Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-06
Charged in the Madison Square
Fireworks Explosion.
Dead Number u, With "a Injured
Already Eight Arrests.
Some of injured Will Oie-The Whole
City Shocked.

an investigation of the explosion of
fireworks in Madison square, Tuesday
evening. Fight men already have been
locked up, charged with criminal negli-
gence and the coroner has issued a
warrant for the arrest of John Dimun-
do of COney Island, who is alleged to
have been in charge of the fireworks.
TT is a case of absolute criminal neg
lect," said the coroner.
..One OF the mortars was set off and
it was pointed at a row OF other NOR
tars in line. There was defect in
the bottom of the mortar and 1t leaned
toward the other, which were set Off
by the fireball thrown toward them"
District Attorney Jerome. who was at
the Union Club in Fifth avenue, not far
from the scene of the explosion. hur-
ried to the scene and after an inyesti-
cation ordered the arrest of the men in
charge of the firewprks. He had the
prisoners taken to police headquarters
together with the unexploded fireworks.
Inspector Brooks, of the police depart
ment, also ordered the arrest of the
manufacturer Of ting bombs. but he has
not yet been found The district at
tOrney said:
Dynamite bombss should not be al
lowed in such IA public place. I have
no doubt that a permit had been is
sued for the exhibition but rigid in
vestigation will be made. Steps will be
taken to prevent anything like this oc-
curing in the future"
The densest portion of the thrOng
that packed the square was gathered
along Madison avenue close to the place
reserved for the discharge of the fire.
works. Along the border of the square
facing the avenue were arranged three
groups of cast iron mortars, 20 in each
group and loaded with heavy bombs. "A
few minutes after 10 o'clock the first
row of mOrtars was touched off but be-
fore the discharge took place one Of
them fell over on its. side and the next
instant the bombs was shot into the
thickest Of the crowd. where it eX-
ploded and hurled the people into
heaps. The fall of the mortar and the
concussicn of the explosion knocked
down the rest of the row of nortars
and the conclusion of the explosion
knocked down the rest of the row of
mortars and a laundering volley of
crowd.
Almost instantaneously the second
group Of 20 mortars about 100 feet fur
Their up the avenue discharged their
contents into the crowd and moment
later the third group. evidently ignited
by the showers of falling sparks, ex-
ploded in the same manner.
In the panic that ensued. thousands
ran blindly across the square tripping
over the seats and benches and falling,
were trampled on. The police on duty
were carried along by the rush and for
half an hour the widest confusion
reigned
After the smoke of the explosion had
cleared away 16 persons were found ly-
ing on Madison avenue between Esd
and 25th streets. Scores of injured
were scattered about the avenue and
the square. Among the dead was po-
liceman who was standing close to the
first mortar and whose body was
frightfulIy nangled.
A force of 500 policemen were soon
on the spot and upwards of 100 ply
sicians and 200 nurses were sum-
moned from the hospitals every avail
able vehicle being pressed into service
for the transportation of the wounded.
The scenes at the hospital and
morgue following the terrible crash af-
ter the explosion in Madison Square,
were beyond description.
1t is estimated that $4,000 persons
were in the square at that time.
Probably 10000 of these were massed
<Io int hn
occurred and while they were scramble
ing to reach places of safety. knocking
one another down and falling over park
benches, 10000 others were cheering
from the other side of the park, where
they were viewing the election returns
which were thrown from a screen be-
fore the new skyscraper at the flat
iron building" The persons in this
portion of the park apparently elated
over the returns and supposed the ex-
plosons which rent the air were a part
Of the program and were totally I'M
aware Of the tragedy being enacted 50
near at hand until detachment of po-
lice forced their way through to make
room for the passage of men bearing
the mangled remains of their comrade>
Patrollman Shea. Instantly a terrific
calm swept over the crowd and all in
terest in the returns Immediately died
out.
AS the long line of patrol wagons
ambulances and other vehicles carry
ing dead and injured, filed through 25th
street for Bellevue hospital, thousands
of persons lined the walk and gazed
awestricken at the conveyances. Five
hundred persons gathered outside of
the morgue and other hundreds came
and went during the night seeking
among the unidentified dead, relatives
and friends whom they had lost dur
ing the terrible crush following the
explosion. Thousands Of persons
gathered at the hospital gates. among
them many women.
The scenes around Bellevue were
the most exciting in the history Of the
institution. Within the entire force
was at work over the injured Sixty
FIVE emergency surgeons and physi-
clans, 40. visiting surgeons and ply
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