The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-12-20
Ii Broke off the Gas Pipe,
Making A Big Leakage
SPARK IGNITED THE GAS
Resulting in the Terrific Explosion Which
Shook New York to It's Founda-
tion-Accident Might Have
Been Averted.

New York, Dec. ~ Ihe body 0t the
tenth victim Of the terrific explosion
in the New York Central railroads ter
minal was discovered in the ruins to-
day. The tiremen think that this COM
pletes the list Of the deaths, as the
Others reported missing are found or
reported TO be safe. Scores of workmen
are clearing away the mass Of wreekage,
revealing the terrific force Of the eX-
plosion. OF the injured in the hos
pitfalls, five have fractured skulls and
will probably die. Four others have Sc
rious fractures Of limbs and several lost
their eyes.
The coroner and the district attorney
are cooperating to place the respon-
sibility for the explosion. II seems cer-
tain that the accident could have been
avoided had the sand box on the electric
engine which hauled the uncontrolled
car that broke the gas main been full.
Engineer Seagroutt of the car told the
coroner that he couldn't stop on the
slippery rails, not having any sand.
Seagroutt was released last night on
parole.
The Cause Decided On.
Fire Chief Croker decided yesterday
afternoon that the whole explosion was
due to mixture of air and Illuminating
gas, used in lighting railroad ears,
touched off by an electric spark. The
gas had accumulated / nthe auxiliary
powerhouse from broken pipe which
had been snapped off by the runaway
passenger car.
As nearly as can be determined this
is how the accident occurred. A train
load OF empty passenger cars, hauled
by an electric motor, in charge Of Al
bert Seagroutt, got out of control Of
the brakes, crashed into steel and
concrete buffer post, snapped the post
off and rammed a pile Of lumber be-
hind the post into a two and one-half
inch gas main, connecting with the taps
from which the tanks of the passenger
cars are charged at 250 pounds to the
square inch.
BY the testimony of the motorman
and that of John J. Quinn, brieklayer
working on the main power house, ad-
joining the auxiliary house, the time
of the break in the pipe is approximat-
ed at few moments after eight o'clock.
Two clocks stopped by the jar fix the
time Of the explosion itself at si22
In the interval, the broken main had
ample time to pour high pressure gas
into the lower levels Of the auxiliary
power house. When workmen set to
clearing away the strewed lumber, it is
assumed that one Of them dropped
steel tool across the third rail, there
was flash of electricity and the great
reservoir of accumulated gas exploded.
What happened then will never be
adequately told, The roof of fire house
No. 2, directly across the street from
the power house, rose up in the air, A
shower of glass, bricks, mortar and
splntered timbers began to rain down
on the pavements In an instant the
streets were filed with PROSTATE men
and women blown fiat by the shock of
the detonation.
Estimate of Damage.
To-day's estimate OF the damage
places it at $l,500,000. This is larger
than the first estimate Windows were
smashed literally by the thousands and
a nice problem is raised as to the liabil-
ity of the insurance companies under the
circumstances. Handsome residence
fronts were decorated with blankets,
sheets, newspapers, burlap or old rags
as the quickest substitute for window
glass. Several institutions in the neigh
borhood have appealed for aid to effect
repairs and order will not be restored
for weeks.
The Tiffany studios at 44th and Madi-
son avenue, fully half a mile from the
scene of the catastrophe. suffered. Val
uable stained glass windows, valued at
$4,000, We're smashed One of the glass
windows was memorial piece worth
$1,000, Another decorative stained glass
window on the far side of the building
from the explosion was bent outward
and then broken It was worth about
S2,500.
Explanations by Officials.
Fire Commissioner Waldo issued
statement last night, which was in part
as follows:
"All of the investigators from this
department agree in the general state
ment that the explosion was caused by
a train backing into the bumper and
breaking the two-inch supply main
carrying gas to the. various points in
the yard. The escaping gas pcrmeated
the power house until il formed an eX-
plosiye mixture by combination with the
air
There was no other trace Of any ex
plosive at that point. There is a per-
nit for a tirst-class dynamite magazine
for storing 1000 pounds on the yiaduct
at 49th street This magaziae was
found to be intact after the explosion
When the leakage was discovered, there
had escaped from l4000 to 10000 cubic
feet A large quantity became con.
denscd unda the floors and throughout
the power house"
lie adds that the leak was discovered
about Is minutes after the break &C.
CURED by William A. Withall. an en-
ploye Of the railroad Withall started
for the power house TO report It. but
The explosion occurred before he arrived.
This Is the official explanation Of the
New York Central as given out hv Vice
President c. L, DAILY yesterday after
Eoon;
"A careful investigation. made by
Engineer kittredge Construction En-
eineer Harwood, Electrical Engineer
Katie and Manager Whalcy of the
Grand Central terminal, indicates that
the explosion was the result Of an cleo
tric train falling over a bumpifg post
In the storage yards, breaking 3 gas