Washington sentinel., 1854-06-06


OF the officers, order triumphed and the law
was maintained. The strong demonstration Of
force was the truly humane course.
j -ssoss-----
The Wilmington Gunpowder Explosion.
WILMINGTON, (DRL.,) June !, 1854.
The following are additional facts and incl
dents in connection with the terrible explosion
at Wilmington on Wednesday;
| The cause of the accident is, of course, con.
jectural, but the most reasonable suppostion
| is, that the jarring of the wagons caused the
powder to leak from some of the kegs, which
are not always perfectly tight, and falling upon
the road, formed train, which was fired by a
spark struck by the horses shoe coming in con-
tact with the stones. In support of this opinion,
it is said that small quantities of powder have
| frequently been found on the road after the
passing of powder wagons.
The escape Of the occupants Of the shattered
houses from instant death or fatal injury, was,
in many instances, very remarkable. Mrs. Nc
Laughlin, at the time of the explosion, was
sitting in the lower part of the house, with a
young infant in her lap, and another child, of
about two years, was playing near. A portion
of the floor gave way Immediately in front of
her, and tie infant and other child fell through
into the cellar, whilst the plaster and lathing of
the ceiling came down with stunning weight
upon her person, stripping off her clothing and
cutting and mangling her flesh severely. An
Irishman, named William Silcock, who boarded
with her, was SO severely injured about the
head that he died shortly after being extricated;
but strange to say, the children were rescued
from beneath the ruins perfectly uninjured.
The oldest child was protected by large beam,
which fell over its body in such way as to
shield it from the mass above. The infant, as
neighbor, who saw it Immediately after it
was extricated, remarked, "wanted nothing but
washing" \
Mrs. Reynolds, who lived in the stone house
on the west side of Orange street, which was
reduced to perfect wreck, had just left her
dwelling, to procure water in the yard, when
the explosion occurred She was knocked
down and severely hurt, having her leg broken
by some of the flying fragments: but had she
remained in the house few moments longer,
she could scarcely have escaped death. A
small boy, the son of Mrs. Reynolds, who was
in the house, escaped with some ugly cuts and
bruises.
The effects of the explosion at Bishop Lees
residence were terrible. The house stands
about one hundred feet back from Fourteenth
steet, Immediately opposite Orange street, at
which point the last wagon was when the acci-
dent occurred. The bishop and his wife were
absent at Trinity church (not st. Andrew's)
attending the annual Diocesan Convention,
which he had just organized.
There were left in the house two young la
dies nieces Of the bishop, young serving
woman, having in charge small child and
colored cook. The ladies were in the library
on the first floor, the servant and child were in
the second story, near the stairway; the cook
was engaged in preparing dinner. The latter
was severely cut about the head and face, and
her eyes so much injured that fears are enter
tanned that she will be deprived of sight. The
young ladies were only very slightly hurt, not
withstanding that the walls of the library were
shattered, aud the plaster there and in every
part Of the house detached and thrown down.
They rushed from the ruins, but not seeing the
rest of the inmates, one of the ladies bravely
ventured back in search of the servants and
child, Notwithstanding the tottering condition
of the walls. The child was found uninjured,
but the nurse had fallen back on the stairs, re-
ceiving a stunning blow and several slight cuts.
The bishop had just opened the convention
when the shock Of the explosion produced the
utmost CONSERVATION among the assembly A
gentleman present informed the writer that the
impression Of all, at first, was that an earth
quake had occurred The church was shaken
in such manner that he thought it would
surely fall, and the congregation hastily rushed
into the street. Among those present was one
of the Messrs. Dupont, who, knowing the fact
that his men we're hauling powder, at once con-
jectured what had occurred, and rushed from
the building in state Of excitement which,
when he reached the scene of the terrible dis
aster, was heightened almost to arrangement.
Bishop Lees and lady, hearing of the destruc-
ton Of their dwelling, were some time pain
fully alarmed for the safety of their child and
the other members Of their family; but, before
reaching the spot, they were overjoyed to hear
that all were safe. The furniture in the house
was entirely ruined, but the valuable library,
which occupied small wing recently added to
the building, was saved. The grounds around
the bishops dwelling have been long regarded
as one of the most charming spots in the
vicinity, abounding with elegant shrubbery and
choice trees and flowers. The grounds of the
ceedingly beautiful. Now, all this is a perfect
wreck-trees torn up by the roots; flowers and
plants prostrate; fences, summer houses, &C.,
broken into fragments; stables, carriage-houses
and their contents a heap of charred and
smouldering ruins; where here and there,
hideous mastes Of blackened flesh and clots of
blood-all that is left of the noble teams and
their unfortunate drivers-sicken the sight of
the beholder.
Along Orange and Fourteenth streets, some
distance each way from where the wagons
stood, were picked up fragments of the clothing
of the drivers, which give vivid idea of the
terrible manner in which the drivers met their
death. The body of one of the men was found
with the bowels and flesh entirely carried away.
The thigh and lower part of the leg of a man
were found in the yard of cooper-shop on
Market street, nearly two squares from the ex-
plosion--no doubt portion Of one of the dri-
vers, who was riding on horseback. The flesh
Of the thigh (which remained) was, do doubt,
protected by the saddle on which the man sat,
whilst the lower part of the limb being unpro
tected, was entirely stripped of every particle
of flesh.
The tongue of one of the wagons was blown
a distance of thirteen squares, and lodged in
Front street.
In addition to the other buildings, already
| u L. L. l. III