Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-06-03
TERRIBLE DISASTER AT WILMINGTON
EXPLOSIONS OF POWDER.

Destruction Of Life and Property.
sa" WILMrNGToN, May 81.
Our citizens were thrown into a terrible
commo,ion, shortly before II O'Clock this
morning, by succession of reports, as if
thunder, accompanied with sensible jar of
every building in the place, while The con-
cussou Of the air caused immense desiruc-
tion 10 the glass. Doors and windows were
bXst open, as il shaken by an earthquake.
Ii was soon ascertained to have proceeded
from an explosion of powder, at the corner of
Fourteenth and Orange streets, and in that
An earthquake could no, have caused greater
destruction.
Three large teams, containing 450 bags of
powder, the whole estimated at five tons
were on the way from the mills of Dupont &
Co., to the wharf, for the purpose of being
shipped. In passing along Fourteenth street,
the last was opposite Orange street. and i'm
medately in front Of Bishop Lees elegant
residence, the other wagons being in advance,
the head one about sixty feet beyond. 1t is
not known which or the wagons was first ex-
ploded, or how the powder became ignied.
Nothing but fragments remain of wagons,
horses and drivers.
Bishop Lees house was terribly shattered.
The roof was lifted up bodily, and broken
into fragments, the front wall blown out, the
floors broken up, and every window and
door torn away. The beautiful garden, and
even the house, well known TO every
visitor 10 these charming grounds were de-
siroyed.
The Bishop aud his family were Fortunate
ly absent, attending the Convention of the
diocese, in St. Andrews church, few
squares off. female servant was in the
house, with child. The latter was slightly
hurt the servant badly cut, but is not dead,
as was enormously reported.
AL. the walls aud other objects in the hon.
ses injured by the explosion, were driven
towards it, instead of from it, The appear.
ance OF the houses shows that the gIeal
vacuum caused by the explosion had caused
the air in the houses TO burst them. In Mr.
Prices house, the heavy folding doors be
tween The pailors, which were closed al the
time, were forced violently from the hinges
aud carried 10 the end OF the room. Tn,
windows and doors in every case were driver
oniwaTds.
The tire OF one wagon, weighing lo
pounds, was thrown distance Of 900 feet
aud fragment of another tire, inehe
broad, was driven directly through the ,ruh
OF large tree. Though nothing can b
found Of The wagons except small fragments
the places where they stood is marked ol
the bed Of the road, which, by the force o
the explosion, has been sunk nearly two feet
The explosion was felt AT the brick meet
ing house, ihirly. Eve miles south OF Whining
ton.
The total loss is Estimated al no, less thar
$4,000, inclujiag tho powder and teams
valued al $4,000.
Tho MsssTs. Dupont are on the ground ae
lively engaged doing all ,hey can TO relieve
tho sufferers. They declare their inlenlioI
to pay all lhe damage done 10 property,
Among The injured is the wife Of RiehaIS
Reynolds Who had her leg broken.
A lady living near Bishop Lees Tesidshs'
Gays that fe~ momsnls bsloIe tho sxplo
sion, she saw a iaan walking loSaId tho Ma
gohs, The eSplosloa pleslTaled hes an'
~hsa shs lseovsIed she ssuld sss nelhiag .
lhs maa, and 'hlaks, without dOabl, he wa
killed.