The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-08-30
The Explosion at nIaysville.

The Explosion at Maysville.
| The MsysviIle Ky.) Erpress gives the
following account Of the terrific explosion
which took place there on Sunday morn.
ing the 18th inst:
We have learned that the powder which
was in the Magazine was contained in bar.
rels and kegs, and that the aggregate
amount was 1,l00 kegs, or 1900 pounds.
1t is needless to say that the report blew
many, and aroused all other of our citi.
zens from their beds. The suppos11 1ons
which seized their affrighted minds were
divers. Some conceived that the judgment
day had come, and grew peniient, others
thought ii an earthquake, and sought es.
cape; others that lightning had struck the
house in which they were and that it was
falling down. The explosionswas follow.
ed by rain OF stones, brickbats, gravel,
ard missiles of nearly every description.
The people rushed into the street and the
scene of confusion which followed is indie.
scribable. The odor OF the smoke soon
made known the fact that the report was
from powder, and the steps of the crowd
which thronged our streets Immediately
were directed towards the Magazine. AL
| minds were constern atsd, for it was thought
that all those who resided near the spot
must be smothered in the ruins. Strange
to say, only three were injured. and they
in such manner as not to endanger life.
The Magazine is situated near the head
Of gorge about one half mile from the
|river. In this gorge was number Of frame
and brick houses which were entirely de.
moliShed.
The chief sufferers have been DR.. Sea-
ton. Mr.. Rand, Thos. Y. Payne. Jno. Bier.
brewer, Alex. Maddox. the heirs Of John
Armstrong, and the public buildings.-
There IS no services had in any Of the
churches except the Episcopalian and
Methodist North on yesterday. The Meth
odist South. and the Presbyterian have
suffered most. Second Street has proba-
bly, suffered more in the aggregate than
any other in town. Between Wall and
Short on Second the walls are much bat
tered, and in many places are perforated
Many narrow escapes are recorded. AT
w. Wadswortti's large stone entered the
window, and broke off the bed post Just
above the heads Of the couple which oc-
cupisd IT, A stone weighing more than
thirty pounds passed over the bed OF Mr.
Dempsey Carroll and wife, missing them
only few inches. stone struck era
die in which child was sleeping and
broke it to pieces; yet the child escaped
unframed. At Mr.. Bierbower the family {
consisting Of eleven. were occupying three
rooms which fronted the Magazine, aud
although both the roofs and walls were rid.
died, and tho beds struck in many places,
no one was harmed. large frame house
standing on.the road about one hundred
yards above the Magazine, and fronting it.
was perforated in more than forty places;
yet the inmates received no injury. More
than one hundred houses had the roofs or
walls perforated, and numbers Of beds
we're struck.
The effects Of the report ware not en-
tirely confined to Maysyllle, Aberdeen,
and East Maysyille. At George L. Fore
mans, 81 miles distant, the windows were
broken, and boy thrown out ofbed. The
house Of Mr.. Wells. near Orangeburg, n
miles distant, had the windows shattered.
The report was distinctly heard at Poplar
Plains, distance Of twenty-five miles
v UiohOu WuHS, WuuOWSs IOOISs
60, in all houses injured, it is estimated
that from $500, 900 to 500, 900 would be
required.
From the Immediate spot the spectacle
presented is doleful one. Il is elevated
and commands q view OF the city. Bro.
ken roofs, smashed walls and dilapidatedI
houses meet the view on all sides. The
ground !or distance of hundreds Of wards
around is dyed of reddish hue. The
trees are stripped of their leaves, and look
as barren as mid-winter. At the site Of the
magazine is a hole Of about twenty feet
deep of conical shape. No clue has yet
been gained as to the perpetrators Of the
deed, nor do we know that suspicion had
definitely attached itself to any one. In.
tense excitement prevails.
CANARIES.-No sooner can the vounc