The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-14
MANHOLE BANG HURTS WOMEN
PANIC AMONG SHOPPERS roll
Lows THE EXPLOSION.
Many knocked Down by the Con.
cussion-vOlcan0 OF Broken Steel.
Dirt and Fire-Shoppcr Falls Into
IIOle-Reservcs and Ambulances Out.

A manhole explosion yesterday afternoon
at Twenty-third street and Sixth avenue,
a busy corner Of the shopping district.
caused a good-sized panic, injured at least
three women, and turned out enough police
to attract jam Of spectators. The man
hole connects with big conduit Of the Con-
solidated Telegraph and Electrical Sub
way Company and leads to the surface of the
street at a point about five feet from the
sidewalk at the southeast corner 1t is
almost in the monday shadow cast by the
elevated railroad station platform. The
hole itself is nearly ten feet deep and leads
to complicated connection box OF e!ec-
trio wires.
The explosion is thought to have been
OF sewer gas which may have got into
the conduit through leak made by the
recent heavy rains. At the time when it
occurred the avenue and street were
crowded with persons, mostly women, who
were in greater numbers than usual. owing
to the good weather. The noise Of tine ex-
plosion was like the report of cannon
Those near the corner saw the outer man
hole cover. which Weighs considerably
more than a hundred pounds, hurled up
against the elevated railroad platform
from which it bounced back. striking the
corner gas lamp smashing the glass and
bending the frame.
From the lamp the cover glanced off to
the sidewalk, smashing two heavy flag
stones and making hole over foot deep.
The police put dry goods box over the
sidewalk hole later to keep people from
getting sprained or broken legs.
x6a Of tho boI
cover there came sheet of flame, darkened
by cloud of dirt and dust and a shower Of
pieces Of the inner lid, which was smashed
to bits. A dozen people were knocked fiat
by the conclusion. Women ran scream
ing in all directions.
From the general racket there then arose
a cry that woman had fallen into the man
pert Of 1872 East 10th street, wife of cigar
maker. She was out shopping for her
three children. just how Mrs Lappert got
into the manhole she herself couldn't say
last evening Her mouth struck on the
edge as she descended and her lower lip
was torn. She landed in three feet of dirty
water.
Policeman Tom Craven and man who
said he was James 8. Patterson rushed
to the manhole. BY leaning over, held
up by Patterson. Craven reached the
woman's hands. Then, with the help of
Patterson and others, he drew her up.
Her clothes were ripped, her face was
bleeding from several cuts and she was
very weak.
Seeing the panic stricken crowd and sew
eral people lying on the sidewalk. Police
man Sullivan sent in two ambulance calls
and a summons for the reserves Of the
Tenderloin station. Before the police ar
rived an ambulance took Mrs. Lappert to the
New York Hospital.
Among those hurt was Mrs. John Berri
L'Hommedteu, whose husband is a physician
at the Quarantine station. an assistant OF
DR.. Alvah H. Doty, the Health Officer. Her
eyes were filed with lot Of small steel
particles and she received several bad cuts.
Dr.. LHommedieu said last evening that
her injuries were not serious, but were
troublesome.
Awoman who said she lived at the Chelsea
in West Twenty-third street rushed into the
corner trunk store. Her bonnet had been
knocked off and she had been thrown down.
Several other women lost their hats, but the
police found the owners as soon as the
panic was over. A number OF women went
home with torn dresses.
Mrs. Lappert was taken home last evening
She collapsed completely, and doctor
who was called in said that her condition
was serious,