The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-11-21
FROM a LONDON PAPER.
DREADFUL CATAsTRopu,

DREADFUL CATASTROPHE.
Accounts have been received of a mott terrible ae-
eident having happened Malta. On the 18th Of
July Qome of the letters FAY on the l5th) magazine
containing nearly 400 barrels of gunpowder and a
number OF fhels, grenadss, and other combulbles
blew up and cauied Incredible miichief-Upwards of
400 inhabitants reported have been killed or
dreaduily manged, number of houies were deflroy-
ed, and fome damage done the fhips in the harbour
The following is copy ofone Of the letters that have
been received:
"MALTA, JOY l8--Private litter.
now come to relate you an event OF the NOT
melancholy defcrpton, aInoG unparalleled in regard
to the dreadful and miferable conleeueuce, 1t hap
Pened this morning. magazine took fire, and blew
up with exploon fcarcely ever known TO be equal
led; by 1t $40 barrels of gunpowder, and above 1000
ihells and grenades, blown up. Such an i'm
mene quantity 10000 lbs. of gunpowder NUT oc-
Gallon the mott dreadful havoc and deGrutfon. The
houfes adjacent in every direction were blown imme-
distely into ruinsand how Knocking il was to the in
habitantsyos may eafily conceive as there was no
chance of eicapjng. The buildings are all of ftone of
an mmen(c thickness. 1t is calculated that one thou
iand Perfons have either perihed or are dreadfully
MANNED The principal fufferers are the Malteie, who
chiefly lived near the place. One man ha. loft his
wife and fix childreu-others nearly the fame and
whole families are buried together, Thofe who Of.
capped momentary death perhaps, fhockingly diff
figured and manned, and crawling about in a mifera-
bic condition Fourteen artillery men, who were in
the magazine, were of courfe blown to atoms The
band Of regiment (the S9th) were uR PLAYING
/" Con SAVE THE KING" near the pIace--two men
killed on the fpot-the whole remainder were
much wounded. The guards on duty were killed
Tn. magazine i, ituated the fde Of the water or
petite to the city of Vsetta, it is called Barmoia
Stones were thrown over us, fome tn the diHance
oil two miles. II (ituaei Clole to the water lide
md the bed Of the ea 70 hook by it, that il rof
UP and OVERLOOKED the banks-Two ve1eIs FINAL
one) were funk Immenfe ftones were thrown up,
which fell nto the otherson the fhips and rig
ging one faw which fell on veiIel Jun arrived,
weighed an hundred weight. The guard alip, the
Madras man Of war, is moored lsme dHance from the
diaGrqus place but Rome fell on the quarter deck
and broke the thigh Of the gunner, who had lately
arrived A Mr.. WooDHoUsE here, who with his
brother, has great wine-making concern in Silly,
has Ion two hundred and fifty pipes eft, worth near
ly 1000 k-they were at fome little diRance from III,
place but the fhook 70 great that the calks burR
In ihort, It iesne Of mifery which no language
deierbe. The churches are filed with the dead.
friend Of mine, jun come from the ruins fays that
he was walking over them, when he lighted on the
head Of woman. Her whole body was Grained fiat /:
and although il is only few hours Gnce the general
calamity took place her body owing 70 the intenfe
heat, entirely purified Nothing farther hs,
as yet been afeertained.
" IL is fuppofed, however that the men were en-
poyed in cutting away the fufe from the els or do.
ing fomething IKE that when by forae means fpark
arOie: The merchants here have begun a fub(eript-
Of twenty pounds EACH for the relief of the poor
fIferer'. A whole town, ! may fayis denroyed
The accident happened this morning about a
quarter par tx o'clock. They Fay there are now bu.
red in the ruins one thoulnd barrels Of gunpowder
shat danger but trpR in god it is untrue for
were 'hat blown up it would bring all 1lfslq in ruins.
Nay tie Almighty avert faeh another dilaasr