Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-01-04
MANY INJURED BY TERRIFIC
EXPLOSION IN DANCE HALL.
Keasbey the Scene Fearful Accident Early Sunday Morning the
Tank for Manufacturing Gas Blew up Wrecking the Building and
Causing Panic.

Twenty-seven persons injured, sew
eral of them seriously, is the result
of an explosion which wrecked the
house owned by Joseph Galaida, at
Keasbey, Sunday morning at 10. Is
o'clock, blowing out nearly the entire
wall on one side and smashing almost
every piece of furniture and glassware
in1Cthe building. Dancers. musicians
and others were thrown about like
playthinas and, when it was all over,
lay In heaps and irregular rows upon
what was left Of the floor.
At 1915, just as those present were
rising to dance, an explosion, SO loud
that it was heard in this city and
other nearby places, tore the building
! asunder and sent more than half of
J the 800 men and women present flying
! in all directions.
The occasion was the annual ball of
'the St. Johns Benevolent Society and
the 300 people present came from New
Brunswick, Milltown, New York,
South River, South Amboy, Fords
Corner, Perth Amboy and Keasbey.
The explosion was quickly followed
by a binding tongue of fame from
below. This new terror drove the
already crazed inmates to deeds of in
sanity. There was no thought of the
injured, save in few cases, and
women were pushed and trampled in
an effort to escape from the dreadful
trap. Above the falling OF walls,
nasharg Of wood work and crashing
glass, could be heard the anguished
peals of those who were so badly
jured that were unable to aid them
elves. People rushed from all direc-
lions and DR.. George W. Tyrrell, OF
this city, was summoned, to give
what surgical aid he could. Joseph
Galaida. the proprietor, who had
gone down into the cellar to attend to
the furnace. was terribly burned about
the head and face. He gathered his
wits together, however, and called
for volunteers to assist him in ex-
tinguishing the blaze and in extricat-
ring those who were pinned down by
the wreckage. All the members Of
this rescuing party were severely
burned.
The destroyed building offered little
protection to the helpless sufferers,
from the gale which was blowing and
from the biting cold. AS many as
possible were Immediately taken to
their homes in the village or to the
homes of kindly neighbors. Joseph
Galaida received terrible burns about
the face and head. His wife, who
was in the saloon, was hurled up
against the ceiling, suffering severe
scalp wounds and injuries to her side.
This morning combs, neckties. rib
bons, belts and other articles of cloth.
ing were scattered in profusion
throughout the hall. When News
reporter visited the place, he found
masses of wreckage strewn in every
direction and saw blood spattereu on
the doors and floor. An inspection of
the building showed that the same
condition of affairs existed in every
room. The room upstairs in which
Antony, the five year old son of the
proprietor, was sleeping, was COM
pletely wrecked. and the boy. who
was carried out uninjured, might have
walked out through the hole in the
wall, han the apartment been on the
ground floor.
Joseph Galaida, who was SO band.
aged that his eyes and mouth were
alone visible. said this morning, as
he lay in bed at the home of neigh.
Dor, next door:
~ had gone down to the cellar to
shut off the heat from upstairs. as il
had become too hot. Suddenly heard
The crash and felt binding pains in
nv face. / called for help to put out
Athe blaze and help the injured girls. y
Mrs. Galaida and two or three
hers gave stirring descriptions OF
confusion which ensued.
HanseY who lives three doors
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g. Gno Il