New Haven, Connecticut, USA (Westville)
1886 - AN EXPLOSION OF GAS.

NEW-HAVEN, Conn., Jan. 27. - People living in the lower part of the city were alarmed at noon to-day by what seemed like an earthquake shook preceded by a sharp report. Almost immediately thereafter smoke was seen issuing from the roof of the japanning department at O. B. North & Co.'s, hardware shops, Franklin-street. The Fire Department was summoned, and, after hard work, succeeded in confining the flames to the japanning room, where the explosion had occurred. It was found that a dry kiln had been blown up. It is supposed that the explosion was caused by gas forming in the kiln faster that it could escape through the usual apertures. The loss is about $1,000; covered by insurance. No one was in the room at the time. Had the explosion occurred half an hour earlier or later there would have been a terrible loss of life.

The New York Times
New York, New York
January 26, 1886

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