The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-02-08

suojoIned account Of the late destruction
OF the ball cartridge factory on Longas-
iand' which we copy from the Nev York
Herald
Total DestrUc uiOsa Of French.
GsaHi Cartridge Factory.
About two o'clock yesterday afternoon
the building occupied as a factory for the
making of ball cartridges at Lower Raw.
cnswood, Long Island, blew up .vith an
explosion that shook the houses in the
neighborhood for two miles around, and
breaking the windows Of all those build.
Ings which we're within six hundred or
eight hundred feet Of the place. 1t was
rented by MIR. French, who together with
his son, are generally engaged IN the
building. but being at the moment other
wise occupieg. happily escaped serious IN.
jury, though Mr. French, sen. is suffer-
ing severely from Commissions
The number OF persons employed is
generally about thirty, being fpr the most
part girls Of the ages of ten to eighteen;
hut some men and youths also find work in
the factory. The exact number of lives
lost IS now not known, for, being the NJ
tcrnoon of Saturday, greater or less
number than usual might have been there,
according TO circumstances.
Our reporter was On the spot half an
hour after it occurred, and the sight of
such sickcning scene lie hopes 10 be
spared again. The site of the building and
The surrounding lots were covered with
the debris of the building, human limbs,
and fragments OF machinery. We saw
man draw from the mass the head of lit
tie girl which he knew was that OF his
daughter by a bit of ribbon fastened to
her hair; but any other portion of the
body he would never find, or if he found il
he would never be able to say it was the
body oil his child
The precise cause of the explosion no
one remains TO explain. il is known. how
ever, that the stove used for warming the
building was red hot, the day being very
cold; and iiom the highly coubustbIc ma
lcrlals winch were used IN close proXtnity
10 il II may readily be accounted for by
suppoSing some particle ignItcd OH the
floor, aud communicating with tho articles
in various stages OF preparation. caused
the explosion.
Within n lew feet OF the building is
tircprooi cell, in which is stored large guam
titles of powder; and this being wlIiln The
scope OF the smoke and flame oil the burn
my RUNS, no one was wiling to hazard an
approach 10 attempt To rescue the suffer
crS from the ruins for some lime after the
explosion took place.
The shock occasiOncd by the explosion
was tremendous. and was senslbiy felt at
A distance Of six or eight miles: and du-
ring yesterday afternoon report was
current in Williamsburg and Brooklyn lhl,
an earthquake had taken place somewhere
upon the island.
The scene at lsavcnswool bcggars de-
scripton. The building occupied hy Mr.
French for the manufacture of Frenci's
rifle cartridges was Il one stury wood bull
ding, twenty by twenty FIVE feet square,
which was blown into fragments, aud no.,
a single stick could be found that child
could not lit.
1t is supposed that there was about
twenty persons in the building, and but
three were known IL have been taken
out alive.
1t is said ,ha, the fire originated in the
northeast corner of the building, in the
Opposter end Of the building Irom the
stove, hut from what cause is unknown.
There were over $4,000 bali cartridges
made up in tho building, besides cons:d.
crablc quantity ofpowdcr. The cartridges
nearly all exploded, and the balls were
thrown in every drccton; but providen-
TALLY no person out OF the building was
seriously injured. One of the balls pas
scd through pane OF glass into the libra
ry room, OF MIR. Bodine, distance of one
eiglh OF 4 nile, AMI shattered the chlnd.
c!Icr.
The dwelling houses within circuit of
nile were more or less injured, having
the glass entirely broken out, and in sew.
eral instances the walls were damaged.
Mr.. Frenrh's house, which is about thir
~ rods from the tnclury, was very much
damaged; the windows and portion oi the
furniture having been DESTROYED, and n
second story front room WAS the only one
which the family could occupy last night.
AT the time OF the accident Mr.. French
was engaged AT work in small build
ing some fifteen rods distant, and narrowly
escaped with his life. a furnace near where
he VAS standing was broken to pieces,
and his hat carried away and could no,
be found; he also received several slirht
bruises about the face and body from mis-
silcS, which were hurled in ali directions.
We were informed by Mr.. French that
ono OF his boys, il few days since, in empty
ing ont some kegs of powder, discovered
two natc.cs, winch had been packed up
| with it.
The people of tho village censl,re Mr.
French severely for no,.c,npioy ing a great.
er degree OF caution in his dangerous man.
ufactory, aud especially for not appointing
judlcious and experienced supcrin,end.
cnt over his Juvenile workmen, many OF
whom were OF tender years. some oflhcm
being under twelve. and only two or
three adults among them, if we are rightly
informed. Several of the Irish residents oI
the place ccallt, shortly alter the occur
renee, quite rIolons on the subject, and
one was heard To threaten 10 "strlnu M
MIR. f. Perhaps, IN consequence Of these
threats, that gentleman, with his fa,ni.
ly, have left the place temporarily.
Some idea OF the tremendous force q
tho explosion may be conceived when we
say that every dwelling house in The m
med ale ncighborhood was shaken almos,
to their foundations. Rev. MIR. Waite. a.
Episcopal clergyman. having pastoral