The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-11-03
CHURCH STREET STARTLED
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struck on the head by a piece OF the
metal ceiling which was torn loose anu
fell. This caused scalp Woullu' ne
was taken to New Haven hospital Where
it was found that his injuries, thoush
painful, were not serious. lie was TAX
en- to his home in New York later last
evening.
The store had been vacant for some
time and the gas supply was turned OF
until a couple of days ago when IL was
turned on, Bradley Bros. having nearly
completed their fitting up of the store
preparatory to opening OF their pusl-
ness. Superintendent Fancher OF the
fire department said last night that ne
was of the opinion that the explosion
was caused by the ignition of escaping
gas. His investigation had led him to
believe that gas pipe joint between
the ceiling of the store and the 1loor Oh
the room above had been left open.
Those who were in the store when the
explosion occurred said last evening
that a gas burner had been burning in
the store half an hour before the eXplo-
sion occurred and they said that they
naQ nOllCGu no OIuGI Vi SSCctpliS Se'o'
Superintendent F'ancher thinks that
the gas which escaped was confined be-
tween the ceiling and the floor over
head until the pressure became SO great
that it was forced through small crew
ices in the ceiling and into the store
where it became ignited from the burn
ing jet.
The metal ceiling of the store was
torn loose at one edge and dropped
down nearly to the floor The front
door was open when the explosion oc-
cured thereby permitting much of the
force of the explosion to escape. Other
wise it is probable that the entire build
ing would have been wrecked
At the time of the explosion Elford B.
Bradley, of the firm of Bradley Bros,
stood about five feet inside the open
door and directly in front of it. He es-
capped unframed, the force of the explo-
sion passing by him and out of the
door. He was talking with a reporter
of local paper who was standing at
one side of the door. The reporter was
hurled out through the window to the
sidewalk but the glass had been forced
out just before he went through the
WINDOW, ana ne LOTT eSCdpeu ull-
hurt.
When the explosion occurred there
was number of persons passing on the
sidewalk in front and some of these
were slightly cut by the flying pieces
of plate glass, but no one was seriously
injured there. A team was passing and
lap robe covering the laps of the per-
sons in the carriage was blown from
the carriage into the street. A horse
hitched in front of the store was
apparently paralyzed with fright at the
sudden noise. He pulled back the
length of the halter strap by which he
was tied and remained on his launches
untable to move until a passerby grab
bed him by the bride before he could
break loose.
The explosion was a loud one and
startled persons in the stores on the
streets for several blocks around. In
Longley & Co.'S clothing store next door
it was especially felt. The store was
full of customers and the sudden loud
report without warning and the shak-
Zig of the building by the force of the
explosion caused customers and clerks
to rush out to the sidewalk expecting
the building to collapse. One CUSTOM
er, man, had just finished trying on a
new suit, and had ordered the suit.
When the explosion occurred he was
just putting on his clothers after trying
on the new suit He grabbed up his
coat and rushed from the store leaving
his vest and suspenders behind. He had
not returned last evening.