DYNAMITE EXPLOSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 353, 1 March 1902, Page 2

DYNAMITE EXPLOSION.

LOSS OP LIFE, MANY INJURED, AND GREAT DAMAGE. LIGHTED CANDLE PLACED NEAR PAPERS AND DYNAMITE. (Per R.MIS. Sierra, at Auckland.) San Francisco, Feb. 9. In New York City on January 27th the supply of explosives stored at the Park Avenue shaft of the rapid transit tunnel now in course of construction blew up. The great blast killed six persons, injured one hundred, and damaged property over a considerable area. The irregular square formed by the Murray Hill Hotel on the west, Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital and the Grand Union Hotel on the east, and the Grand Central Station on the north, was the scone of the explosion. The buildings named sustained the greatest damage, but the area extends for several blocks in four directions from the centre. Many of those injured were the occupants of the fashionable Murray Hill Hotel, whero fifteen thousand dollars’ worth of plate glass was destroyed, though this was only a small part of the damage done. Many elegant private residences were greatly injured. The estimated damage to buildings was at least a million dollars, and it may prove to be much more, as the Murray Hill Hotel had to be declared unsafe and closed. It is not yet known whether the structure, worth a million dollars, can be repaired. The powder-man in charge of the shanty where the explosion occurred was badly injured. He said that on going to the shanty about noon he found a candle which he had left lighted on the floor, and some papers about it, on fire. Thirteen boxes of dynamite cartridges were close by. The man threw a pail of water on the floor and ran to get more. On returning ho saw the flames were close to the dynamite, aud ho then ran to get out of the way.