Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-08-14
EXPLOSION OF THE GUN-CoTToN MILL.


We extract from the London Times the follow
ing account of the terrific explosion of the Gun
Cotton Mill, at Faversham in England, on the 18th
July, by which some seventy lives were lost
ssThe buildings the scene of the explosion Immediately
abu upon the Ham marsh being only separated from by
canal And here may be well describe their
structure when Standing Before the introduction of gun
cotton they USED for the purpose of drying gunpowder,
and called stoes they four in number and stood
in row. before the other, with mound OF earth in
pyramdca form, OF about twenty feet base between EACH
cut off communication in the OF accident but the
sequel will show Of how little this precaution
ference the guncoon for had the explosion Of
the contents of stove No. taken place than the flames i'm
mediaey communicated 10 No. B. and it, with its contents
well those of No. A, blown into the air, leaving
literally stone upon another. The immense bars of
iron forming the machinery bent and broken they
had been twg and the massive beams OF timber rent
asunde and lay scattered about small pieces in every drec
ton Indeed language is incapable Of depicting the scene Of
dcsolation.
CA few minutes after the explosion, men, women, and
children hunying to the Of destruction
ous for the safety of relative engaged in the works. and
the alarm of all still heightened by report that another
explosion momenariy expected, Of building (sove No
y containing upwards of two hundred barrels of gunpowde
which only separated from stove No. by mound Of
earth.
'The scene now scarcely to be depicted. Hundreds
who had been hung to the spot were now retracing their
steps, fearful every of being sacrificed themselves
AS however, the engines began arrive, confidence
somewhat restored and many ventued TO close TO the
burning ruins The engines began pouring in volumes
Of WATER but considerable time before any visible ef
feet made the flames, Of combustbe nature
the materials used in the manufacture.
Al hands directed, the fire became
what subdued the Of the sufferers beneath the ruins
whose cries for help were hearendng in the extreme One
by one however, the bricks and timber cleared away
they extricaed many of them although much burnt
and bruised, yet alive They were Immediately
veyed adjacent building, where every attention paid
them by Mcssrs Graud and Shape, Surgeons and,
could be obtained, they carried to
their respective homes.
'The exerons of the assisting the engines and clear
ing away the rubbish praiseworhy the extreme and
those exertons be attributed the saving Of many
lives. Search made in the marshes and fields adj
joining and here the mutated remains OF several found
many yards from the of destruction They inn
mediately gathered up and removed, and though few
bodies recognised the limbs of could not be- and
they were put together baskets await the inquest One
poor fellow named Ransom, who haymaklng adj
joining field knocked down by the report, but
he recovered hmsefh FASTENED the spot render every
assistance his power and succeeded IN escung three
tour OF the sufferers but poor little fellow, whose brother
also fell victim, died in his
Aer rendering all the assistance in his power, towards
evening he complained of pain in his chest during
the night he much worse and Thursday morning
though every employed to relieve him, death
ieved him from his suilerings-hus falling victim TO his
exertons in the of humanity He had been married
but few months. Workmen engaged the whole Of
Wcincsday-the day of the exploson-and Thursday in
clearing the ruins, and up to Friday.
The effect Of the explosion Of this agent to have
been alike destructive and singular
"The extraordinary effect of the explosion the buildings
in the neighborhood, and the conelds in the vicinity
cannot possibly be realized except by eyewitness The
roofs Of all the buildings within about quarter OF mile OF
the explosion completely stripped of their tiles, and the
walls much shaken. Even in the town of Faveham, fully
mile distant from the of the disaster windows
broken and the houses otherwise damaged in instances
On the opposite side of the which forms the northern
boundary of the Marsh Works is field Of wheat Of
tent The explosion has completely blasted this space
Of about two acres, and the dropping and discoloed
present of desolaon in perfect character with the
adjoining ruins. The willow which skirt the bank
the referred to- and indeed all the trees within about
fifty yards Of the buildings Nos. and 4, up by the
roots and scattered about in all directions Those more dis
less seriously injured, but the foliage Of all within
very large circle is wholly destroyed. One Of the most
markae effects Of the explosion the removal il appears
almost bodily of the mound Of earth skiring the
No. tove. Another instance of its power shown IN
the fordbe election from deep well of two massive pumps
The caen pipes OF which, nearly twenty feet long
drawn Up and thrown to very considerable distance.
aTte explosion heard an enormous distance from
Faverslam At Deal and Maidstone, and even at some
places than thirty miles from the scene of the accident
parties are described to have heard il distinctly.
II MY be interesting to state that the strength of
just six times that of gunpowder in other words, ten
lrachm Of the cotton equal to two Of powder