The Yazoo Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1840-07-10
THE ALTON EYPTO sTON

~ me following extract from the Alton
Telegraph Of the 25th uIt., II viii be seen
that the effects ofthe late explosion at Az
ton, Illinois, were more disastrous than our
first accounts led us 10 anticipate:
"A little before - O'Clock, on last We'd
nesday night, the citizens Of Alton we're ar
oased from their slumbers BY an explosion
lncomparably louder, as well as BY far more
destructive, than the discharge Of one hum
dTed pieces Of The heaviest ordinance.-Hun-
dFeds Immediately hurried towards State
sire & from the direction Of which the repoft
seemed 20 have proceeded; when ii was as
certained that il was occasioned BY the Blow
ing up ofthe Powder Magazine, situated on
the southern decliyity ofthe blali, few rods
west Of the Penitentiary, and containing at
that time upwards of SIX TONS or POWDER.
To describe with some degree Of minute
ness the damage done BY this catasiTophy,
would dll seveTl columns IF our journal.
Suffice il, therefore, to remark ID general
terms, that scarcely one single building,
within the thickly settled part Of the city,
remains uniniured; aud that some OF those
nearest the magazine have been literally re-
duced to a heap Of ruins. Chimneys de.
molished --roois started, and nearly blown
and window frames shivered
70 atoms-are among the results Of the ex-
plosion. But, although fragments Of the
stones ofwhieh the magazine had been con-
stFucted, we're hurled with Fesisiless force ia
every diTections some of them TO the distance
of upwards Of mile, perforaiing houses and
overthroHing every thing which stood ii
their way, no life has been lost, nor, as far
as our information extends, has any serious
injury been done 10 the person of any one.
Of the many hair-bFeadth escapes which
have come 10 our knowledge, we may brief
~ notice the following Mr. J. II. Hodges
and bis wife were sleeping ii their house on
Market street, about one third ola mile from
the magazine. A piece Of stone. supposed
to weigh about fifty pounds, perforated tie
roOfof their dwelling; aud forcing is way
through the garret floor, descended in a
slanting direction within few inches Of
their heads, and broke through the partition
into an adjoining room without doing either
Of them the least injury. Mrs. Iomlinson
and her daughter were in like manner asleep
ID tie same bed at their residence on Third
street, having between them child about
two years old--belonging 70 a gentleman Of
this place who had lost his wife-of whom
Mrs T. was taking caTe.--Seeing the fash,
he worthy woman, alarmed for the safety Of
her precious charge, Immediately snatched
! up and Rugged Il to her bosom; when
heavy stone, bursting through the building,
ell between mother and daughter, ID The
,ery place previously occupied By the child,
without touching either of them. Another
arge fragment 3 stone forced lis way ii ike
manner through the building occupied BIZ the
amily 81 Nj. 4. Clifford, on State street,
md fell iii the corner 81 lower room where
is children had slept for severn moths past;
lnthis wife, BIZ some unaccountable impulse.
avinQ moved their bed q few hours Drsri-
usly to different part Of The house. hev
II escaped unhurt Two young girls, whose
ames We have not heard. were Is6 Sleep
ne in the same bed, 10 another part 81 lho
lily; when heavy stone fell Immediately
etween them. slightly grazinQ ihe limbs of
dc, but iniicting i'd material injury ga eilh-
The belief universally prevails that he
xplosion was the work ct some desperate
illain Of villains but although xerl'on Ids
cen used for the detection Of the perpetra-
'Fs, they still remain undiscovered. Two
adigidv1als were taken up on suspicion on
Wednesday sbnl lschaEged after having been
a0 rg'd examination Ell.
enees sufficient Is justify their detention.
eng brought forward inst them. twill
q ohseIyo8 81 an adrefasgmcntin another
oInmn, That reward 81 $500 las been Sc
cred bg lho Common Council iorthe arnlo
ension and conricliono Sc The Offenders The
amaqes done io buildings and other looaf-