The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-19

New York, Dec. 1a.--Twenty-four
persons. including three women. were
blown to atoms, crushed, or burned to
death by an explosion and fire that de-
stroyed the new power house OF the
New York Central railroad shortly al
ter eight o'clock this forenoon. The
loss is half million dollars. More
than a hundred were injured, dozen
of whom probably will die. Thirteen
bodies, all but two identified had been
recovered up to noon, Other victims
are still in the ruins. The disaster
was caused by an explosion of the bat
terry of boilers under the new power
house. at the corner of Lexington ave-
nue. and Fiftieth street. Fire I'M
mediately followed and communities
ing with big gas tanks stored there
which exploded but few seconds Ia
ter Another explanation is that
workman dropped a crowbar on the
third rail the flash therefrom explod-
! ing the gas tanks and boilers follow
| ing. All who could give definite infer
nation as to the cause are dead.
/ Buildings for half mile around were
almost shaken from their foundations
and threatened to collapse. Lexing-
ton avenue surface car. u block away
was lifted from the tracks and hurled
against a passing automobile, killing
three persons outright. and injuring a
dozen others. Late rising guests In
nearby hotels were Utterly thrown out
of bed by the jarring Of buildings. and
rushed through corridors in pajamas
thinking an earthquake was in pro-
gress.
30 Persons in Building.
About thirty persons were in the
powerhouse at the time the explosion
occurred The building was a two
story one. with a carpenter shop on
the second floor. The first floor and
basement were used for boiler. engines
and dynamos, which supplied most of
the power for the third rail system on
the New York Central road.
Twenty carpenters worked on the
second floor. On the first floor and in
the basement were ten firemen. en-
gineers and their assistants.
The explosion came without warn
ing With a terrific report the big boil
er burst completely wrecking the pow
er house, and breaking windows for
blocks around.
Those who were in the power house
did not have a chance to fee. When
the boiler burst the floors and walls
collapsed.
Those who escaped happened to be
beneath something that withstood the
downfall Of bricks. steel and mortar.
Among the first to get into the ruins
was Father McQuade of St. Patrick's
cathedral. He administered the last
rites of the Roman Catholic church
to seven men.
Firemen Are Heroes.
Firemen did heroic work in going
into the ruins and saving injured men.
Battalion Chief John Duffy was Sc
verely injured while aiding in this
work.
The first of the dead o,be identified
was Thomas Starr, watchman em.
ployed at the power house.
Two children were picked up in
Lexington avenue near 50th street af
ter the explosion. with their legs cut
off. Besides a man and a boy who
were killed when the surface car ov.
erturned, several passengers we're in.
jured-
A guest on the twelfth floor of the
hotel Belmont at 42nd street and Park
, avenue. was hurled out OF bed by the
force Of the explosion and dashed
, down stairs into the crowded Office
wearing only his pajamas. He de
, clared that he thought an earthquake
had struck the city
Large plate glass windows in the
, hotel were broken and the mirrors
and glassware shattered
The clerks in the branch postoffice
at the corner of 44th street nearby,
. were suddenly surprised to find the
building shaking and all the glass
from, bc uipdnUs