The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-02-08
New York. Feb L 1874


of the day. Every week adds to the long
and gloomy chapter Of accidents. Reckless
ness runs riot, and human victims bleed upon
the altar of this Moloch. Yet all hurrying
on in the race of which the Almighty Dol
lar is the goal, no one has time TO ferret out
the guilty and vindicatc the rights of hu-
manity. Thus unchecked the crying evil
grows, the curse of our country and genera
ton.
The last accident which it is my mcan-
choly duty to record took place on Satur-
day, the 28th ult, about l p. NJ, in the vii.
lage of Ravenswood, on Long Island, di-
rectly opposite the upper part of New York.
large quantity OF powder in n cartridge
factory under the charge of Erasmus French
exploded, and sixteen persons, mostly boys
and young women, who were mt work in the
establishment at the time, were instantly
killed. The windows of the surrounding
houses were shattered, n number of persons
who happened to be in the vicinity were
thrown down and stunned, and the shock
was distinctly perceived at distance of two
miles, where il was supposed to be caused
by an earthquake. No one of the unfortu-
nate operatives survives to describe how this
frightful catastrophe was produced. Il is in
evidence, however, that the room was only
25 feet long by Is feet wide, that it was
heated by stove which was frequently al
lowed to get red hot, and had neither fender
nor zinc to protect it; that considerable guam
titles of loose powder would accumulate on
the floor; that spirit-lamp was used on the
premises for melting grease for the cartrid-
gcs; and that the whole was under the
charge Of girl of 30 years who acted as
forewoman. With these facts in vicw, il is
not difficult 10 account for the explosion
the only wondar is that it did not take place
long bef:.r'. The G cling against Mr.. French
IS yer bitter, and it was at one time fcarc
tho, it would find vent in personal violence
ment, however, has now subsided. The Cor
oner's Jury brought in their verdict on Mon
day last, charging the proprietor with care
lcssness so strongly that the Coroner re-
quired bonds to the amount Of $4,000 for
Mr.. French's appearance before the Grand
Jury.
-Four hundred thousand cartridges were in
the establishment at the time of the explo-
sion, and they were launched through the
air in all directions. Some were driven into
the adjoining house, and one is said to have
been found half mile from the scene Of the
accident The bodies were so mutilnted
and blown TO fragments that il was impos-
sible to recognize them; the only means of
Identification were pieces of dress which in
some cnses adhered to them. Heads, and
limbs, and bleeding trunks strewed the
ground, and the hcart-rending scene which
was witnessed when relatives came 10 claim
the disfgured remains, bcggars description.
One body is said to have been blown thro'
the basement Of house situated two hun
dred yards from the factory.
The fires, which have so sadly devastated
our metropolis Of late, arc still on the in
crease. A few days since, within the com.
pass Of twenty-four hours, we had no less
than seven. One Of them swept off several
tenement houses, and left fifty destitute fam
lilies homeless, at the dead of night, with tho
mercury l6 degrees below freezing-point.
The poor have suffered to nm unprecedented
degree from this cause during the present
winter. Many Of these conAagrations APP
pear to be the work OF incendiaries. A Bill
has been introduced into ous Legislature.
providing for an examination into the cause
Of fires In New York, which can hardly fail
to do some good If it is only properly carri.
ed out
Senator Douglass Nebraska Bill is wax.
ing people up in this region Of country. A
tremendous meeting ofthose opposed to the
repeal Of the Missouri Compromise, profcs.
sedly without respect to party, was held ai
the Tabernacle on MONDAY evening last II
was largely attended by old and respectable
citizens, who almost deem Il sacrilege to
disturb this ancient landm rk of haSmony
and union. Letters were read from Senator.
Fish, Seward, Chase, and Sumner, m well a,
from other nagnates Of notorious Free Sol
syhpathies. The communications might
have had more weight, perhaps, If they had
come from less ultra sources. A large pro
portion Of the meeting, however, were fal
from being Free SoiIers. Judge Emmett
was the principal speaker.
Gen. Sam. Houston has been making q
short stay in the city. lie left for the Eas,
a few days ago In company with Senate,
James Of Rhode Island. for The purpose, il
Is said, Of making himself acquainted with
the manufacturing systam Of New England
Perhaps considerations Of personal interest
have something 70 do with this tour The
kero Of San Jaeinto bankers after the White
House, and Eastern capital would not come
amiss 70 him in The scrabracc Of candidates
at National Convention
Our Police are growing vaicroes; ~