Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-10-05
KILLED ny AN EXPLOSION.
Terrible Accident I'm philadelphia sub
way-Nine People Killed and Man.
Injured.

- I<@lH s<D''C"'N
Terrible Accident I'm philadelphia Sub
way-Nine People Killed and Many
Injured.
Philadelphia, Oct. 5-Nine men
we're hurled to death by an explosin
which occurred at $40 this morning in
the Rapid Transit Company's subway,
at Sixth and Market streets. Fourteen
men are in hospitals suffering from in
juries received in the same explosion,
and there are probably dozens more who
have been injured, of whom the police
have heard nothing. 1t is bel eyed that
there are at least seven labOrers still in
the "hole," as 1t is called by the work
men. They we're about to quit work
when the explosion occurred, but had no
means of escape. Caught like rats in a
trap, they were either killed at once by
the force of the explosion, the falling
timbers, or by sufocation.
At $40 this morning, the whole sec
ton of the business part OF the city on
Market street, between Fifth and Seventh
streets, was completely wrecked. 1t was
at that moment the explosion occurred.
Pedestrians aud subway workers, those
who we're going off and coming on duty,
were hurled high in the air, cars were
lifted from the tracks, and teams two
squares away were sent flying from the
tracks to the curbs-~
Every window along Market stree; and
the other interesting thoroughfares were
blown out by the conclusion, and pedes-
TRANS fed in every direction.
1t is safe to say that hundreds OF me,
and women we're cut, some of them dan
gerously, by the glass which fell from
every window in every building in that
part of the city.
A dump cart drawn by two horses and
driven by colored man, was directly
over the portion of the subway where
the explosion occurred. Tue whole out
fit was sent high in the air and fell into
the pit, which had suddenly opened, and
which in an instant was converted into a
veritsbie inferno.
TIE flames leaped higher than any of
the many high buildings in that neigh
borhood and it was only the heroism
shown by half dozen meu that the six
bodies were rescued from the flames and
dragged to the sidewalk, where they re-
NAMED until the police patrol wagons
removed them to the morgue.
Men and women who were passing |
along Market street or their way to work |
we're struck by the pieces OF heavy glass
and injured, how seriously cannot yet
b. learned, but trails Of blood from the
people who were hurt could be followed
as far as Second street.
When the explosion occurred men,
planks, horses, and trolley cars were
thrown into the air and came down |
in a great jumbled mass There was |
great clash OF falling glass, aud then
there was a silence which was only |
broken by the roaring of the gas flames.
Sixth and Market street, on the north |
side of the latter Thorough fare, took on |
the appearance of what Hades is sup |
posed to be.
Flames of all colors, belched forth |
and mingled with them was the Odor Of
burning flesh. Trolley cars which had
been lifted from the tracks by the force
Of the upheayel were stalled just where |
they dropped, and one OF them had two
three inch joists through the roof and
extending almost TO the floor of the |
car. Not whole pane of glass was left
il the car. Several women passengers
we're cut and tainted. The men rushed |
10 the streets and were lost 10 the crowd
which soon gathered. Four women who
passed by the bodies stretched out on
he sidewalks, were overcome by the
light OF the pools of blood, and were
aiken care of by friend.
Hysterical shrieks were heard on all
tides from girls and even men. Some OF
he latter ran from the scene sobbing
md not ashamed OF the fact that their
emotions had overcome them. AT one
lime within FIVE minutes after the explo-
lion occurred there were five bodies on
he south side Of Market street, at Sixth.
)ne was stretched out just west Of Sixth
treet, three were at the southwest cor
Ter, and fifth lay on the sidewalk in
iont of Wanamaker & Browns.
One man was found underneath pile
If timber. The derrick house, derrick,
md all the snoring of the subway are up
n q heap. The gas is still blazing, and
he efforts of scores of workmen who are
rying to smother the flames with earth,
which is being hauled to the scene as
apidly as possible, have, so far, been
title,
As soon as the employees of the United
las Company could do so, the supply of
las was turned off.
The United states and Cuba.