The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-03


for James e. Price, in the stable OF that gentle
man at the time Of the accident. The stable was
demolished, and the ruins set on fire. Henry was
killed, his body being much nutilated. Mr.. Price
Mrs. Mclaughlin was at home in the brick house
Orange street, next to Hughes ct the time OF the
disaster. The building was partly blown down, and
the portions which remained standing were conf
pletely shattered. Mrs. Mclaughlin was sitting In
the first story with an infant but few weeks old
on her lap. The floor partly destroyed, and the
babe slipped through the gap into the cellar from
whence it was taken uniDjured, with the exception
of having its little eyes filed with dust.
Richard Reynolds house is built in two divisions,
one Of which is OF stone and the other OF brick.
This house was wrecked, but fortunately no person
was in at the time. Mrs. Reynolds was at the pump,
Bishop Lees fine brick mansion stood on Four
teenth Street. Immediately opposite Orange. The
from Fourteenth streetto 'Brandywne Race The
building about forty feet in width, and fronted
on Fourteenth street. It stood back about hum
bred and fifty feet from the line of the street. The
rear was delightfully."- located on the bank Of the
creek.
The mansion formerly belonged to the Candy es-
tate, and was purchased by the Bishop some years
since. The effect OF the explosion on this house
was to literally burst it, considerable portion OF
the front wall was thrown to the ground, and the
parts Of the wall which remain standing were rent
from top to bottom in at least of places. The
roof was broken up as though a battering ram had
been applied to it from the inside. The doors and
window frames were thrown violently out.
Two young ladies, nieces Of the Bisbop, were i'll
the building, but escaped unhurt. young Irish
girl engaged as a nurse in the family, was thrown
violently down stairs, with am infant in her arms
She escaped with few bruises, and the child was
unhurt A colored woman employed as cook was
very badly hurt. In fact her life is despaired Of We
are unable to give her name.
The session OF the State Convention OF the Eps
copal Church in Delaware commenced yesterday
morning, and the body had just organized at the
Trinity Church, when the explosion took place.
Bishop Lee and his lady were present. Mr.. Alexis
Dupont was also in attendance. The church edifce
was shaken by the explosion, and many panes OF
glass were broken. The anxiety and the anguish
Of the assembage at the frightful event, may read
ly be conceived
Many offers of home were made the Bishop and
his family, and they were temporarily domieiled
with DR.. Thompson.
The furniture of the reverend gentleman was part
ly saved, and his library was also got out OF the
ruins in damaged condition. The grounds about
the Bishops house present sic kening scene Of de.
vastation. Many noble trees were stripped of their
foliage or had their limbs torn of, leaving nothing
but blackened stump; others again were torn up
by their roots and blown to pieces The garden was
literally strewed with fragments Of horse flesh and
shreds and pieces from the wreck Of the wagons and
harness. In this garden fine lilac hedge, OF great
beauty, was swept away, and not a trace OF 1t can
now be found.
The dwelling and grounds Of Mr.. James Candy, at
the of Market and Fourteenth streets, Join
ed the property of Bishop Lee on the east. The
garden here was also torn in pieces aud the building
is much shattered In Mr.. Canby's dwelling some
singular effects Of the explosion exhibited. II is
large double house, built in the most substantial
manner The rear wall is bulged OUT the roof is
raised up and thrown out Of it's place while the pas
ter throughout the house is blown from the ceilings.
Every particle of glass and crockery ware was dash
ed to pieces; the furniture broken up but in the
midst Of all, an old-fashioned clock, which stood
against the wall, continued to tick as usual all
through the explosion and the consequent confusion.
There seem to have been two forces in operation
IN ha fvOrp
The first the direct force Of the explosion which
impelled objects in its immediate vicinity from it's
centre, The second was the rushing Of the air from
all directions to supply the vacuum caused by the
rapid rareacton oil the air. This is exhibited in all
the objects damaged which were not in the imme-
date proximity Of the exploding powder. All tend
to the locations OF the wagons as to common centre
This popularity is illustrated in the mansion Of
Mr. Candy. Two large parlors, separated by fold
ing doors, are in the north wing of the building.
These parlors were closed at the time Of the expo
sion, and the heavy folding doors were shut. The
latter torn from their hinges and carried bodily
against the end Of the building, next to the centre
OF the explosion. The shutters and sash in that end
Of the house were burst outwards while in the opno
site end they were dashed inwar6s. This house will
probably have to be torn down. The only person
hurt in Mr.. Canbys dwelling was a oolored woman
! employed as cook She was somewhat bruised. Mr..
CTS stable was burnt, and the two carriages and
sleigh in it were blown to pieces.
! Several small houses on Orange street, between
Fourteenth street and the top Of the hill were
I shattered.
| The fine mansion Of Mr. James E. Price, at the
southwest corner Of Market and Fourteenth streets
was damaged to about the same extent as that Of
Mr.. Candy. 1t also viii probably have to be taken
| down.
Adjoining this building on Market street, the
dwelling Of Mr.. Platter stands. It's glass was all
shattered, and the glass and crocLery inside were
dashed to pieces.
damaged as is also that Of Joseph Price next 10 the
southwark.
All the buildings in this neighborhood are more or
less damaged and row o. seven brick dwellings on
considerably. The stables Of Elisha Hoxley and Jo-
seph Price were nearly destroyed
Thousands Of lights of glass were demolished in
different parts Of the city, and the plaster de-
tached from ceilings more than mile distant from
the scene. We mott ced two bulk windows, glazed
with very large panes OF glass; SIX squares from the
scene They were dashed out bodily, sash and all,
although q hill interviewed between them and the
explosion In Brandywine village, across the creek,
great deal of glass was broken, and doors and
shutters were torn from their hinges.
Some Of the effects OF the explosion were rost
astonishing; of the fifteen horses comprising the
teams, most of them were blown to fragments, in
some cases pieces OF heavy iron work were driven
through their bodies. Heads, legs hoofs, &C.. were
millions Of small fragments of horse flesh covered
the ground in every direction. II is curious cir
cumstance that in every case the iron shoes torn
from the hoofs Of the animals by the force Of the
explosion.
The tires Of the wagon wheels we're Of the heaviest
description, being fosf inches in width and one md
quarter inch in thickness. These were invariably
found Strengthened out like bar, and detached
pieces were thrown to great distance. One pc e
of tire was driven into brick wall at Market s-.et
and Twelfth street.
Another pece.of tire was driven depth Of soye-
raj inches into the trunk OF button.Hood tree on
Fourteenth street. 1t was driven in across the
grain, and was wedged as firmly as though il tad
grown there.
One of Tho roost ,uonde -fnl 70 rot the nrosf Won
derful result Of this terrific explosion il the effect il
had upon the earth where it took place. The SPOT
where each wagon stood is marked by cavity in
the ground not less than twenty inches IN depth
The hard road is sunk down to that distance, and
deep assures around the edges OF the holloHs show
where they were driven before their former level.
AT one point the water pipe, which lies four feet
below the surface, was dashed in. An iron fire
| Mug near the snot Nae sHent off leNel with the