The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-23


or vas standing with General Swift the powder
caught, and flashed of without explosion after
waiting for that, walked up the sidewalk oppo-
sie the huiding; looked into the cellar. aud saw
the calico burning; being satisfied it would burn,
returned; 1t was very slow, and was again going
until Sas stopped did not 70, and the explosion
sSery soon after that; the front wall thrown
across; u had gone, would probably have been
pIostrated; the quantity of powder had been insult
fcent, judging from the Appearance OF things
where the explosion had been; We found the aoor
and roof had fallen in, one portion was resting
against the adjacent bGiloing che west; il was SO
Frustrated that IL hooks had been employed 10 pull
it, such rs frcmer use, it is my impression the fire
would lave been arrested; that was not DONE he
whole department was sc deranged and de1i0 rallzed
that there was no direction, and no head 70 give
orders; my impression is that the second sier,
or story. rested against the building on the
west l am speaking of tie floors OF she building
that was blown up what portion remained
standing rested aGainst the adjacent building (;
can't say low many stores were between that and
Broad streer there was undoubtedly house. next
Ga the east, considerably injured and set ire by
the explosion; the building on the west, according
to my recollection, did not fall; those timbers ofshe
building in which powder had been employed rested
on the building on the west of it, between lie tme
| took out my watch before the Mayor, and the &C.
tual explosion, was probably an hour; left the
ground about seven o'clock; was at no other explo-
sion on the came street; heard it; there was con
siderable period between the explosions; we waited
for powder; when the powder did arrive, We CON-
menced making the explosions at the different points
we decided on; We decided on those points in the
early part Of the night; | wish to Explain
we went round in the early part, and made
selections of the points for using powder, and
when we returned and saw that the building that
we had decided on had been burnod we chose
ther; did not confne ourselves to any particular
point; We did rst particular points, can't state
that No As was different from the one select
ed; when We came to No. AZ, we fixed upon
it as the best spot to apply the powder; the
fire was burning on the windward the wind was
northwest; the fire brought tho wind from all
quarters We examined the inaammability of
the building, and the property that woald be
saved when we came to Exchange place, we eX-
amiued the vacuum that would be made by blow.
ing up at that point, and we found that by SO do
ing could all the property on the west Of the
streets we applied powder on the east of the build
ing, in Punch alley; we would not place it on tho
west, for we found that by placing il on the east We
would make greater vacuum; the building on
Punch alley had tso corners, it wss wooden build
ing; it was immense explosion; the alley was
very narrow; the cotton in tho opposite store was
set fire; the cotton thrown out and the build
ing WAS saved.
Cress.examined-The statue of my father, which
stood in the Of the Rotunda in tho Exchange,
was burned; visited several grocery stores with Mr..
Lawrence; we got powder in ELK or seven stores; We
were digent In eDdeavoripg TO procure 1t; We made
all the efforts could; wrote note to the officer of
the navy yard, advising him OF the necessity for
sending the powder; we collected the powder as
quickly possible to the corner of Wall and Nassau
streets; ] was very urgent in getting powder to
blow up the buildings: my Impression waa that VIC
cid not proceed as rapidly as the urgency Of tho
case demanded; We used all the powder
we had in the first explosions: General Swift's
opinion was that we had an insuflcency; we
did not like to wait to get more; we thought
1t too important and We did the best we could
with what we had; from the time We started with
the powder until the match was applied, was ff.
teen or twenty minutes; the person in charge used
Ill the despatch he could no time was lost; there
were cannon cartridges, which supposed came from
being applied to the actual explosion was about hve
minutes: the lighted candle was placed q ths com.
bustibles outside the cellar; the person who gnted
it walked away towards the mass Of the people; we
were anxious for the explosions when it delayed in
exploding. walked up to the cellar and saw that
il was burning up to the barrel; l returned, impa-
tient for the explosion, and wished then again to
60 back, but was demonstrated with; j. occupied in
all five minutes
To Mr.. Whitehead-No person but one applied
the match; applied the match; General Swift and
lwere alore; the question between Gs was who would
apply the match, had the greater quantity of pow
der; he was an old soldier, and was lot ambitious,
and he gave it to younger soldier; did not soc
any one but General Swift ia charge
John P. Marsh, examined by Mr. Van Wagner
resided in tbs city of New York in 1895; was book
keeper of Stone, Swan & Co that was the name Of
the firm mt that time; / was with them some
years; / was in the store the night OF
the tire; nearly the whole of the night l
assisted in removing goods; we had erection from
below to come down from the loft, that posder was
to be applied | don't know who said so; was then
in the upper loft; saw DO fire in the loft; we were
putting the goods on sings, and lowering them
through the hatchway; some we're carrying In their
arms was lot at the explosion, bu. heard it; it
was from three quarters TO hour from the tilne
we got the oroer to down y fore the explosion
took place; there were more nen at work in the
latter part OF the night than previously; thinks
her W. cart thinks N
away in hand csrts, and by hand, AMI by carts
with horses. Q.-HoS many goods Lal you re-
moved in three quarters Of an hour. or an hour
Objected to- Had been removing from the store
| was there moye than an hour myself; | could not
say nh ct quantity Of goods were removed In that
hour; there had been large quantity removed; |
could not give an approximation
To MIR Cuttlpg--Stone, swan & 90 occupied tho
whole store; was in Broadway, opposite the Bowl
ing Green, when / heard the explosion; thinks it
was our store, from it's being the first ] heard had
not any horses aud carts ourselves,
To n Jaror-The windows Of the store on the rear
were open.
Theodore Hunt, examined by Mr. Van WAGNER
| reside in the city of New York; | am builder;
had partner of the name OF seamap; we construct
ed buildings for Mr. Lord; Mr. L,rd had Other ma
sons Witness ID shown diagram of the build
jngs 4 We built the store in the rear OF No.
%; j. was corrected With the front ny pas
sage way; NJ. Henry Titus did Tie carpenter rorS
lion with Sir Titus II 1886. after the fire: the whole
OF the store put up In 1896; put up no build
ings before the fire; never PIT up bulldogs there
before The fire; do not know how the nrst build
ipgs we're built.
This closed the case for the paintif.
Lieut. De Camp, re exc mined by Mr.. Davies--I
have heard the evidence OF DR. aaswen that tn are
was powder put in a house in Beaver street which
was Afterwards saved; Captain Mix bad charge that
night: | proceeded TO house in Beaver street, with
Captain Mix and some men, who brought the pow.
dr the house west into 1as e tTo scory house; il
was near Broad street, % net remember that nr.
La EreDce with us; after Surveying the rouse,
ordered 70 put powder in tee entry; got orders
to blow Up th At house when the Gre should reach It;
there no houses adjoiLine IL; We walked around
IL to sec if it could b. saved: after Captain Nix
gave ne the order, Mi SaItas came 30 mo acd
assed me 10 take out the powder he said that
himself and the fretnen would save ~: this WAS
after eight clock; Captain Mix would not comply
With this request; he told The man to spply
to ne, as i left in cbsrge Captain
Mix then went away 4r. Saltus was an xious 10
have the powder removed; | told him my or
ders were to blow il up wnen IL youli be ma.