The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-06-10
From the .Ne,c York Commercial advertiser
Of Friday last.
DREADFUL EXPLOSION.


of the destruction of the Steam Frigate
Fulton, at the Navy Yard, Brooklyn, and
the killing and wonndlng of great number
of men, by the explosion of the powder
Magazine.
The Fulton has ever since the war, been
occupied as receiving ship, and was moor
ed 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 no louder than that produced
by the discharge of Il single cannon and
many persons in the Navy Yard supposed
the report to have proceeded from such
source, until they saw the immense column
Of smoke arising from the vessel. Others
about the yard saw the masts rising into the
air before the explosion, and Immediately
after, the air was filled with fragments of
the vessel. 1t is not a little remarkable
that a. Mldshipman who was, at the time
of the accident, asleep on board the frigate
U. States, within two hundred yards of the
frgate, was not at all disturbed by the re-
port of the explosion, and was not aware of
the occurrence, until he was told of it after
! he awoke.
The Fulton is complete wreck; the bow
| being destroyed nearly to the water, and
the whole of this immense vessel, whose
sides were more than four feet thick, and
! all other parts of corresponding strength
is now lying an entire heap of ruins,
bIrst asunder in all parts, and aground at
the spot where she was moored. Although
she was but two hundred yards from the
Navy Yard, and many vessels near her, not
one of them received the least damage ::
nor was the bridge which led from the
shore to the Fulton, at all injured. The
sentinel upon the bridge received no
wound whatever, and continued to perform
his duty after the accident, as unconcerned
as though nothing had happened. The
sentinel on board the ship was less fortu
nate, and escaped with merely Ia slight ac-
cdent on such occasions) a broken leg.
There were attached to the Fulton, by the
Roll of the ship, I43 persons; and at the
time G. the explosion, there was supposed
to have been on board the vessel about
sixty persons.
The bodies of twenty fve persons have
been brought on shore and placed in collins
Twenty-onc officers and privates were
wounded, most Of them severely.
1t happened, fortunately, that sixty-two
men, formerly attached to the frigate were
drafted on Tuesday, and had proceeded to
Norfolk to form part of the crew of the fiig-
ate Constellation, now on the eve of depart
ure for foreign station. The band, IL in
number, were 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 charged by one of the officers pre-
viously to his going below, to be careful ;
and soon after, the explosion took place.
We understand that he was man between
fifty and sixty years Of age, and had lust
been appointed to that office; the old Gun
ner having been discharged the day before.
I He was desired by Lieht. Breckenridge to be
cautious with the light, and to place it on the
location invariably provided for it, on such
occasions, viz, behind rejecting glass in
light are thrown. 1t is supposed he had
been careless In this particular. and that
having carried the candle into the magazine
some of its sparks were communicated to
I the powder; but as he is among the dead
nothing certain upon this point can ever be
known. Lieut.. Null states, that the neces-
sary precautions had been taken for opening
the magazine, and a sentinel placed at the
hatch before he left the deck, and that after
neing in the ward room some twenty minutes
the explosion took place.
! At the time of the explosion the officers
were dining in the ward room. The lady of
Lieut.. Breckenridge, and the son of Lieut.
Platt lad of about nine years old, were
i guests, both of whom were wounded. the
latter very severely. Another account saws
Lieut.. Null, who was sitting next to the son
OF Lieut.. Platt, with great presence of mind.
caught hold of him and placed him in one of
the port holes, by which means he ESCAPED
uninjuged. Lieut.. Piatt, had returned onlv
I yesterday morning, having been absent one
month, on leave. Com. Chauncey, with the
commander of the frigate, Captain Newton.
left her only few minutes before the ex
plosion-the former having been on board
on a visit of inspection.
The room in which the officers were din
ing was situated about midsbip. The whole
company at the table were forced, by the
conclusion, against the transom, with such
violence as to break their limbs, and other
| wise cut and bruise them in a shocking
manner.
| The magazine was situated in the bows
of the vessel. This part ofthe ship, as NAV
well be imagined, is completely demolished.
Indeed the ship remains as complete
wreck as probably was ever beheld. Many
OF the guns were thrown overheard, and
some of them {of large dimensions) now
hang as it we're by hair.
The bodies of the dead were shockinety
mangled their features distorted, and so
much blackened, that it was difficult to
recognize them.
| The tide being at the ebb, immense guam
titles Of the fragments of the ship aoated
down in front of the city, and hundreds of
small boats were seen busily engaged in
securing them.
We learn that the injury of Lieut.. Plat,
is so serious, that but faint hope is in
dulged of his recovery.
| What is a very remarkable circumstance.