The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-08-16

An explosion OF dynamite at the
Emanuel quarry, in South Scranton.
yesterday afternoon, resulted In the
death of one man and the injury of siN
more. The casualties were as follows:
KILLED.
FRANK DIcTIs. of Franklin avenue,
3S years of age
INJURED.
PETER MANLEY, of GIG Birch street, 6S
years of age; fracture of the left leg,
lacerated forehead and possible frac-
ture of the skull; condition very crit
ical.
BRAUNA ALuKA. of 11s Franklin ave-
nue.. "a years of age; bad burns of the
right leg.
SANTA JoNA. of lis Franklin avenue,
2S years Of age; very bad burns Of
the arms, chest and upper part of the
body; condition very critical.
The other three men injured were
foreigners, whose names could not be
learned at the quarry, where they are
only known by their numbers. The
men whose names are given above were
taken to the Lackawanna hospital,
while two of the others were removed
to their homes in Taylor. The third
man was made comfortable in hut at
the quarry grounds. The latter and
one Of the Taylor men each suffers
from severe scalp wound, and bruises
and cuts, and the other Taylor man re-
ceived injuries about his back. The in
juries of the three men, while painful,
are not considered serious.
MANLEY's CONDITION CRITICAL.
At the hospital late last night, the
condition Of both Manley and iona was
pronounced very critical and fatalities
may result in either, IL not both, of the
cases.
The accident occurred shortly after
10 o'clock at the quarry, which is about
one hundred and fifty yards from the
Connell Brick yard. About seventy
five men are employed there at present,
crushing stone as ballast for the Rapid
Transit Railway company. The work
is being done under the direction of
Contractor MCGOWAN.
The men had resumed work after
their noon-day lunch, when suddenly a
terrific crash was heard and for few
minutes the air was full of flying stone
and debris. When the cloud of dust,
caused by the explosion, had drifted
away. the workmen who rushed to the
spot found seven men stretched on the
ground in the throes of terrible agony.
DR.. j. j. Walsh was summoned, and
found that Dictis was beyond any
medical aid. The unfortunate Italian
had been literally blown to pieces.
and the sight Of his remains was
ghastly and gruesome. The Lacka-
wanna hospital was notified, and DR..
Sallady and DR.. Lindsay responded
with the ambulance. DR.. Walsh and
the two physicians did everything in
their power to alleviate the sufferings
of the other six men, before any We're
removed to the hospital. The remains
of Dictis were removed to Needhan's
undertaking establishment in South
Scranton.
CAUSE OF EXPLOSION.
The men were at work cleaning the
rock from a hole when the explosion
occurred. 1t is believed that Dictis'
pick struck a dynamite cartridge,
which had been left from a preceding
blast, which had missed fire. No fresh
blasting has been done for over
week, and the men had evidently for
gotten the former unsuccessful attempt
at this spot. Dictis was bending for
ward over the hole, after swinging his
pick, and received the full force of the
explosion.
iona was the most seriously burned
of the other men, and had his eyes al
most blown out. Manley was struck
with awful force by a large piece of
rock. and his advanced age helps to
make his condition more critical. The
other men are sure to recover unless
unforeseen complications ensue.
Coroner j. j. Saltry examined Dictis'
remains at Needhams undertaking es-
tablishment, and will today visit the
quarry and investigate the circum-
stances. An inquest will be held at an
early date.