DREADFUL CATASTROPHE IN NEW YORK.

Southland Times, Issue 1057, 16 November 1868, Page 3

DREADFUL CATASTROPHE IN NEW YORK.

♦ EXPLOSION OF A STEAM PIEE-ENGETE. (Erom the * New York Herald.' At a few minutes past 9 o'clock on Thursday evening, June 18, the fire bells sounded an alarm of fire near the corner of Canal-street and the Bowery. Engine No. 9 was promptly on the ground, when it was discovered that the premises No. 53, Bowery, were on fire. The engine shortly got to work, and the water had been turned on the burning premises but a short time when a loud explosion was heard, and the street became almost instantly filled with steam. This was just the time that a. number of people were coming out of the Bowery Theatre, and from the fact that a large concourse of people were seen running from there it was thought at first it was in that building the explosion took place. Too soon, however, the dreadful nature of the accident was ascertained. The groans of the dying and mangled forms that lay stretched upon the sidewalk and in the street, the shrieks of frightened : women hurrying across and down the j thoroughfare, running they knew not j where, in wild excitement ; the confusion ] and turmoil incident upon occasions of great excitement ; the unmanageable prancing of the horses attached to the street railroad cars — all helped to render the scene one of the most indescribable confusion. But when this in a measure subsided, and an examination of the cause for all this excitement was made, a scene of most sickening horror was revealed. Erom what can be learned of one who was convenient to the theatre at about the hour stated, it is ascertained that Engine No. 9 was standing almost opposite to the pit entrance. It had a full head of steam on at the time, and was playing on the fire at No. 53, Bowery. As is usual in such cases, a large number were collected round the engine, nearly all boys, composed principally of those poor little urchins that most do congregate round the theatre at night. All of a suddeo a loud explosion was heard, a volume of steam spread over the streets, a moment's silence, and then followed a scene most sickening in its details. It was then discovered that the boiler of the engine had exploded. Upon the ground lay the prostrate bodies of over thirty people. Some, however, were more scared than injured, and some arose and mingled in the crowd. Close by where the engine stood lay four mangled corpses, mutilated in the most fearful manner. The brains of one were dashed out on the sidewalk; the entrails of another protruded, and the face was dreadfully disfigured ; another had both his legs broken, and was badly scalded ; while another, a poor little boot-black, was run over. Many of the wounded were injured badly ; nearly all had broken limbs, and it is feared that the majority of them have sustained internal injuries which may prove fatal. j