In mid-afternoon at East Williamsburg in Brooklyn an explosion took place in the packing department of J.W. Hadfield and Sons, makers of fireworks. One of the owners, Charles Hadfield, and one of his employees were killed instantly in the blast and several others were seriously injured. Fifty other workers in the 200 foot square factory were fortunate that the explosion was limited to only one of the several buildings making up the complex. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
"Explosion of a Pyrotechnic Factory," New York Times, June 9, 1860.