The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-09-15
From tho Christian Intelligencer,
Explosion of a BOmb.ShelL
ny J. S. C. ABBOTT.

J.. S. C. ABBOTT.
lew weeks ago there accidental explo-
sion of bomb-shel in Charlton street, New York.
And as CHANGED 10 be at the spot but few minutes
after the explosion, will give you a description OF
the terrible scene as it met my eye. was sitting in
my house, about quarter OF mile from the place
oil the explosion, at O'Clock p. NJ, when the whole
house was shaken by the report OF apparently the
heaviest piece Of artillery. was Just preparing TO
go down town, and taking omnibus soon saw a
multitude OF men and boys running towards Charlton
street. In n moment more n crowd came round tho
corner OF Charlton street into Hudson street. bearing
the body OF a we'll dressed man upon a window shut
ter. They crossed the street directly by the omni-
bns, and observed that the whole backside of the
head was blown of, and the blood and brains were
dripping down upon the shut or. Perceiving indca-
tIdns Of great excitement in tho rapidly gathering
crowd, and hearing EXPLANATIONS Of explosion ter
ribe explosion &C., left the omnibus TO learn the
causc Of the disaster Entering Charlton stree guild
ed by hundreds who were rushing to that point from
all quarters observed both sides of tho street for
little distance, that the win dows were entirely de-
molshed, the frames in many places blown in, doors
shattered, and holes blown actually through the sides
ofhouses. In one place, 40 rods, I should Judge,
u
was blown through the front of frame house, large
enough for n man 10 enter. Upon the side walk in
front of shop of old ron lay in disorder, some 80
or 40 rusty bomb shells, bout inches in diameter.
TWAS said by the crowd that man had one of these
between his knees, endeavoring lossen the charge
with stick, when it exploded, producing this scene
of destruction and carnage. The body OF this man
was to pieces and scattered through the Streets Oh
stree; at little distance, approached it, and saw
apparently large piece of butchers meat, which a
boy pushing about with his foot. On examining
it, it proved TO be the lower portion of mans leg,
with tho crushed bones and mnnsled flesh. "The
Leg" said by ISLANDER, ''was blown over into Hud-
son street" crowd was collected round a window
sill gazing at some object. II was mans hand, the
fingers burnt, and crushed, and blackened, having
been torn from the body, and thrown with violence
against the brick wall. The manged trunk OF the
unfortunate man, headless and limbess, had been
carried into the house, and the shrieks of his wife
were heard over the bloody remains. Upon an iron
window frame lay the and bloody body of anoth-
or man. A fragment OF the shell had torn away one
half Of his head. He dead His blood and
brains were dripping down upon the pavement, and
dny-laborer had thumb and finger upon his eyes, TO
close them forever. Two young men who happened
to be passing by in the middle of the street, were liz
orally blown up into the air, and fell with broken and
mangled limbs upon the pavement. They both died,
believe, the next day. In the street lay a horse,
dead and it singular that he also had the whole
Of the back of his head torn off by fragment of the
shell. beautiful wagon,to which he attached
was also demolished the spokes of the wheels broken
and the vehicle almost to pieces.
Such was the devastation produced BY the explo-
sion Of single shell. And yet this shell did but per-
form its function. 1t made for this very purpose
to destroy property and life. 1t was made to DO
thrown into the crowded streets of city thero to ex
pode, and blow up houses, and tear limb from limb
This the function Of the instrument. And this
is To throw such missiles as these into the
crowded streets Of city is the business Of war; As
looked at this with essed its carnage and wo
and reflected that il the work of one single she'll
and then reflected upon the conster nation and horror
which must be produc ed by raining down n shower
of these shells upon cy crushing their way through
the roofs of the houses poding in the chambers OF
the dying, or in parlors there mothers and daugh-
and infant children ga thered in terror, never
did deeply feel before the horrors, the unmi,i-
gated inquiy Of war; did so deeply feel that
i: the-duy Of every who has voice to speak
or pen with which write, to devote all his nfiu-
promote the abolition of this iend like work
When Napoleon, with his blood stained army, ar
rived before the walls of Vienna, he planted his bat
eries, and in less than ten hours threw three thou
sand Of these horrible proecties into the CITY, Three
hundred Of these bomb shells exploded every hour
Eve every minute, in the streets and houses Of this
crowded metropolis Who can imagine the terrors
Of that dreadful night, when amid tho thunders OF
lery, the cry and uproar of contendng armies, and
counngratons breaking out on every side, these ter
ribe shells. like fiery meteors with porientous glare
sireaking tho air, and descending like haistones
upon the doomed city. Crashing through the roofs