Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-06-06

some mysterious cause, the powder became ignited,
and in an instant three explosions took place; the
reports followed each other IN such rapid success
sion hat Il difficult to distinguish tlem from
one prolonged explosion, bu. there were neyerthe-
less three distinct reports
Persons within short distance Of the spot had
no Intmstion OF what had happened until they
found themselves prosiratesl pom the ground, or
hurried nlong by some irresistible impulse; the fear
luI sound ike the booming OF thousands Of can
mons then dealended them and at The same instant
the ruins flying through the uir terrified the stout
Hesi hearts. Citizens who lived at n greater dis
lance from the spot first knew OF the disaster by
Seeing the lurid fash, or by the rocking of their
dwellings, tile crashing of their window glass or
the falling OF The plaster from their apartments.
about Their heads
Some of the effects OF the explosion were most
astonishing Of HE fifteen horses comprising the
teams, most of Them were blown to frasme mis-; in
some cases pieces Of heavy iron work were driven
through their bodies. Heads, legs, oolss &C.,
were picked up hundreds Of feet from The scene,
and mllians os small sTagmenis of horse flesh coy-
cred the ground IN every direction. ltisa curt-
Gus lact ihatl every the III shoes were torn
from the loois of Ike animals by the force OF the
explosion.
The tires OF The wagon wheels were OF the hea-
West description. being four inches III width, and
one and quarter inch in thickness. These were
linvarinbly iound Slaughtered out like bar, aud
ldetachea pisces were thrown TO great distance.
One piece OF lire was driven into BRICK wall at
/ Market street and Twelfth Streets
4 Another piece of tire was driven depth Of
several inches into the trnnk OF button wUod Tee
i on Fourteenth street. II driven in across the
/ grain. and was wedged as firmly as thought bad
| grown there.
i Que OF the most wonderful. If not the NEST
wonderful result OF this terrific explosion is The
effect il had upon The earth where il took place.
The spot where each wi gon stood is marked by a
lcayity in the ground not less than twenty inches
in dspthl The hard road is sunk down TO that dis
lance and deep assures around the edges OF the
hollows show where they We're dnsen beloie their
lormerleyeI. AT one point the water pipe, which
lies four feet below tile surface, WAS dashed in.
An iron fire ping near the spot swept Oh level
with the earth.
There seems 10 haze been two forces in opera
lion 10 produce III mischief resulting from this dis
aser The first the direct loree of The explo-
sion which mpelled objectsinits Immediate VIC n
| lily from lis centre. Tue second was tile rushing
of the nir from all directions to supply lie vacuum
caused by tie rapid fareiaetion of The nir. Pins
is exhibited in all the oljses dan,agc which were
+ NOT in the immediate proximity of Tie exploding
powder. All tend To the locations OF tile wagons
as 10 common centre.
This peculiarly is illustrated in the mansion Of
Mr.. Gauby. Two large parloIs, separated by fold
ing doors, axe in The north wing OF Tie building.
These parlors were CLOSED al tile time OF a. e ex-
The latter were t5rn from their hinges and carried
bodily against the end of the buildings next to the
centre OF the explosions. The shutters and sash in
that end OF tile house were burst ontwatts, while
I in the opposite end they were dashed inwaros.-
This house will probably have 10 be torn down.
The cause Of The explosion is profound mys-
terry. tits generally believed Thai some powder
from one Of the foremost wagons had escaped from
detective keg, aud thnt il has been ingnited by
spark struck by the Aoof of one of the hinder
horses. horse on this same road had his tail
singed in this way q few days since.
Il F..