Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-06-12
DOMESTIC.
From the ~ l.. Commercial .7dp. Of June 4
DREADFUL EXPLOSION.

Os
the killing and wounding of great number OF
men, by the explosion OF the powder magazine.
we have collected the particulars Of this terrible
catastrophe chiefly from the Daily Advertiser and
Gazette--having also made visit TO the melan-
chOly spot, to collect such additional facts as
have lansPiTed since these papers were put TO
press.
The Fulton has ever since the war, been occ,-
pied a receiving ship and was moored within
two hundred yards Of the shore. The magazine
was in the bow OF the ship, and contained at the
time OF the explosion, but three barrels OF damaged
powder. The explosion was not louder than that
produced by the discharge of single cannon; and
many persons in the Navy Yard supposed the re-
port to-haye proceeded from such source, until
they saw the immense column OF smoke ersiRg
from the vessel. Others about the ward saw the
inasts rising into the air before the explosion, and
immediately after, the air filed with frag-
ments of the vessel. Ii ism Q little remarkable
that Midshipnan who was, at the time OF the &C.
Cident asleep on board OF due irigate U. States
within Two hundred yards of the irigate was not
1T all disturbed by the report of the explosion, and
waSuo aware OF the occurrence, until he was told
q! Il after he awoke.
The Ftlton is a complete wreck the bow be-
ing destroyed nearly 10 the water, and the whole
Of this immense vessel, whose sides were more
than four feet thick, and all other parts of cores
ponding Strengths now lying entire heap of
ruins, burst asunder in all parts, and aground at
the spot where she was moored. Although she
bmt 200 yards from the Navy Yard, and ma
ny vessels near her, not one of them received the
east damage; nor was the bridge which led from
he shore 10 the Fulton, at all injured. The sen.
incl upon the bridge received no wound whate-
yer, and continued TO perform his duty after the
accident, uncOncerned as though nothing had
happened. The sentinel on board the ship was
less fortunate, and escaped with merely "a slight
accideu. or such occasOns) a broken leg. There
were attached 10 the Fulton, by the roll Of the
ship, li3 persons and, at the time of the explo-
sion, there were supposed 10 have been on beard
the vessel about sixty persons
1t happened fortunately that sixty two men for
Inerly attached 10 the frigate, were drafted on
Tuesday, and had proceeded TO Norfolk TO form
part OF the crew OF the lrgaIe Constellation now
on the eve OF departure for foreign station. The
band, IL in number, on shore.
This dreadful accident was occasioned by the
Gunner's going into the magazine, to procure
powder to fire the evening gun. He was charg-
ed by one OF the officers previously to his going
below 10 be careful, and after, the explosion
took place We understand that he was man
between so and go years OF age, aud had just been
appointed TO that Office; the old Gunner having
been discharged the day before. He was desired
by Lieut. Breckenridge to be cautious with the
light, and to place II IN the location inv ariably pro-
yided for it, on such occasions, viz behind a re-
hcciing glass in the partition, through which the
rays Of light thrown. It is supposed he had
been careless in this particular, and that hav-
ing carried the candle into the magazine some of
rs sparks were communicated to the powder; but
IS he is among the dead nothing certain upon this
point can ever be known. Lieut.. Null states, that
the necessary precautions had been taken for
opening the magazine and centinel placed at the
Hatch before he left the deck, and that after being
III the ward room some twenty minutes the egplo-
sion took place.
At the lime of the explosion, the officers were
dining in the ward room. The lady OF Lieut..
Breck enridge, and the of Lieut. Plat, lad of
about nine years old, were guests, and one account
says both were slightly wounded. Another ac-
count says Lieut.. Null, who was sitting next TO
the son OF Lieut.. Plat, with great presence of
mind, caught hold of him and placed him in one of
nungt hole hxy iNia
cured. Lieut. Plat, had returned only yesterday
morning, having been absent month, on leave.
Com. Chauncey,wth the commander of the frigate
Capt. Newton, left her only few minutes before
the eXposion-the former having been on board on
a vis; oil Inspection.
The escape OF Miishp;nan Eckford seems TO
have been almost miraculous. When Commodore
Chauncey (who was one Of the first to reach the
vesseD got on board, the first object he saw was
young Ecktord hanging by one OF his legs between
the gun deck, whittier he had been forced by the
explosion. Is jack screw Immediately pro
cured by Of which the deck was rails
ed and he was extricated from his peVous stua-
ton.
The room in which the officers were dining was
Situated about midships. The whole company al
the table were forced, by the conclusion, against
limbs, and otherwise cut and tTuise them in
shocking manner.
The magazine was situated in the bows Of the
vessel. This part of the ship as NAV well be inn
remains as complete wreck as probably was ever
beheld The timbers throughout appear to have
been rtectly rotten. Many of the guns were
thrown overheard, and some of them (of large di-
mensions) now hang as it were by hair.
The bodies Of the dead and wounded were brot
on shore as soon as circumstances would permit
The former, after being recognized, put in
TO coifins. The latter were carried 10 the Hospi-
tai OF the Navy ard and every attention paid to
them. The bodies OF the dead were shockngly
mangled; their features distorted, and so much
biackened, that il was difficult to recognize them
All the physicians of Brooklyn, and several from
this city, prOffered their services, which proved
very acceptable.
AZ soon the intelligence reached the city,
thousands Of persons visited the wreck of the Full
Ton. Fhe steamboats, their passage up the
g1sr, stopped 10 learn the particulars, and hun
c.eds Vi small boats proceeded to the spot. The
Navy yard was also filled with persons making en-
Quiries after their relations friends, and express
sing much anxiety 10 see the bodies, for the per-
pose Of sscerlaining whether they were among the
dead or wounded.
The interest excited by the news OF this event,
was last evening intense and universal. Nor has
II abated this morning.
Commodore ChaUncey and the officers Of the |
station we're board the wreck, after the |
explosion, giving directions to remove the scatter
ed timber, In order that search might teke |
place Tor such bodies might be buried in the |
ruins.
The tide being at the ebb, immense quantities |
OF the fragments OF the ship hoated down in front
Of the city, and hundreds Of small boats were seen
busy engaged in securing them
Since the foregoing was prepared, we have had |
a call from an officer who left the hulk since ten
o'clock The tide had come in, 50 that she was |
filled with water
We IRE panied 10 learn, that Mrs Rreckenrid,a