New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-30
PARK-AVE. AGAIN UPSET
FOUR MEN SERIOUSLY INJURED BY
SUBWAY BLAST.

Four men were seriously injured-tvo of them
fatally-by blast which was set of about 9
o'clock yesterday morning in the excavation for
the rapid transit subway station at Forty-sec-
ond-st. and Park-ave. This is within a stones
throw of the spot where a dynamite explosion
recently damaged the Murray Hill Hotel and
injured nearly every building within two blocks
and where Major Ira a. Shaler. the contractor
for that section OF the tunnel. was fatally hurt
by falling rock. This succession OF accidents
has led people 10 believe that some hoodoo
hovers about Park-ave. The injured men are:
GIATIANo John. an Italian. Of No II Firsts,; con-
Fiftyhfth-st.; fracture of the skull: he viii die
No m Ws!f TSGTea years Old q
domen he may die.
Fifty-hfth-st.: Iacerations OF the head.
The concussion of the explosion made piece
OF cornice on one of the upper floors OF the Muir
ray Hill Hotel in Forty-frst-st, fall to the
street. The stone injured no one.
The accident caused intense excitement for
few minutes. when the cries of the injured men
were heard, but it quickly subsided. Practically
no damage to property was done.
The work of constructing the station is being
done by the DegnOn- Mclean Contracting Com
pany. The excavation is of itself large under
taking. as it extends the west side of Park
ave. from FOrty-irst-st. TO Forty -secOnd-st, and
one hundred feet west on each of these cross
town streets. Solid rock is being removed
The blast that did the mischief had been pre-
pared at the north Tor Forty-secOnd-st1 end OF
the excavation near Park-ave., and, according
to those in charge Of the work. consisted of three
pounds of dynamite-the ordinary amount 1t
had been covered with heavy rope netting and
ties. and was protected. the workers said in ac-
cordance with law. Peter Foley, the blast fore
man who In Charea Of that -
tion Of the work is said to have given the order
for the workmen to retire. Most of the men
obeyed. leaving the excavation entirely The
four men who were hurt. however instead of
doing their fellows did went to the Forty
irst-st. end of the big hole and stood In a
group on ledge of rock. Frank Roth was
dashed to the ground. and his skull was crushed
He was the most seriously injured.
Bystanders said that the report of the blast
was louder than usual. but not loud enough TO
excite alarm. since that neghborhood had be
come used to explosions. They added that many
pieces of rock some of them as big as a mans
head. were blown into the air by the blast but
that most of the pieces fell back into the ex-
cavation. Much of the force of the explosion
spent itself by sending rock and debris flying
southwark in the hole. which accounted for the
men being injured.
Policeman Ebbers of the West Thirtieth-st.
station. sent word of the accident to his pre-
cinct through headquarters. Captain Sheehan.
with Roundsman Sinnott and twelve patrolmen.
appeared. as we'll Roundsman Mulcahy and
three men from the East Fifty -irst-st. station.
One ambulance came from Bellevue. and another
from the New York Hospital
Peter Foley, the blast foreman who had charge
of the work could not be found after the acci-
dent, having gone to make report to his en-
plOyerS.
Police Captain Sheehan said he would make
m connection with the explosion a =
from an investigation he had made he had con-
cluded that the blast had been properly pro-
tected, and that there had been no negligence
unless il was on the part of the injured men
themselves.
Some OF the Iaborers said the accident was
unavoidable.