The evening world., 1903-03-11
MANHOLES
SHOOK HOUSES.
Explosion in Electric Subway
on Ninth Avenue Tore Sew
eral Huge Holes in the Pave
ment.

Two large holes in Ninth avenue, al
the F~orty-ninth and Fiftieth streets
CROSSINGS, mark the spots of an explo-
sion in the electric light subway early
to-day, which injured several persons,
started a runaway and created a panic
In the neighborhood.
The electric subway skirts the ave.
nue. under the Elevated structure along
block are located mapholes 8 feet deep
and 5 feet wide, used by employees as
stations where repairs to the five cabins
OF the system IA be made.
These stations became choked with
gas escaping from the main running
underneath. and through electrical com
bustion became ign!ted at 6 o'clock to-
day.
With a roar that resembled an earth
quake the two manholes exploded. rip
ping up the pavement for many feet.
and broke the electric cables, bringing
darkness upon the neighborhood. Houses
were shaken to their foundations, but,
strangely enough. not a window pane
was broken.
Man Lifted on His Feet.
Because of the early hour few persons
were upon the street. Otto Lemllle, a
barber. OF No. 1856 Ninth avenue. was
near the 'Fiftleth street crossing, then
he Was lifted from his feet and blown In
the direction OF the building line.
His injuries consisted of bruises and
burned eyes, which Were treated at
Roosevelt Hospital. The noise soon
allied the street with the panic-stricken
inmates of the buildings, and they were
with difficulty quieted by a squad OF
reserve policemen rushed there from the
nearby sta tion-houses.
A team of horses standing before the
butcher shop OF Jacob Buchbaum, NO.
729, was startled by the roar OF the ex-
cloud Of smoke and dust In the direction
of the city. The n way was stopped
at Forty-second street, when 1t was
found that one side OF the harness had
BEEN torn off by the force OF the eN-
plosion. but the animal miraculously Was
not injured.
Mr.. Buchbaum. standing In the door
way of his meat market, was blown
back war; into his store. but was not
injured.
Several Persons Hurt.
A number OF persona slightly injured
were attended by physicians In their
The force of the explosion at Fiftieth
street lid more damage than the one at
Forty-ninth street, AT the former, cor
ner a hole was made sufficiently large
10 allow a horse and truck to stand In.
and some of the cobble q were
blown onto the Flftieth street ~ plat
tween the blocks at the time. escaped
injury. as did the several passengers,
hut they were thrown Into a monetary
panic. As only the first burst OF fame
appeared, they quickly lost all fear. and
the car proceeded.
In the saloon OF Charles Bishop. al
Forty-ninth street. bottles were throw
on the shelves and many were broken
BY 9 o'clock both holes had been filled
The only damage in the conduits wat
10 a few twisted wireg. which were
Gangs Of workmen from the Edison
! Electric Company and the ConsolidateS
Gas Company tore up the street from
| Fo~ruy-nlnth down to Forty-eighth 4
md the cause Of the explosion, The,
| discovered a slight leak IN a gas pipe Il
| the middle of THE block and expresses
| the opinion that this leak was not en-
tlreiy responsible for the explosion, The!
thought it had been due 10 an accumu
iation of sewer gases as well as the ga
from this leak.