Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-03-04

most estimable citizens.
The ruins had not been entirely overhanled
last night, and hence it is not possible TO ascer-
tain certainly the number killed and wounded
We annex Tho names Of the killed and wounded
as far have been able TO get them.
KILLED.
Joseph Bonsal, Land Agent.
Caleb w. Taylor, Of the late firm Of Woodnut
s. Company.
III. S. Edmands, Pork Packer.
J. S. Chamberlain. Pattern NJ iker.
IL o. Merrill. Painter,
John Ohe. a German laborer.
Aud two or three other German laborers, whose
names could not ascertain.
WOUNDED.
OF those most severely wounded, arc
George Shto (frm Of Warrington, Shito
g. Coz
H. Thorpe, Inspector Of Pork
Il. G.. Shaeffsr, Printer.
Mr.. Alvord, firm of Pugh & Alyord.
Samuel Schooley, lad
Warren CT. Finch, Carpenter,
John Bakemore, Machinist,
Lewis Wisely,
John M. Vansckle,
Joseph Trefts, arm broken,
A. OppenheImer,
James Tryatt,
Rober, Rice,
VIM. II. Goodloe,
And probably a few others, whose names we
could not ascertain with certainty.
Other bodies may yet be discovered ~ the rn-
ins A few minutes before the explosion, tho
smoke settled to the ground around the corner OF
the building on the canal and Walnut street fronts,
which aused the removal Of the masses Of peo.
pie winch filled those spaces unconscious oil dan
ger. But for ,his the force OF the explosion be.
ing n that direction, the destruction OF lie woud
have been frightfully extensive.
Our noble Fire Department deserves every
commentator. The different Fire Engine, Hose
and Hook md Ladder Companies came on TO The
ground, and commenced operations IN rapid ana
mastery style; and the direct injury from fire was
limited, and confined to the building IN which 1t
originated. Though borne down for moment
by the great explosion, many OF them drenched
with water. and bareheaded, they toied LAHORE
ously for six hours, and many of them all night
Their generous labors cannot be too highly apPre'
ciated.
la Wow Of the melancholy circumstances Of the
case, the loss of property is hardly worth mention
ing There were aboui 200 900 lbs Bacon IN the
Smoke House, totally destroyed, fully insured
however. We understand there was also ssbOoo
insurance on the Pork House, which will rebuild
H. as tho lower floor and foundations are uninJlr-
ed. The surrounding sheds and yards were
filed with barrels of Pork, Bacon and Lard,
which generally got out without much InJu-
~
The Pork House was erected by Mr.. George
W. Jones in 1880, FOR the late Bank of the UNI
ted States, and built in the most faithful and sub
s,aniial manner throughout.
This is tho largest fire that has taken place IN
this city since tho 10Th of last March, when the
Pork House occupied by r. W. Lee Il Co aud
Pugh s. Alvord was destroyed a slight explo-
sion took place them from the peot up smoke and
gasses which shattered tho walls, bat did little
other damage, as the building was open ana part
~ burnt at the moment.
Dr.. Locke has handed US the following expla-
nation OF the causes of the explosion.
Dear Sir:-There is no difficulty in assigning
a rational, and probably the true, cause of the
disastrous explosion which has just occurred in
our city. In every ordinary fire there il intiam
mable gas (carburetted hydrogen) genera ted,
which, when common air is present, is consumed
as fast generated. producing consequently no
explosive effect; indeed. that gas IS the cause OF
ordinary flame. Ii fire occur in a building OF
room, the infammsble gas will be consumed so
long as the common air Of that room can supply
IL, but when that is exhausted, the flame disap-
pears, the combustion becomes smohered, but
STILL the heat continuing, the nhimable gas will
be copious!v produced. until the close fill
ed with 10 the exclusion Of other air. Here
there can be explosion, as there can be no COM
bus,ion without the proper mixture of common
air. But this combus,ihle air bursts out of the
windows, or escapes from any opening into the
atmosphere. then It may be lighted and will cou-
tnue 10 burn. Still the flame will not pa IS back
ward Ito the room, unless common air can 90
with il. Hence often see volume Of black
ened smoke rolling densely out of building un-
burned, until il has pushed itself some distance
into the air, where il will be capped by famo.-
The two conditions. then. under which no explo
sion can ensue in case OF fires are:
l. When the nflammabe air is consumed as
fast as generated, which will happen when there
is plentiful supply of common DIR.
9. When there Is so little air that an accumu-
linton Of iutiammabe air excludes all common air
From the particular circumstances of the ex-