The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1902-01-29
DYNAMITE EXPLOSION.
Terrible Disaster at New York
Rapid Transit Tunnel.

New York, Jan. 2S.-An explosion In
the Park avenue shaft of the rapid
transit tunnel in this city shortly aft
er noon yesterday caused the death NJ
six persons, at least 100 were IL.
jured and serious damage was done
to property, including the Murray
Hill hotel, Manhattan Eye and Ear
hospital, Grand Union hotel and Grand
Central station on East Forty-second
street.
The killed were:
Adams. Cyrus, cigar man at the
Murray Hill hotel
Carr, James, 80 years, waiter en-
ployed at the Murray Hill hotel.
Helm, Lawrence, 2S years, of An
sonia. Conn.
Robertson, j. Roderick, Of Nelson. B.
C., guest at the Murray Hill hotel.
Thompson, Ralph, assistant engi-
neer.
All outside reports seem to agree
as to his death, but his body is not
reported by the police or by the hos.
pitfalls.
Tubbs. Thomas master mechanic
for Contractor Ira A. Shaler.
The list OF injured is an exceedingly
long one, but most Of those in it have
simply cuts caused by flying glass.
J. RoCerick Robertson of Nelson. b.
c., was killed by debris hurled into
his room in the Murray Hin hotel. lie
was general manager IN Canada for
the British Columbia Gold Fields com
pany. limited. He was Scotchman
and leaves a widow and four children.
The approach to the street railway
tunnel by the Madison avenue line
cuts through Park avenue and the
shaft for the rapid transit subway
was run down beside IL at the inter
section of East Forty-Grst street. The
street railway approach was housed
over with a suDerstructure used for
the operating plant of the rapid trans
it contractors. Temporary buildings
for storage purposes, and in which
Il is said quantities OF explosives
were stored were thrown up against
the superstructure at the mouth of
the shaft and there the explosion
occurred. II tore a great gorge
In the street, demolished the tenn
porary buildings and part of the super.
structure and sent a mass of earth.
'plintered timber and twisted iron
lieh in the air Much of IL went bat
ering against the front Of the Murray
Hill hotel and although the walls and |
main structure Of that building stood
he shock nearly every room in the |
ront house was wrecked.
The Manhattan Eye and Ear hospit-
Il on the east side Of the avenue had
o be abandoned. The windows. glass
in Grand Union hotel and
irand Central station were shattered. |
The great clocks on the front towers
# the station were blown from their
ases. Thousands of windows, some
f them seven blocks from the tunnel
haft were broken and the shower OF
roken glass and falling debris IN
ured a great number of people.
Every available ambulance and sur
con in the district were quickly on
he scene and numbers of the injured
'ere treated on the spot.
The cause of the explosion Is not
known. Several have been
dyanced but it will probably take
n official inquiry to clear the mat
or up.
The most plausible was that a fire
iarted near the powder room. in
'hich a quantity Of dynamite was
.ored.
II is believed that Master Mechanic
William Tubbs was killed after max.
lg a desperate attempt to quench the
re before ii reached the explosive.
District Attorney Jerome visited the
rene at once and commenced an IN
estgation. He examined witnesses
no told conflicting stories and as n
esult Ira A. Shaler, engineer in
harge of the work at Park avenue:
ohm Bracken, foreman. and Martin.
.cGrath. an assistant foreman. were
laced under arrest charged with
Ihe damage may exceed 81. 900 900.
he first estimate on the Murray Hill
Dtel placed the loss at 500. 900. but
ter the hotel was abandoned as un-
lfe. II the building is condemned the
ss on II alone will approach ST.
10000.
The damage to the Grand Union was
itimated at 100000 and that to Man
titan hospital at $4,000.
The loss at the Grand Central sta.
on was entirely in glass as was that
the 100 or more other buildings
Iected by the explosion.
No estimate was made of the losses
stained by the rapid transit con
actors.
Fortunately the explosion occurred
an hour when not more than hun
ed people were in the main waiting
ON Of the Grand Central station.
'ne Of these we're slightly injured
T falling glass.
-Four ticket sellers were cut with
ing slivers.
The Offices Of the New York Central
d not suffer as much as the New
aven Offices. President Newman
rs at his desk at the time Of the ex-
osion. He was unhurt.
Moses EpDs. who was powder
an In charge Of the shanty where the
ploslon occurred is at Flower hos
tai. suffering from confusion and {
ock. He said that on going to the /
anty about neon he found a candle |