New-York tribune., 1902-01-28

-
! operations in the tunnel, and Martin McGrath
a aborer arrested by the police at the
! direction of the coroner and were taken to the
police station in West Thirtieth-st. District At
torney Jerome directed later that they be taken
! before the coroner in the Criminal Courts Build
! ing
DIR. sEAMAN'S WORK AMONG VICTIMS
DR. Louis Livingston Seaman. late major in
the 1st Regiment, United States Volunteer En-
| gneers was one of the early arrivals at the
scene. He dressed the wounds of several per
sons in the Murray Hill Hotel. laboring until
the victims were able TO so on their ways or
were taken to the various hospitals He is
close friend of Major Shaler. the contractor,
who also served in the 1st Volunteer Engineers
In Porto Rico. DR.. Seaman said that Major
! Shaler was an extremely careful man. pains
taking to degree.
| An investigation at the coroner's Office.
marked by commotion in which the District
| Attorney principal. resulted in the dis
charge of Major Shaler and his men, followed
by their rearrest and the release of the sub-con-
tractor and foreman bail. The official in
vestigation will be continued to-day.
! Mayor Low last night just before leaving the
| City Hall decided to take prompt action with
reference to the explosion in the subway. To a
Tribune reporter he said:
l shall send to the Rapid Transit Commission
| tomorrow n message asking 1T to request from
| John b. Mcdonald, the general contractor for
the subway, information with reference 70 the
handling OF high explosives throughout the city
by the sub-contractors on the tunnel work
Many of the papers have reports of the acci-
dent that indicate that the explosion may have
been caused by detonatien concussion, caused
by a blast having been set off at too close prox-
Unity to the dynamite magazine, this detonation
be that it is the old story of familiarity breeding
explosives. There is so much blasting being
done by the sub-contractors on the tunnel work
that it seems Inc to be a proper step to ascer-
tain at the earliest minute whether the neces-
sary caution is being maintained
MAYOR Low GOES TO THE SCENE.
Early in the evening Mayor Low rode up to
the Murray Hill Hotel in his automobile. He
| made a cursory inspection OF the wreckage.
and expressed his horror at the havoc wrought.
The Mayor seemed much affected at the terrible
sight presented. and plainly evinced his grief.
He remained at the hotel about twenty-five min
utes. Already gangs of workmen were at work
boarding up the windows and the openings. but
there was little protection from the wind and
the corridors and rooms were cold and bleak.
Hundreds of people were continually calling
at the hotel. making inquiries about friends
who were guests there. kilograms also
being received from all over the country seek
ing information.
Rar par chi aF -
the Rapid Transit Commission. made an in
speetIon at the scene of the explosion. in the
afternoon and evening. He visited the Muir
ray Hill Hotel, and looked over the building
for twenty minutes. and then went across to
the Grand Union Hotel. where he stayed for
half an hour. He was asked IL he had anything
TO say. and replied:
Il will not say anything at present. am Just
prowlng around"
Immense crowds Of people surrounded the
scene OF the explosion all through the evening.
Many theatregoers visited the neighborhood In
force after the playhouses closed.
At the Murray HIN Hotel the guests kept re-
turning. and claimed their goods UP to late
hour. No reports OF robbery petty sneak
thieving we're reported TO the police. The police
lines were maintained carefully.
Mr.. Jacques. proprietor of the Murray Hill
Hotel, said he believed 100000 would have to be
spent TO put the hotel in the shape IT was in
before the explosion. This did not take into con-
sideration the loss he would sustain through his
inability 10 care for his patrons. II was said
that $4,000 worth of glass was destroyed in
the Murray Hill alone.
One of the proprletors Of the Grand Union
Hotel said his loss would be at least 500 O0o be-
sides what he would lose by not being able to
operate his hotel TO it's full capacity.
Mr.. Payne whose house at Fortieth-st. and
Park was badly damaged, said he estmat-i
his loss at 100000. At least $4,000 will have
to be spent in repairing the Manhattan Eye
and Ear Hospital. and the amounts to be ex-
pended many other buildings will be propor-
tionatey large.