The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-13
Tn. Lat. FurIo.,on In rb,,.a.,,h,a.

The dreadful explosiog during the devastating
confa grafton, with which the city of Philadelphia
has been lately visited involving at the time
lamentable loss Of life and awful destruction Of
property, has ihrown the inhabitants of that city
into state of alarm and conservation, and has
aroused, in no small degree, the attention and
anxiety of the whole country The fearful con-
sequences which followed the explosion, naturally
give rise to desire of insiitutng an investigation
into the probable Of the catastrophe ia order
to prevent in some manner the repetition Of the
came casualty for the future. Accordingly, with
pleasure we perceive the announcement, that the
coroner Of that city has determined to make
careful and rigid examination into the cause of the
late explosion, as far it can be ascertained by
strict inquiry. In the meantime, there are va
rous opinions and rumors of very con-
Trajectory nature ahoat, concerning the origin Of
this dreadful disaster. Notwithstanding the firm
declaration made by the proprietor of the store in
which this lamentable occurrence took place, Of
the total absence of gunpowder at the time public
opinion can scarcely reconcile itself to the proba
bility that the quantity of saltpere which the store
contained, could produce such fearful results. In
support Of the superstition that gunpowder was in
the building, it is rumored that a drayman asserts
sore some days previous to the accident, and that
a gentleman observed, at the moment of the ex-
plosion, black, ptchy cloud of rmoke, smi-
lar to that evolved by gunpowder. 1t is, how
ever, well established fact that saltpetre,
when accumulated inglarge quantities, and held
state of fusion, will explode with a
terrific effect, especially when it comes in
contact with carbon, which, in fire of this descrip-
oil ,pxa I,, tba
have been the immediate cause of this dreadful
casualty, it is the duty of the Coroner to endeavor
TO discover it by instituting minute and rigid in-
vestigaon into all the facts and circumstances and
thereby to restore quetude to the minds of the in
habants of that city and, if the result of the ex
animation establish the fact of the presence of gun
powder, let the refractory parties suffer the utmost
severity of the law.
This melancholy disaster, in connection with
that which recently took place in Brooklyn from
the came cause, although accidentally it did not
prove fatal, should arouse the attention of the
city authorities The dsplorable loss of life
the awful destruction of property, which gene
rally attends such explosions, and the ruin and
desolaton Of the many families, whose friends and
relations have fallen victims to the catastrophe, ur
gently demand the energetic exertion of the magis-
trates in general BY virtue of the power with
which they are invested they can adopt and en-
force such measures as will prevent the recurrence
of such sad disasters. Let them examine all the
public stores and warehouses, where combs stible
and explosive materials, such as gunpowder, salt
petre, ETC., generally stored up, and have them
instantly removed. Saltpetre, although it has
hitherto been customary to preserve it in buildings
within the city, is very dangerous article, and it
has been incontestbly demonstrated that in large
quantities it proves to be Of very explosive nature
Let the city authorities, then, exert themselves
wards the spe dy removal Of all such explosive sub
stances from within the city, and the danger Of
such a fatality will be entirely obviated.