole at this place was lifted with a fright.
full roar into the air. carrying the car with it.
and taking along the two horses OF the second
car.
Instantly the air WAS hlled with debris. The
first car. in which most Of those killed were rid.
ing. no sooner fell back upon the tracks than II
broke in two and Immediately bu-s; into flames.
\ fire alarm was sounded. which brought large
rescue force tn the scene. and almost immedi'
ately calls were sent out for am6ulances, which
arrived rUmptly.
The squad OF $50 police was insufficient TO
keep back the thousands OF people who rushed
in. and IL was only by giving a false alarm OF q
second explosion that they were able to drive
back the crowds and rope OF the street.
The nremen. police. and laborcFs then worked
In conveying the dead TO the Norguc and the in
jured TO the hospitals. 4 ruined. Huntington
the top was lying diagonllly across the side.
The trolley wires were blown OF in q dozen
places and many manholes near the scene OF
the disaster were without their covers.
Not only were all the windows broken in The
neighSorhood. but. from a jewelers. window
precious, stones, said To be worth 5000 were
scattered about the street and store. Every
window in the immediate neighbUrhood was
broken.
The generally accepted theory OF the explo-
sion is that 1t wa. started by a spark FROM the
electric motor Of the trst car. Complaints have
been made since Dec. - ot gas escaping from
the old main hat runs along the snuthside OF
Boy .ston street. This morning The leak betame
much worse. ~ Ia o'c!o.k Lihra rian Rob
eT:s % the Masonic Temple te,ephonsd
TO the gas company that the building was 50 tuIl
Ot gus that the occupants could hardly breathe.
IL IL evident that for some little distance up
fremont and Boyl,ton streets a great quantity
OF gas was leaking up through the place IN the
middle Of the crossing o. the two streets where
the subway had been merely plan&ct over and
not permanently rooted IN. The Sas was not IN
the subway itself. but between the surface OF
the street and this temporary ROOT. and the sub
way itself was not seriously damaged.
The officials OF the guslixht company refuse
TO taIS. except to deny that any formal CON.
plant had Teen made 20 them OF the leak.
Mayer Quincy has expressed q accumulation 10
institute A rigid inyestis alton a; once.