Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-01-30
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.
High Explosives Stored At 4 Tua.
mel Shaft Blow Up.
SIX IEN KILLED, 4 HUNDRED HURT.


supply Of high explosives stored at
the Park avenue shaft Of the Rapid
Transit tunnel, now in course of con-
struction, blew up shortly after noon
yesterday. The giant blast killed
six pesons, injured 100 others and
seriously damaged all the property
reached by the flying debris and the
vibration Of the shock. The irregular
square formed by the Murray Hill
hotel on the west, the Manhattan
Eye and Ear hospital and the Grand
Union hotel on the east, and the
Grand Central station on the north,
was the scene of the explosion. The
buildings named sustained the great
est damage, but the area affected
extended for several blocks in the
four directions from the center
Fortunately the explosion occurred
at the noon hour. Not more than 100
persons were in the main waiting
room of the Grand Central station.
Some of these were slightly injured
by bits Of glass. Four ticket sellers
were cut about the heads and arms
with the flying debris.
The station last night presented
somewhat the appearance Of dis
mantled castle, with the big windows
only ragged holes. General alarms
brought tiremen, police reserves and
every available ambulance to the dis.
trict. A majority Of the injured were
treated on the spot, and the white
coated ambulance surgeons worked
for an hour in the debris strewn
streets. Police lines were thrown
across either end Of Park avenue and
across the intersecting streets.
The cause Of the explosion and the
quantity Of explosives that blew up
are not definitely known. Several
causes have been advanced. One was
that a fire started near the powder
room and that Master Mechanic VII
Ian N,bbs lost his life in desper-
ate attempt to quench it before II
reached the deadly fuel. Another
was that 1t started from a spark pro-
duced by stray current of electric
ity. A third placed the blame upon a
blast in the tunnel. Still another
gave a gas explosion from electrical
contact in the trolley conduit Of the
street railway subway. II will prob
ably take an official investigation to
reveal the true explanation.
The damage may exceed 81, 900, 900.
The first estimate on the Murray Hill
hotel placed the loss at 100000, but
later the hotel was abandoned us I'M
safe. II the building Is condemned
the loss on il alone will approach
$1,000,0O0 The damage to the Grand
Union was estimated at $4,000 and
that to the Manhattan hospital at
$4,000. The loss at the Grand Cen.
trail station was entirely in glass, as
was that of hundred or more other
buildings affected by the explosion,
No estimate was made of the losses
sustained by the Rapid Transit con-
tractors.
Moses Epps, n powderman in charge
OF the shanfy where tne eApIoslon
occurred is at Flower hospital suffer
Ing from Commissions and shock. lie
said that on going to the shanty
about noon he found a candle which
he had left lighted on shelf, lying
on the floor and some paper which
was about IL was on fire. Close to
this burning paper were 10 boxes OF
dynamite cartridges. Epps threw
pail Of water over the fire and ran
to get another On coming back he
saw that the flames were close ia
the dynamite and dropping his pail
be tried to get AWAY. Then came
the explosion and the next he know
he was patient in the hospital. Yes
terday evening Epps was practically
"a prisoner, a policeman having beer
assigned to guard him. Several Other
employees We're also placed under ar
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