Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-12-19
NINE KILLED BY EXPLOSION.
Mysterious Explosion in MIX Depot
and Carpenters shop Of New York
Central Depot.

Mysterious Explosion In MIX Depot
and Carpenters shop of New York
Central Depot.
New York, Dec. 19.-Nine persons
are dead, eight are missing and sup
posed TO be dead and more than q
score we're injured as the result OF a
mysterious explosion which wrecked
the milk depot and carpenter shop Of
the New York Central railway at 49th
street and Lexington avenue today.
So terrific was the force Of the ex-
plosion that the big new power house
OF the Now Haven Railroad, which is
Immediately behind the demolished
structure, was almost completely de-
stroyed, while all adiacant property
was badly battered and windows in all
buildings for a radius OF dozen blocks
we're blown out.
II was at first reported that the ex.
plosion was in the boilor house. Later
this was proved a mistake and then
the officials OF the railroad and the
police heard that it was due either to
the explosion OF quantity OF acety.
lene gas or dynamite. One report
was that switchmen running car
loaded with dynamite to be used foi
the excavation OF the New York Cen.
trail terminal into the depot lost con.
troll of it, and it smashed against a
track hummer and exploded. .
That the disaster was not far create
is due to the fact that it took place nj
8:15 in the morning. Three-quarters
OF an hour later there would have been
many additional victims because Of the
fact that the conclusion wrecked the
big parochial school OF st. Patrick:
Cathedral at 51st street and Lexington
avenue. This school has an attendance
of more than 800 scholars and the
largest class room in it was demolished
On account OF the early hour, however
there were only half dozen scholar:
in the building. They we're not badly
hurt. Two boys standing in front o.
the building, however, were knocked
down and terribly cut by flying glass.
With the noise OF the explosion came
the crash OF shattered glass, and this
was quickly followed by the cries o.
the injured. Hurry calls for all OF the
available ambulances in Manhattan
we're sent out and two fire alarms called
fire apparatus to the scene. AS soor
as the report OF the explosion reached
police headquarters, the entire police
reserves OF the city were hurried to the
city, They had their work cut out fol
them, as a crowd OF some twenty-five
thousand people were soon surging tC
the spot. Police lines we're hastily es
tablished and only those having bust
ness there were permitted within them
As soon as order had been PARTIAL!
established it was possible to get 8
comprehensive line on the extent o
the disaster
The mild depot and carpenter shoI
was completely wrecked and nearly
everybody in it had been killed. TIT
big steel boiler shop was we'll nigl
wrecked, as was all OF the small railway
buildings in the immediate vicinity.
A street car OF the Lexington avenue
line passing at the time was thrown
clear from the tracks on its side, crash
ing into an automobile which was pass
ing. Two persons in the street ca
and one in the auto were killed, while
while number OF others were badly
hurt.
The police think the explosion wa,
caused by the ignition OF tank o
acetyline gas which was in car in th'
milk department. 1t was set off, the,
said, by the spark OF the third rail
The explosion caused the blowing W
OF the car laden with dynamite.