The sun., 1902-01-28

tunnel, were frequently Jared when the
ground beneath them heaved with the
sharp explosions.
HOW THE CRASH HAPPEYED.
- II Is customary to set of blasts at noon
whenever practicable, because the time
OF tho laborers who have to get out Of the
way of the blasts ia not then lost to the con-
tractor. Moses Epps, powder man. was
responsible for the distribution of the
explosive from the shanty. At a little
before noon he gave out the necessary
cartridges to Hamilton Jones, another
colored man, to fire a blast in the sub
way tunnel, almost directly under the
wooden structure.
Jones had been gone some time and the
warning cry of "B-l-a-s-t!" had come UP
from the shaft. There was the usual dull
report with more than the usual shock of
tho ground, and it happened that the shanty
was shaken so that lamp fell from its
shelf over Epps's head into pile Of paper.
The paper blazed up.
Against the wall on the other side Of the
paper were thirteen boxes Of blasting
gelatine. Epps knew what would happen
il the flames reached them. He leaped out
of the house, caught up bucket Of water
and running to the door dashed the water
at the blazing paper. The water only ex-
tinguished the middle Of the fire, for the
paper pile was very large. He ran out to
get a second pail Of water. When he re-
turned with this he saw the flames licking
at the end Of the pile OF gelatine boxes.
Then he turned and ran for his life. Twenty
steps away the earth rose up under his feet
and fell again and he dropped like one
dead
DEBRIS WENT UP LIKE 4 GEYsER.
In that moment Park avenue between
the tail hotel building on the west and the
Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital on the
other filed with the terrific burden of this
most stupcndous of blasts. Straight up
into the air went the sheds, the r,'of Of the
heavy tunnel scaffoding, the engines and
derricks and the piled lumber that was
| lying around the shaft. Shooting after
| them In a great mass shaped like an in-
verted funnel went paving stones and
/ broken rock and pieces OF wagons and
! great masses of the masonry sides of the
Metropolitan tunnel.
The suction OF the first blast pulled with
u power almost as great a. was the pro-
| pulsou Of the explosive. The air became
! dark with dust and dirt. Only those who
we're several blocks away saw this sight.
! Those who were near were stunned.
The lighter and smaller pieces Of the
! flying debris mounted in a geyser-like
column far above the roofs of the hotels
and the hospitals and the Grand Central
Station. Out OF the cloud above came
long rafters which loated away like
splinters. But when they struck later
on the roofs they tore down two, three
oud four floors with their impact.
Then came the crash of things falling
| Heavy thuds at first. as though a long sue
cession of blasts was going on Ill the under
tunnel still. cracking as of thousands
Of boards being split into kindlings; and
then the loud. sustained crescendo shrill
falling Of glass. For two full minutes there
was no other sound in the gloom Of dust
and debris but the noise Of the crashing
tinkling. smashing. ringing glass. Then
there was moment which almost seemed
| like silence.
DARKNESS ovFR IHE STREET.
The cloud was stll everywhere in the
air The street was 10 dark that those who
ran into the cloud from the nearby streets
! with a frantic desire u help stopped short
and began go grope their way. timidly
| fearful lest ,bey might run upon the verge
| Of some awful chasm For II seemed as
though the very bowels Of the earth mus.
| have been torn up 10 hll the air and sky
| with rock, and earth Out o3 the darkness
! caua the screams Of those who had just
come - know that they had been IN danger
Tie pitIful chorus started on all side al
once from the upper floors Of IN" hotels
and from the patients In the great hoe
/ rifal from the Offices In the front of the
| Grand Central station and from the crowded
mon. women and childr"u who we're rIu-
uiug about hUndly iu th" waiting room
! h,-terically nghtiug with one another FOR
| tie ,hano. ~ ,let out 80 open an -YmruDw
/ The -rfran- grew louder and louder aud
nov arI then H distinct cry fof l"ip would
r.nr uui ifHm rom- Voice hsh"f and
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