The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1841-08-31
TRUMAN GRANDY, Secretary.
DREADFUL CATASTROPHE .

We learn by passengers who arrived from the
West Saturday evening, that most lamentabe
catastrophe occurred al Syracuse FRIDAY evening.
About 10 o'clock fine broke out in carpenters
shop situated short distance north of the Canal
and near the Salina street bridge (which attracted
the attention Of numerous bodies Of he,citiZens of
that vilIage-Whi gazing at the progress OF the
fire, an explosion took place, caused by the fire
communicating to several barrels Of gun powder,
which was stored unknown TO the bystanders in
the building then on fire.
AS soon as the nation caused by this
dreadful accident had subsidized, it was discovered
that AL awful loss of life had taken place. The
| bodies of the unfortunate individuals were
| gathered 10 gether, some so dreaduly mutilateG
as scarcely TO be recognised.
We are not yet in possession of the full extent
of this shocking affair. Exclusive of the follow
ing list, for which we are indebted to Mr. Fox of
| Syracuse, we understand there are upwards of
fifty persons wounded, many, it is feared, fit ally
! E. H. Hough, druggist.
| u. Dwight livery stable keeper
| J. Durntord, jr. lawyer.
| II. Goings, carpenter.
| w. Conkn, butcher.
| j. Stanton, stone-cutter.
- Baker, a boy.
| Lake, shoemaker.
| c. A. Maffatt book keerer
| Noah Hoyt, carriage-maker.
G. w. Burdick Clay.
H. T. Gibson merchant, formerly partner of
MIR. Chaplin, of The City Hotel in this city,
foreman of Engine No. 3, had his head almost
blown off and his body was found in the canal
He was one OF our principal business men, and
| has left distracted wife and children
| In addition to the above, which we issued in
an extra on Saturday afternoon, we are indebted
to the Western State Journal and the Onondaga
Standard for the following additional particu-
lars:
One of the most deeply affecting events that
ever occurred in our town, took place last night
At about half past O'Clock the alarm of fire was
given, which brought most of our citizens TO a
wooden building situated on the low path of the
Osweso canal, nearly In the rear of the County
Clerk office, and occupied as Joner's shop by
Charles Gongs. At the lime we had reached
the spot, the roof of the building was completely
IN developed IN flames. The engine companies
were near the fire, and 10 be doing good execu-
ton. Presently we heard the CRY Of "Powder !
Powder! There is Powder in the building %
! When this cry was first given, nearly the whole
crowd rushed back, but the move was momeuta-
~. Most OF those near the fire maintained their
position, and very few appeared TO place any
credit in the report. At this time we were stan
ding within fifty or sixty feet OF the hames-the
building had been on fire perhaps fifteen minutes
when tremendous explosion took place. COM
pletely checking the fire and demolishlng the
building This explosion lasted we should think
4, or seconds, filling the air with fragments of
the building, and creating the greatest consrer-
nation imaginable. The noise of the explosion
having ceased, all was still for moment, and
then the most heart-rending groans that ever
reached our ears were distinctly heard
The first person whom we me; after the shock
was Mr.. Myers, lock tender, tall, athletic man,
with part of his face blown off, and his head and
shoulders completely covered with cinders and
blood. He begged some one to go home with
him, and two persons readily accompanied him.
The next was person brought out dead one
side of his head having been blown off, and his
brains fallen out. Oh, Mercy, what sight.
From this followed other scenes which it is i'm
possible 10 describe.-All was confusion Al
though the sight of the dead and the diving was
horrible, it was scarcely less than that Of The
living, inquirng for their relatives-parents for
their children, and wives, almost frantic with
despair, for tier husbands.
Every thing we believe. was done that could
have been done under the circumstances. An
extra train OF cars was run to Auburn for phvsi
clans, and our hotel keepers threw open their
doors for the reception of the wounded. We
were on the ground an hour after The explosion
occurred, and witnessed the greatest kindness on
the part of all. Every effort was made to extri-
cate the bodies and 10 afford all the consolation
and relief that could be afforded.