Year: 1875

general stampede would take place without
anybody's knowing exactly WHY; but there
were Tears OF further ex plosious, as it was
known that there were several kegs of gun
powder in the adjoining store. Another
crowd assembled In the upper part of La
Grange street, and gathered about the police
station, where the killed and wounded had
been carried. Every now and then they
would give way for the passage ofan express
wagon, with a cot bed inside, which would
drive up in front of the station. moment
of suspense, and then a murmur OF horror
and pity would arise as it drove slowly
away again through the crowd with two no.
lice officers supporting the form of man
whose face was indistinguishable beneath
lts covering OF blackness and blood. An
alarm was rung and the engines and hook
ana ladder companies were prOmptlv on the
spot. the smoke continuing to rise in dense
masses from the scene and floating over the
adjoining buildings. About 1880 O'Clock a
woman was


DRAGGED FROM BENEATH A PILE OF RrrR-


BIsH,


and carried of on a stretcher. her arm was
broken, and there were some slight injuries
about her head, but she appeared to be per-
fectlv cool and rational, except that, strange
10 say, she could not tell her name or the
number OF her residence. Another woman
was taken from the ruins, so black that it
was Impossible to tell whether she was
negress or not. She was conveyed to
ne'ghooring apothecary shop. where she lay
Tor some moments, gaspiDg painfully,
as IL partially suff0csted, and as she
gasped. set of false teeth dropped from her
mouth to the Hnor. This incident
caused laugh among the bystanders, in
which the sufferer Joined fesbly. She soon
revived, and was taken home in a carriage
There were several slight wounds about her
body, mostly burns. AT the moment of the
explosion Warren street car, full of pas
sengers, was passing by in the direction OF
Boylston street. 1t was lifted from the
track, horses and all, and thrown on the op-
posite sidewalk, being half turned around.
Neither the horses, driver, conductor, car.
or any ofthe passengers were injured in the
least. The car was righted by the crowd.
who gathered as if by magic, the horses were
hitched to the other end, and Gslloped back
toward the South End. All the nOrthward
bound cars on the line were turned back
and passed through Eliot street to fremont
At about H. black and tan dog was res
cued from under the ruins, safe and sound.
but somewhat uncertain as to where he
should go. A Globe reporter, anxious to
gain all the information possible concerning
the origin OF so terrible calamity, sought
out the clerks who were in the store as those
who should know best the real state of af-
fairs there. Mr.. Downes, one of the sales
Dloti, udS no lDtCTy 10 OU6r 10 account IOr
the disaster. Like his co-worker, Mr..
Park, who stood at the soda fountain at


THE MOMENT OF THE EXPLOSION,


he cannot give the slightest positive infor-
nation concerning the cause. The bright
flash OF light, followed by the upheaval of
everything, would seem to indicate that the
source OF the calamity was from beneath.
But in the cellar, according to the united
testimony of the clerks, there was nothing
which could cause such an explosion. The
idea which had obtained some credence that
the explosion vas the result of experiments
with nitro -glycerine Il sufficiently dis
proved by the tact that there was
nothing Of that violent explosive nature
in the store. Indeed, there seems to
be no occasion to keep the dangerous article
in an apothecary establishment. Ii nitro
glycerine were TO be used at all, it would DO
at the mandatory on udDury street.
There being no nitro glycerine in the store
the question arises, What could have caused
the eXpiOSiOn7 soda fountains have blown
To pieces several times in this city; but no
mDination or the mild chemicals employed
in the making OF soda water could produce
such dreadful effect. All sorts of rumors
were talked about on the streels; some at
tributing the accident to some defect
in an apocryphal steam boiler, others
to the occult influence of tide water
in the sewers. AS matters stand
now, SN6IyDOuY VINO has ncdIu Ol b06
disaster has good right to present a
theory as either OF the clerks. 1t seems most
probable, as matters now look, that some
leak in the gas pipe which supplied the es-
tabiishment will be recognized the true
cause OF the calamity. OF course, il there
was an extensive leak OF gas into the cellar
and any one should carelsssly venture down
stairs with a lighted lamp, disaster would
be sure to occur. But the question recurs:
did any one go down stairs with a lighted
lamp or carelessly throw into the cellar a
match or cigar end?" and it is hard to make
any certain answer, At any rate, il the
clerks are to De believed, there was nothing
in the cellar to


GENERATE SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.
Boxes and barrels were not used as recepta
cles for filthy rags and other refuse; and the
utmost care was exercised TO keep the prem
ises reasonably secure against fire. For the
present, at least, the origin of the disaster is
shrOuded in mystery, and it may we'll be
doubted If the question will be settled to gen.
ersl satisfaction. Certainly, If the manufac
ture of ginger ale aud soda water involves
such peril TO human life, some means of
protection for the public should be devised
If there were any carelessness in the man
agement of the estab!ishment-which does
not at all appsar-then the people have a
right to insist that the lesson shall be
needed.


RISrORI'S DIAMONDS.