Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-10-29
An Explosion in a Wholesale Drug
House Causes Great Loss
Of Life.
BODIES SHOT INTO THE AIR
Columns of Smoke, Debris and Hu-
man Bodies Shoot
Upward.
BUILDING BLOCKS SCATTERED

New York, Oct 29.-About half past
twelve today lower New York was
startled by a booming sound which, it
developed, was an explosion in a
building occupied by Tarrant & Co.,
wholesale druggists. Three additional
explosions followed, more violent than
the first. Columns of debris, smoke
and fame shot upward 300 feet. Per
sons in the vicinity say they saw hui
man bodies thrown up in column of
debris when the explosion occurred.
The Sixth avenue elevated railroad
structure is demolished at that point.
Windows for blocks around were de-
molished by the conclusion, houses
across the street are probably damag
ed.
At l o'clock it was said there was
fully one hundred and fifty persons in
the building at the time of the first ex-
plosion and few if any had time to
escape. Harry Ross was standing on
the corner when the explosion occur
red, and was blown ten feet. When
he picked himself up he saw bodies
flying through the air and landing in
the flames. One fire engine was al
most completely demolished by falling
walls. 1t was said 100 of the employees
of the building were girls. 1t is hard
to see how these could have escaped
In the restaurant next door to the
drug store were about 200 people eat
ing luncheon. OF these many were in
jured, it is reported score or more
lost their lives. Police reserves were
called out. The first explosion occur
red at 1912 p. M, and took the roof
off the buiIdfng. The explosions sent
debris flying through the air and into
the street where dozens of persons
were injured. All the ambulances
from the hospitals south of Fifty-Ninth
street were called to the scene. The
iithographing establishments close to
Tarrant's place caught fire and the
flames spread to Irving bank, and two
buildings across the street. The War
ren station of the Ninth avenue elevat-
ed road, directly in front of the drug
establishment was completely demol-
ished. A number of persons standing
upon it waiting for the train were
blown to the streets without eny SER
ious injury. Several buildings at the
rear of the drug store were blown
down. The flames spread with wonder
full rapidity until two blocks, from
Chambers to Warren, Washington to
Greenwich streets, were soon on fire.
Policeman Calvin was in the imme-
date vicinity of the fire when the first
explosion occurred. He said number
of firemen were killed on the Warren
street side of the building. Calvin said
it is his belief that not less than 200
persons will be found to have lost
their lives. The force of the explosion
was felt clear down to Wall street
and heavy plate glass windows smash.
ed and people thrown to the street, a
distance of four blocks. In the Irving
national bank directly across the
street from Tarrant's everybody was
thrown to the floor.
It was only an instant after the first
explosions when the elevated struct.
ure caught fire. The structure was
in a blaze for a distance of half a
block in few minutes. In the streets
blood was spattered in every direction
showing there must have been many
persons in. the vicinity injured by
falling glass. Joseph Beck, an EN-
ploye of Tarrant & Co., was seen after
the explosion. His head was swathed
in bandagesg his right arm hung limp
He said there were about 200 girls in
the building. Many of them escaped
on fire escapes. At least seventy-five
he said could not possibly have gotter
away. The girls were eating theil
lunch on the top floor when the fire
started
There were alcohol and 5other explo
sive liquids stored in the building. Al
1850 two explosions occurred in the
building occupied by J. H. Mohlman &
Co.. grocers on Greenwich street. The
entire block on Washington street
from numbers 253 to 26S was burnine
at 1:S0. Soon after the fire seemed
to be giving way to the efforts of tn,
firemen.
At 3:15 p. m, the fire was still burn
ing, but was believed to be under con
troll. 1t is impossible to estimate thl
number killed, but 1t is believed tina
most Of those employed in the TAI
rant building escaped before the ex
piosions. No bodies have yet been ia
ken from the ruins Scores Of II
iured, some of whom will die. were ia
1xos< n.