Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1891 — DYNAMITE EXPLOSION. [ARTICLE]

DYNAMITE EXPLOSION.

Five Workmen In a York !Stato Mill Ment to Hutlflen Death. Tho entire eastern half of Rockland County, Now York, was shocked by a Jerrific explosion which occurrod In Haverstraw at tho dynamite works, located near the base of the West Shore tunnel at that place. Five men wore instantly killed and soveral Injured. What caused tho explosion < annot yet bo told, but throughout Ilaveri-traw, Congers City, Nyack, Rockland Lako and other places within twelve mllos glass windows wore broken and people much startled. Immediately after tho explosion people in llaverstraw rushed by hundreds toward the scone of the disaster, but as othor but.dings containing dynamite w °re yet standing, they realized their danger i and most of thorn stopped. A few, howevor, proceeded to tho spot and learned tho true condition of affa rs. The building which was blown up was tho main house, located n ar tho river. It was a high frame structure, 50 by 150 feet,.pud was used to put tio dynamite in proper condition for blasting purposes When tho disaster took place, John Wadsworth, tho engineer, was at hie post, and all that has so far been found of him is two logs and a hand. Wadsworth was a married man, about fifty years of age, and lea es a widow and three children Throe other workmen were killed, and &ls> I erry Lounsborry, of Feekskill. In company with another man, Lounsborry had just rowed iuto shore He stepped upon the dock a moment before the explosion, and was instantly killed. Elmer Nash, foreman, was In the dock near by and escaped injury. Tw> boys named Farrell and Mott were in the building when the explosion took place. They escaped with some few bruises.

In the vicinity of tho explosion large trees were torn up, and in some Instances riven as if bv lightning The railroad tunnel,be’ng far above the building, Is uninlured. The effect of tho shock at many points within a few miles up and down the river was terrific Houses trembl d Gn their foundations, and those on tho tops of adjacent hills had glass broken, furniture knocked over, and doors taken from their h nges. The buildings belong- to the Clinton Dynamite Works. In the main building, whl h Is now a comp.ete wreck, the number of men usuaHy employed was from eight to twelve. The works have been' there five or six years, and for months past efforts have been made by those who have houses near by to have them removed Tho cases have been a ‘number of times in court, but the dynamate peoplo have held their own, claiming that at least some of the houses have been built there since the works were established,