The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-06-19
LOCAL MATTERS.

and ten o'clock, terrible explosion took place at
the Gas Works on Cary street. In this city, which
startled the neishborhood very much, and led to
Immediate enquiries into the cause II was soon
aseertaned that two OF the PURIFIERS bad bursted
killing negro man named John, owned by Mr.. OIL.
liver Nicely, of Mississippi Knowing that this ne.
gro had no business Ia the purifing ruomr the
officers at once sent for coroner Wicker, who with
the aid OF constable Lewellen soon held an inquest
over the body, by which the following facts were
elected; u IT, SOS
John was blacksmith at the gas works and had
| no business anywhere else than at his forge That
morning he appeared to be in fine spirits aud, as
Lewis his striker, asserts merely left the shop if
| to get drink of water. He had not been absent
more than ten minutes, when the explosion took
place, and John was found terribly lacerated and
| burned, lying dead hut short distance from the
exploded purifiers
| Charles Campbell, sworn-I am the superinten.
dent of the gas works When the explosion took
place, was not at the works but was sent for i'm
mediately thereafter. On my arrival found the
purifying room just as you see it, The tops, or Ia
bles, OF both OF the west purifiers were blown into
| fragments, as were the connecting pipe between
them. and the ceiling plastering torn to pieces in
several places. n this room are three sets ofpuri
iers. one of which is kept for pure gas the other
for gas to be purified, and the third as change to
| be worked-as the first is emptied These purif-
ers have plugs in the top tables about two inches
in size through which the hose are inserted TO in.
| troduce water to wash them out. These purifiers
| that have exploded were empty and had been wash
| ed out only about TWO nOure before, 10 De maze
| ready for use These purifiers, notwithstanding
| the washing they had received, and the plug hole
being necessarily open, contained sufficient quan-
tity OF gas, mixed with the atmosphere, to become
explosive, if fire were applied to 1t. Under all the
circumstances, am satisfied that John applied fire
to the purifier intentionally-and that the explosion
would have taken place i'll no other way. John has
| been employed at the gas works about two and
| half wears. He had no business in the purifying
room and must have been upon the purifier
| when the explosion took place. la exam
| lining the spot to which the body was thrown,
| | discovered a match which seemed tC have been
| lighted and Immediately exiting 1ished, just if
| John had fired it while on the purifier, aud i.n-
| mediately applied it to the plug hole from which
| the foul gas was escaping, causing instant eXpo-
sion, and at the same time exinguisling the match.
No other person was in the room at the time. AL
| exander Easten was in the room above, preparing
/ the composition to put in the purifier before refill
| ing it. If John had been standing upon the floor,
at the time of the explosion, he could not have been
thrown where he was, nor would his right leg have
been shattered and torn to pieces as is. If the
| purifier had been filled with gas at the time and
| the pressure had been on the mere firing the gas
| would only have created blaze John formerly
| belonged to Edward Sydnor, of Hanover, but
| being suspected of attempting to escape from
| yude, was put in prison and afterwards sold to
Mr.. Oliver Nicely, OF Mississippi, who intended ia
king him to his plantation, near Jackson in the fall
of the year. l saw John this morning, and gave him
| some directions about his work He was cheerful
| and lively usual and seemed to be well satisfied
| with his new master.
| Hector Darts, sworn-know nothing about the
| death of John. Had known him for several months,
and sold him to Mr.. Nelby, for Mr.. Sydnor. Don't
think john had any design OF committing suicide
Saw him Friday evening, he was then in good spi-
rits and enquired about his master.
| ALcr Edstcn, sworn--l am employed in the gas
| works Was in the room above the purifiers
| when the explosion took place. Had had the puri
| iers washed out about o'clock and was then
mixing lime 10 run down In them. The conclusion
| olyodY When
down stairs John was lying near the west wall with
his head against it, and large piece of the top table
of the purifier lying upon his face which took Oft
| Did not know who he was | was to and fro in the
| room every few minutes The plugs were out of
| the two purifiers. The fire must have been COM
| municated intentionally, and the deceased was no
doubt upon the top plate OF the purifier when the
| explosion took place. There is always enough gas
| lett in the purifiers after they are washed out, to
| create an explosion, if fire is applied to it.
| Thos A. Rust, heard two distinct explosions, and
| on going to the works saw the dead body. He ex-
aniued his pockets and found some few articles of
| no value.
Iewis, slave, sworn.-I was Johns helper in the
| blacksmith shop. He seemed in good spirits, and
had been making bolts. Put his iron in the FIRE lea
wing me at the forge, aud started get drink of
water, as | supposed. When he left the shop. had
something in his right hand resembling toeth- pick
He was not gone more than ten minutes before the
explosion took place. Never heard him threaten to
iniure himself. Knew of no cause why he should do
| so. Heard him say he liked his new master very
much.
Charles Campbell, reculled.-The explosion must
| have been Intentionally caused, John knew the
dan ger of gas just well as do He a very in
tSlligent negro-a nan of fine mind
Here the evidence closed, and the jury rendered
their verdict that the deceased to his death
by his act, by firing the gas in room where he
had no business TO be.
that the managers of the gas works not at all
blame for the death of the unfortunate man, who,
es from or 1es be 90 des 81. b
ritter that had been washed cut and thereby created
the terrific explosion which caused his death
The loss to the gas works, we understand, will not
exceed 800, which will be repaired as speedily
possible.
FIREMAN's FUNERAL.-The procession of
fremen which followed the remains of N. G. I en-
pleman to the grave yesterday afternoon, was the
most imposing one OF lis kind ever seen in our city.
Young Tempeman was member of Phoenix Co.
No. g. and as token ofther hgh'regard for his man.
ly qualities and noble virtues the Company festoon-
ed and draped their newengne in most appropriate
manner, and then, by erecting platform between
the breaks, used it as vehicle to convey the body
to the tomb. The beautiful hose crab carriage was
handsomely decorated in mourning, and above the
belfry was raised white monument, festooned with
white roses and evergreens with the words
the right side "We mourn lose" while from the
top Of the monument was raised tree about four
feet high, also handsomely draped with cut GRAPE
adding marked solemnity TO the scene.
The tiremen, preceded by the Armory Band, form
ed into line on 9TH and Main Streets Phoenix Com
pany and their engine and hose crab being first
followed by No. / and the other companies of the
city, aud marched up 9th to Marshall street. where
they halted at Mr. Templenans residence,
ceived toe remains of the deceased brother, and
placing it on No. engine, conveyed tito the Gothic
Church on 9TH street. where most feeling and i'm.
pressive discourse was delivered by the Rev. Mr..
Moore. Service being over, the corpse was again
the company, and conveyed to Hollywood Gene
terry where it was deposited in its last resting place
the city of the dead
Young Templeman was universally beloved by
his brother fremen, and all who knew him; and as
soon as his demise reached the of his associates
on Saturday, their engine house and machinery
were draped in mourning, a token OF deep regard
for his loss. The death OF kind. so amiable,
has made a strong impression on many of his COM
panions and friends; while its suddenness shows toe