Year: 1869

When the terrific explosion OF nitro-glycerine at
Bergen year and half ago resulted in such a
fearful loss OF life It hoped that lesson would


be learned by the civic authorities In every part OF
Hudson county, and that such restrictions would
be placed on the use OF nitr0-gycerine that
a similar. disaster would be prevented. But
this substance has been In constant use In
the numerous quarries Of Hudson county, and it
appears that by degrees the laborers having it in
charge became less cautious At eight O'Clock yes
terday morning the western portion OF Hudson City
was alarmed by loud report, which shook the
houses several blocks distant. blacksmith shop,
constructed Of wood, about fourteen feet square,
stands within fifty feet OF the grading that Is beng
carried on at Grand avenue. near ST. Paurs. The
only occupants OF the shany at eight O'Clock were
the blacksmith, Nathaniel Guard, sometimes
known by the name OF Joseph Bowers,
an Englishman, twenty-nlne years OF age
and James Code who was in conversation with
HIM. Guard held a drill in his hand. one end OF
which was red hot, and adopting the plan of the ILL
fated Burns in Bergen to expedite the heating of
the can containing the nitro-gycerine, he plunged
the bar into the water but he had not heard the hiss
when he was blown through the roof and fell outside.
so scalded and crlsped that recogniton was impos.
slble, and his clothes we're torn TO fragments.
The moment he fell 70 the ground blood spurted


breast soon after followed and continued about
fifteen minutes, when he ceased to breathe.


The other man, James Code, was thrown about
twenty feet In the opposite direction, and fortu-


nately escaped without sustaining fatal injuries.


His leg was greatly lacerated and the OF his skin


was that Of the copper-colored Indian He Is pow
erfuly built young man and seemed to regard the


fragments and slaves Of the barrel which contained


the water were scattered around. In the hole torn


up by the explosion pieces Of the red flannel shirt


worn by Guard were found Embedded. AS soon as


the body had been carried away Mayor Van Reipen


ordered all the nitro glycerine found near the place


to be carried down towards the river.


INQUEST.


Coroner volkt and constable Hugh Johnson took


The following testimony was given:-


james Code deposed-I nave been living for the


s1 G e das az V Mr ang IN S
Grand avenue near st. Pauls; left Mr.. Howard's
employ last Saturday night, and came this morning
to the work to bid the boys good bye went into the
blacksmths shop to see deceased there other
person but deceased in the shop when went in;


deceased was engaged in sharpening drills he took
drill to temper and Immediately a1terward the
posion took place: was thrown In one direction


and deceased in another; there was nitro.glycerne
kept In the backsmith's shop; nave had it in my
hands, have not been long enough there to know
whether the nitro-glycerine was generally Kept In
| the blacksmith's shops was thrown about twenty
feet by the explosion and was cut Ia my left leg;
was sensible when arose from the ground; was


standing by the side OF the deceased when the expo
sion took place there were three barrels In the
backsmths shop, but l cannot say what was In
them, except that one OF them contained water;
looked around and saw that deceased was breathing
freely and that blood was flowing from his mouth





the habit Of using ntro-g -gycerine while IN Mr. How
ards employment; at different times took nitro
gycerne out Of large box kept at one side Of the
backsmths shop; kept the keys and had full


charge Of the nitro cerne; there about thirty
pounds kept In that box; gave up the key Of the


box to Mr.. Reilly, foreman, this morning about eight
O'Clock.


This witness gave his testimony with some reluc-


tance and met several direct questions with evaslve


replies He must OF all others be aware OF the cause
OF the accident being the only individual present
with Guard. He seemed to labor under the appre-
hal q n a ba kna hrip


into trouble some person whom 1t his interest to
shield. His statements at some points were IRE
cOncable and contradictory.


DR.. Thomas j. Hayes sworn-I was sent for this
morning, about halfpast eight O'Clock, to examine
faint trace OF life, which ceased in q very
short time; the injuries were OF such cbarac-


srm ss was torn rom iss the s shoulder
was merely attached to the body by some ligaments
the head and face exhibited great injury; in my
opinion death was caused by the explosion Of some
highly combustible substance, which was not gun
powder; OF this fact am satisfied, because there
skin surrounding the wounds was cean except that
1t was little bloody am further OF opinion that
death was caused by the explosion Of nitroglyce-
rine.


DR.. Hammond was sworn, and deposed that he as
sisted in the examination on the body OF the de.
ceased. His testimony was corrob0ratOn Of the
Michael Tracy deposed-I was working on Grand
avenue this morning and heard report; ran to


place; % saw Nahapie Guard lying ' there bleeding; ing


there was life in his body at the time; ran or for


Dr. Hayes, who came with me; saw that the right


arm Of deceased was blown OF; saw the nitro


avenue used for blasting; saw the foregoing wit


ness, Code, use 1t on the work. deceased went under


ten was WorSns about 500 va yards from the


blacksmith shop when the explosion took place.
Oflcer Patrick Gallagher deposed-At three min.


utes to eight O'Clock this morning standing at
the Five Corners, when Michael Tracy came and told
me there was man blown up on Grand avenue;
went for DIR. Hayes and then to the blacksmith's
shop. and saw the deceased lying near two bags OF
oats he was then breathing; took one Of the bags


away and then laid the body on the other bag took


charge OF large box that was lying at one side OF
the backsmith's shop, which was told contained
nitroglycerine: deceased ceased to breathe about
twenty minutes past eight O'Clock; one OF his arms
was blown or; am certain the explosion was not
caused by powder. as have seen meu who were


blasting; the nitro-glycerine box which took away
was weighed and was found to contain twenty-seven


and quarter pounds; the Mayor Of the city caused
iI to be removed outside the city limits.


THEORY OF THE CATASTROPHE.
John Code sworn-I am employed at blasting


rocks with nytroglycerine received instructions and
read from books as to the manner OF handling it;


positive In my belief that there was vessel OF


glycerine in the backsmith's shop at the time OF the
explosions; Guard never used IL or interfered
with IL IN any way: his business was chiefly


to sharpen drills; when we come to use the


nytro-glycerine we 60 to the blacksmith's shop
and dip the can into barrei OF water


of tSe can into LIQUID state; we suspend the can


about midway IN the water with cord tied to nail


in the side OF the barrel; the only way that can ac


count for the explosion IL that q portion OF the


liquid, being expanded by the heat flowed


out OF the can from time to time, and be-


ing heavier than water, sank to the bottom;


when the hot iron was plunged in an explosion
resulted: have known deceased for about seven
months; he vent by the name Of Joe: he was unmar-


ried; as far az know he was temperate man 1
have never known him to be absent IRON his work
except one day: he was 10 my mind. steady man,
though he might drink occasionally FOR anything
know; yet he did not neglect his business.


some further testimony was taken after which
the jury rendered a verdict that "Nathanie Guard
came To his death from injuries received by the
poson of nitro-glycerine at Hudson City on the 'th
day OF April isJe.n