New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-27
EXPLOSION SCARES MANY,
SHOCK FELT FOR MILES
Dynamite, Used in Erca0ating p,
r. r. Station, SmaSlses Windozcs

Windows or many houses were smashed the
slssswork OF a church demolished, several
pedestrians were thrown of their feet and one
woman so badly scared that she afterward
required medical attention, by terrific explo-
sion which startled those in the neighborhood of
she Pennsylvania Tunnel excavation Yesterday
afternoon The excavation is bounded by 3lst
and SD SITS, 9TH and 9th aves. and takes in one
side Of each of these thoroughfares. Ths New
York Contracting Company (Adurphy and Gaff-
ney) is doing the excavating work, and since the
york started the company has made its presence
felt in the neighborhood on more than one occa-
sion Every one who could possibly move away
from there has already done so, but there are
many who could not afford to leave the neigh
horhood and these suffered from yesterdays ex-
plosion. The police were unable definitely to
determine the cause of the explosion: but eye
witnesses say that a spark from draught en-
eine ignited a box Of dynamite used for blasting
purposes and the dynamite did the rest.
The explosion occurred shortly before o'clock
Yesterday afternoon. as hundreds of children
we're being dismissed from St. Mchael's Paro-
cbial School 9th-ave. and 31st-st. Panic caused
them TO scatter as storm Of fine stones swept
over them. The box of dynamite at 31st-
ST.. midway between 9TH and 9th aves.. but so
powerful was the explosion that even the win
dows Of the houses on the 33d-st. side Of the
excavation were shattered. There was not
single window Of the row of houses from No.
33s to 366 West 31st-st. which escaped the blast.
Nearly every window of ST. Michaers Church,
al the southwest corner of 9th-ave. and 33d-st.,
shattered, as were the windows OF the un-
dertaking shop next door and the laundry next
door 10 that Several persons walking along
51st-st at the time were thrown to the pave
ment. and pedestrians on the 7th-ave. side Of
the excavation were similarly treated. Accord
ing 10 the police, nobody was seriously injured.
Those living in the 31st-st. houses say that the
detcnation was so powerful that it threw them
of their feet and broke dishes and furniture in
their rooms. Miss Dora W. Pope. of No 344
West 31st-st-, the third floor of her house
when the explosion occurred. She says she
happened to glance out OF the window and saw
the big red wooden box catch fire and go UP in
the air. and then every window of her house
broke and she was obliged TO catch hold of a
dresser 10 keep from being thrown to the floor
Mrs. Margaret Williamson. an elderly woman,
living at No. 35S West 31st-st.. was so scared
by the accident that she required medical at
tention.
shortly after the explosion a small army of
glaziers appeared on the scene and, without ask
Ing any questions, began replacing the demol-
ished windows. They were led by man who
sala MS rame was Nathan Lyons. and that he
was employed by the contracting company to
replace panes Of glass, free of charge. in houses
which suffered by explosions. Those in the
neighborhood say that explosions have become so
common there since the New-York Contracting
Company started TO excavate as TO cause little
alarm We are satisfied when they send gla-
Eiers 10 put our windows in" said one ''Our
nerves were shattered long ago, and we haven't
any furniture that is not already smashed so
future explosions can do no harm. unless they
Kill US"
The police OF the West 37th-st station investi-
gated, but could obtain little information.
Alderman Gsffney, who was standing at 81st-st
Rnd Sth-ave. shortly after the explosion, was
asked by a policeman what had occurred and
replied that he did not know.