The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-15
BLOWN APART BY DYNAMITE.
EXPLOSION KILLS A WORKMAN
AND DOES MUCH DAMAGE.
Accident at an Excavation for water
Mains in Tho BrOnx--fsi. stone Goes
Through the Roof OF Church Two
Blocks Away--Msny windows Broken.

An explosion OF dynamite which was to
have been used in excavating for water
mains at Morris Park avenue and Victor
street in The Bronx, late yesterday after
noon, blow one man to pieces, slightly
injured several other persons who were
some distance from the accident, smashed
the windows of several buildings, one Of
them a hotel, and damaged a church two
blocks away.
The shock of the explosion was heard
as far away as West Farms. The police
and Coroner were unable last night to fix
the responsibility for the explosion. They
were looking for foreman, who, they
thought, might clear up the matter.
The explosion occurred on Victor street.
about seventy feet from the corner Of Morris
Park avenue. Contractor Henry Lepps
is laying water pipes there, and tho ex-
caration runs four blocks along Victor
street. Blasting has been done, but not on
u very large scale. The dynamite was
stored in a large toolbox and, according to
Contractor Lepps, the amount usually kept
was between eight and ten pounds.
Lepps was not at the work yesterday,
and foreman had charge. The orders
were that the dynamite should be locked
up in the toolbox every night, the foreman
taking the key. Whether this was done
yesterday afternoon after the men quit
work is not known. At any rate, the police
think that some dynamite must have been
left out.
An Italian, whose name the police got as
Donate Dinada was left in charge after
6 o'clock and il was his duty to light the
lamps. He had filed and lighted several
lamps and was bending over another when
the explosion came. Dirada's body shot
into the air in several pieces. The head
on Morris Park avenue seventy feet away.
A leg was carried 800 feet. One Of the
arms fell alongside hotel piazza on
which several persons were seated.
At Galland's Hotel at Morris Park
avenue and Victor street the family OF the
proprietor were at dinner. Several of
the children were thrown from their chairs
and Josephine Galland landed on the floor
so hard that her head was badly cut. All
the windows Of the place were broken.
In grocery store block away John
Sullivan, sixteen year-old boy was thrown
over a barrel Of sugar, landing on the floor
and cutting his face Mrs. John O'Neill
who was in the kitchen of the house near
the explosion, was injured in the same
way.
The explosion sent lot of stones flying
and one Of them weighing about 100 pounds
Wcll thItubn tIle TOOI VI lnt NHuICH Vi
Our Lady Of Solace, two blocks away, In
Victor street. In a trolley car that was
passing several windows were smashed,
but none Of the passengers was injured.
Coroner Berry gave permit for the re-
moval of the pieces Of the watchman's
body. Contractor Lepps was found by
two detectives. but after hearing his story
the Coroner let him go.
Lepps said he could not account for the
accident, as his men had positive instruc
tiors to see that the dynamite was locked up
and that no unauthorized person be allowed
to take any.
Lepps told the Coroner that he thought
II possible that some dynamite had been
either carelessly left ont or had been stolen
hv some boys. One theory advanced was
that the passing of two trolley cars might
have had something TO do with making
the dynamite explode.