The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-30

LOT sQuhIls
- From the New York Commercial Adrer.
User of Saturday evening last, we extract the
following explicit account of the sad catastro.
phe at Hu-l Gate:
SAD ACCIDENT AT HURL GATE.-A terrible
accident happened at Hurl Gate yesterday after.
noon, in the course of the operations going on
there, to remove the distractions from the chan.
mel of the river. The particulars in full are not
yet ascertained. So far as known, they are in
cluded in the annexed narrative, copied from the
Courier:
II appears that Mons MaiIlefert has hitherto
been using tin canisters containing charge OF
l25 lbs. of gunpowder, al each blast; yesterday,
for the first time, he tried an experiment with
new canister or cylinder of cast IRON.
About tao O'Clock having fred one Charge on
the Frying Pam" without much effect, NJ.
Maillefert proceed to let down another charge.
There were two boats, and five persons in the
party, NJ. Maillefert and his brother.in-l oc-
cuped one boat, and young man named Theo-
dore~ Southland, and two laboring men, one Of
who'll was named John Whalon in the ether.
In this latter boat, the cylinders containing the
charges, and communicating with wires ready to
be attached 10 the battery IN u. Maileferts boat
were deposited. When all had been made ready,
and the Charge lowered upon the rock 10 be
blasted, Tire young man Theodore Southland
handed N. Malefert a wire, which, it is supposed,
instead Of leading TO the charge under water, was
attached 10 the cylinder 10 the boat.
Not suspecting this unfortunate blunder Of
young Southard's, NJ. Mailleiert AMI bis brother.
in.law rowed of some forty yards from the other
boat, and fred the charge. The effect Of the
explosion Of l25 lbs. Of gunpowder closely
packed in an iron cylinder Were Of course ter
rife. The boat containing souihard and his
companions was blown 10 atoms, ard its occu-
pants sent flying high through the air. or one
nan. no trace has been discovered. OF another,
a headless. irnless. legless trunk was picked up
by row beat and taken 10 Stevens = ONT, where
il now is. Southland himself was very seriously
injured, both externally and internally. lie
was blown 70 q considerable distance and picked
up by the crew Of a sloop which Vas passing,
who CONVEYED him 10 Astoria where he and his
two unfortunate companions resided His ply
stefan. DR.. A. ii. Stevens, spesks fayorably Of
his condition. but il is 10 be feared that his
wounds are fatal.
! Mons. Maiilefer and his broiher.n law were
in one Of Fnncts metallic life. boats and so great
/ was the shock, that notwithstanding they were
at the distance Of forty yards at least from where
the other boat was--ihey were both blown some
forty feet into the air, and cane down in the
river. Both were injured NJ Maillefert's
shoulder, we understand, is broken, and he is
/ much burned and bruised Ills life however i.
not despaired Of His brother.in.law's injuries
are comparatively slight
The shock Of the explosion was so great thai
al the houses in the neighboraood for half
/ mile or so were shaken 10 the foundation. A
L many people were watching thc operations o
the blasters, q number Of small boats instantl
went 10 the assistance Of the sufferers. NJ
! Maillefert and his brotherin.la were pickle
/ up by some men in row boat and carried 4
| the house of a friend in Astoria, where the
were Immediately attended by DIR. A. II. Ste
yens, vino did all in his power TO alleviate thei
sufferngs
IT, e life.boat which NJ Maillefert used on III
occasion was so much shattered as 10 be entire
4 ly useless. An effort was made TO tow il ashor,
| but il was abandoned, as but little besides III
bow was left Of her.
! The accident might have been much wors
than il was, bot for little delay, which, thong
provoking TO the parties concerned at the TEN,
was probably the means of saving their live
NJ. Maillefert's lady and family had made an al
pointment to go with him TO see the operatio
OF The new cylinder. They arrived at the star
i ing point, however, few moments after III
boats bad left, and did not see their friends apai
until they we're called TO mister at their be-
sides. The feelings Of the ladies' at their prov
Dental escape may well be imagined.