Posted by
stew
- Mon, Dec 1, 2008
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 31, 1875
Terrible explosion in Boston
A most terrific and sadly fatal explosion occurred in Boston Wed. eve., by which a no. of persons lost their lives, and many more were seriously injured. The scene of the disaster was the 4 story brick block on the southwest corner of Washington and Lagrange Streets...and occupied principally by J.D. Dow's drug store [he also manufactured soda water]. The disaster occurred at 6:40 o'clock, just when the streets were crowded with people hastening home to supper. The first intuition of the explosion was a deep, rumbling sound similar to the report of an earthquake, and almost simultaneously the walls of the building burst outward in every direction, and falling in one confused mass presented a scene of wreck seldom before witnessed; more complete than that of any of the buildings blown down by gunpowder during the great fire.
/ ...Numbers of human beings were known to be buried in the burning ruins created the wildest scene, thousands rushing to the point from every direction. Just how many were in the building at the time of the explosion is not known, but there must have been 20 or more. The second door was occupied by S.S. Frazier, merchant tailor, who with a workman were taken out slightly injured. The next room back was occupied by Mrs. Lizzie Frazier and little daughter. The latter died soon after being taken out. Mrs. Frazier received severe injuries, but not necessarily fatal. The next room was occupied by a gentleman as a lodging room, who was out at the time of the explosion; another room was occupied by James M. Frawley, agent for the Bible publishing company. His dead body was recovered among the ruins.
/ The third floor was occupied by Dr. Richardson, corn doctor, who is not accounted for. Another room was occupied by Madame Lillie, clairvoyant, and her husband, both of whom were saved, but a brother of the husband is not yet accounted for. The fourth floor was occupied by a widow lady, who had a no. of shop girls as lodgers, none of whom were accounted for at last accounts, save the widow, Annie Crompton, who was taken out dead. In addition to the above, the following injured have been taken from the ruins: Mr. Lord of East Chester Park, in a dying condition; Mr. Daniel S. Frazier, Mrs. Lillie Hersey, Mrs. Loring Gardner and little son, and Mrs. W.A. Coffin, not seriously injured; John J. Mahoney, probably fatally injured; Morris Ackerman, in a dying condition; John Farley, skull fractured and otherwise injured; John A. Stetson, slightly injured; Jacob Valois, badly cut; Martha Lauder, who occupied an apple stand on the corner and was blown into the street, arm and leg broken; Thomas Canney, badly cut; Samuel Farwell, manager of Dow's store, head badly cut and otherwise injured; Miss Lizzie Getney, rescued with great difficulty, but found to have received but slight injuries...[estimates of damages, $100,000]. The cause of the explosion is not definitely known. Three in all were killed and 22 injured.
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