Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-05-01
London. March Is.
Singular EXPLOSION.

We copy the following article from "a
mother paper. In medical annals, and still
more in common tradition, we have instan.
ces narrated of drunkards falling prey to
spontaneous combustion. To ridiculc The
extravaganza to which this opinion has been
carried, is probably the foundation of this
jeu desprit; but their may be also hit in
tended at medical evide nee in the cases OF
Coroner's inqucsts, and at the returns OF the
jury.
"On Monday fortnight, coroner's in
quest was held in Broad-strcet, 81. CHESS,
before VIM. Cell, Esq. one of the two CO.
roners of the county Of Middlesex, on the
body of Patrick Roper, an Irish labourer,
who had met his death in very singular
manner.
Molly Roper, wife to the deceased. de-
posed, that for many years back her bus
band had been in the habit of drinking
whiskey to great extent that at the end
OF every week, on receiving his wages, he
retired to public house, and remained
there till his money was exhausted. That
about IL o'clock on the Saturday night, be
returned home as usual, very inebriated.--
That this deponent was then in bed, and
desired her husband to blow out the candle.
That the deceased raised the candle ~ his
head for that purpose Immediately tre-
mendous explo.ion took place, and the
whole room seemed filled with liquid fire.
That this DEF oncnt tainted, and knows not
what afterwards took place.
Henry Thompson, surgeon, depcsed,
that about twelve months ago be was called
to attend the deceased, for hurt he had
rece we'd in his leg. That he found the
constant habit of drinking whiskey had re-
duced the deceased to a depiorable habit
Of body. That the wound in consequence
still! continued open. That yesterday
morning he called as usual, to visit the de.
(teased, and found the house in state Of
great disorder. That on entering the a.
partment OF the deceased, a most shocking
sight presented itself. That the two hind
quarters of the deceased had been thrown
with great violence against the opposite
walls. That his ribs were scattered round
the room. That one arm, with the shout
der, was on the top OF a chest of drawers:
the other seemed TO have been projected
on the bed, and was lying behind ii. That
his head was not in the room, but, that
there was hole in the ceiling through
which it appeared to have passed. The
deponent further said, thai he had no doubt
whatever, but that tie deceased CAME by
his death i'll consequence OF his system De
ing SO saturated with alcohol, or spirits,
as to render his breath inaau.mable and
that, attempting to blow out the candle, he
must have taken FIRE and exploded. That
during his attendance on the deceased, he
had observed the WhlsGey had so peryaded
his frame, tina: flies, in aIighting on his hand
or even attempting TO fly over him, fell in.
toxicaled a, his feet. Mr. Thompson like
wise stated, that many Instances OF SINH.
lar death are mentioned in the medical
books, but that the only case of the kind
which had ever come within his personal
knowledge. was during the Peninsuiar war,
where an officers wife exploded, in conse-
quence Of having drank considerable
quantity Of gunpowder in tea.s
Lawrence Meagher deposcd, that bis
wife and lie occupied the room Immediate
ly over the deceased that late on Saturday
night, the bed in which they were sleeping
was raised with such violence as to throw
them out on the floor, one at each side
That, to their great horror and a,nazement
they found on raising The feather bed, a hu-
man head, forced through the paillasse.-|
I hat the neck where it had been torn from
the shoulders was still bleeding. That the
eyes continued to open and shut, and that
the teeth still chartered. That upon regard
ing it attentively, they recognized the fea-
lures of their poor friend, Pat. Roper.
"The Jury, summoned from the neigh
borhood, brought in verdict of-"Died by
imprudeatly blou,ng outa candle cfer get
ting comfortably drunk"
*Quere-Did not the witness mean gun
powder-tea
Nez,- York. April &c,
The Amity, Manhattan, and Euphrates
| were announced. from Liverpool. and all
c,ne mn last evening i'm oI DAYS passage