American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-11-24
CITY INTEGIJGENCE.

Terrible Calamity Explosion Of PotUder
MH-LosS Of Life and Destruction to Property.
Oar city, about half-Past ten o'clock, yester-
day morning, was startled by u sudden shock,
followed in quick succession by two others,
which caused buildings to tremble and win.
dow glass to rattle as If from an earthquake
An alarm Of fire Immediately followed, in con-
sequence Of cloud OF smoke which was seen
rising in the northwest, and which it was at
once conceded came from the direction Of the
extensive Powder Mills of Messrs William II.
Beatty & Sons, at the junction of the Falls
Turnpike and Susquehanna Rail Road, about
seven miles from the city. All doubts were
soon removed, by the intelligence that one of
the mills had exploded, followed by Il distress
sing loss of life, and great destruction to pro-
perty.
The explosion took place in the granting
| mill, in which were five persons, all OF whom
were instantly killed. Their bodies were
dreadluily mangled, some OF their limbs being
suspended Oh the adjacent trees. Francis
Woodward, a youth, was found completely
naked, with one OF his legs blow off, and had
his head dreadlully mashed; James Bush, a
young man, aged about 2 years, was blown 4
distance OF five hundred yards. When found
one Othis arms were of, and part of his chest
completely gone; Nelson Munger, colored
man, was blown to atoms, scarcely part of
his body left. A German, named Kanoot, and
youth named William Braden, were buried
under the ruins. Their bodies, after reno wing
the remains OF the building, were found in quite
a muLilatcd state Mr.. Wright, the sucerin-
tendent Of the mills, and another person, had
lett the room but a few moments before the ca
tastrophe. They had got but few yards from
the building, and were thrown TO the ground
by the shock, but not injured. Great damage
is done TO the houses in the neighborhood.-
The house ofCdpt. Purviance, although stIong-
ly built, is much shattered, his windows are
blown in and much Of his furniture DESTROYED.
MIR. Lyons house is 4 perfect wreck. la Mr.
Armacost's the sash wash blown in--his house
and furniture much injured. The houses of
MessIs Pickering, Swecny, Barnes, the Relay
House, and in fact, all the tenemcnls within
the circumference Of mile from the mills have
had the glass broken in the windows and 9TH
erwise damaged. Mr.. Pckefing's field is
strewod with fragments of the powder house,
and one of his horses blown down, although
three quarters of mile from tho scene. In
short so general destruction has seldom or
never been visited from such cause The
powder house is totally annihilated. 1t was
an awful scene. The gathering Oft the scatter
ed limbs Of those destroyed, and the screams of
the women in search OF their sons and relatives
were awful and terrible. The explosion is sup
posed to have been caused by the wind blowing
sand among the powder, whilst being ground,
by which friction was produced. 1t was not
known what quantity Of powder was in the
mill, but must have been great to have pro.
duced 50 tremendous an explosion, and to have
done SO much damage. Considering the ex-
tent of injury done to dwellings in the neigh
borhood it is fortunate that no more lives were
lost. In some places doors were forced in, locks
and bolts being torn away; but happily no per-
SONS were within reach otthe flying fragments
"A negro hut, about three hundred yards
from the mills, was set on fire and burned
down. Several hose carriages belonging to our
fire companies proceeded to the spot, but could
render no service. A great number of our citi-
zens visited tho ruins, and did all in their power
TO alleviate the sorrows of the relations Of the
unfortunate deceased persons. James Hoop
err, Esq, coroner, went out IN the afternoon,
and held an inquCsl over the bodies. The Jury
returned verdict in accordance with the facts.
We neglected TO state, that two carpenters
at work in barn belonging to Samuel Barnes,
Esq, made narreW escape with their lives
The roof of the building, and several of the
side boards, were blown off, and one Of the men
thrown distance oftwenty feet in front of the
building. Fortunately he sustained no injury
The other workman was Frustrated upon his
back, and likewise escaped uninjurcd.
Parade The Chesapeake Rlhemen, Capt.
Steiner, paraded yesterday afternoon, and look
ed exceedingly well. They were accompanied
by their band, under Capt. LnchaTt
Ticous Deg. Officer League, of the city
police, while passing through one of our streets
yesterday, was ht in the calf of the leg by
vicious dog He drew 4 ''rsyolvcr" and de-
s9q;ched him on he spot.