New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-09-10
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION OF GUNpowDER.

DARING ATTEMPT TO BLOW UP BUILDING
REMARKABLE ESCAPE OF FOUR PERSONS.
About five nil utes before O'Clock PM yesterday
the neighborhood of Westinghouse below Mont
eomery was startled by the explosion of some Is or
30 pounds Of guppOwderi in the Office Of l.. f. Ritter
Co. bankers and exchange brokers, at No. LA Wash
rgtonst. The report of the explos'on and The slmu-
tai eous crashing of gless and woodwork as the rag
mems were hurled across The street in every direction
caused the sudden assembagc of q large crowd, aud
an inoescnbabe scene Of confusion enaued for tne
completely battling the ondcavors of the police to pre-
vent the crowd from rushing in and taking entire
possession of the shattered building.
At the same time the Cry Hall bell sounded An
alarm of FIRE tor the Third Ward and the whole De
paItment soon reached the spot, where the scene Of
confusion induced the belief that there was really
fire, and The engines were speedily got to work. IL
was at first reported that several persons had been
killed by the explosion, but fortunately the rumor
proved incorrect. 1t appears that Ritter ~ Co bold
mortgage for about SIS 600 upon the property of nan
named Bry ant and that the latter Is either unable
unwilling TO raise the mortgage or pay the rate of n
teTest charged by the firm Ritter has threatened to
foreclose the mortgage, and on yesterday Brya
called at the Office several times with the view of OBJ
tanning some further accommodation which Mr.. Ritz
ter reused. The lower floor of the bulldog was di
vided by partition into three apartments, the middle
room being occupied by the firm private office.
About 81 o'clock Bryant entered the private Office
with carpet bag, which he placed upon the floor near
the door, and commenced u conversation with Mr..
Ritter who sat at desk on the opposite side OF the
room. Mr. Ritter called his clerk i'll the front Office
and requested linn to invite the attendance of 80
gentlemen named Lequin aud Dubois who happened
10 be near at hand, ara were Immediately In attend
auce At the expiration of few moments after the
entrance of the latter Bryant opened tbs door eaoiug
10 the front office and handed q paper 20 OF the
clerks telling him to read it. He then deliberately In
formed the three gentlemen that he ntencod TO blow
up the building and warned them 10 leave but before
they could from the startling effects OF his
warning be crew from bis pocket a small pistol AID
fred into the carpet-bag, which il appears was filled
with gunpowder contained in Sin TASKS.
The explosion demolished every article Of furniture
on the lower floor, tearing down the partitions and
throwing large fragments through the windows into
the street; but singuarly enough neither of the four
was scarcely injured. Bryant is badly burned about
the face and the skin is entirely burned from his arms
and hands. Mr. Ritter sustained personal Injury,
although the spectaces v hch he wore were shattered
into fragments. Messrs. tqun and Dubois were each
slightly bruised, ard one Of the clerks In the front
Office received severe cut on the head from which
the blood flow cd quite cOpously. The following 10
correct translation of the paper given to the clerk by
Bryant. The paper was written IL French:
READ ALL THIS, AND FEAR NOTHING.
SIRs: Without having word to others except the
clerk This prv.ty, wish yen to all the neghbors
that vii hin FIVE this house VIII be hown up Tits
Pehss fed with Powee and VIII 'e, hF snSis" c
the people Of tbs hoSse If there are any here wa wait un-
hy conscience Yen have nothing to fear make the
IL appears that upon reading the paper the clerk
rushed up stairs alarm the occupants, bat had bare
" time make known his mission when TIE explosion
took place. The degree of panic among the pstars
occupants may be imagined as this alarming
nouboement was followed by an explosion which
shook the building to its foundation. Bryant rushed
into the street and was assisted 70 apothecsry
adjustment, where bis woupds partially dressed.
He was subsequently removed to the Hospital on
stockton ST., and police officer detailed to re-
main with him. His injuries are quite unImpor;ant,
considering his proximity to the bag OF gunpowder
when the explosion took place.
lSan Francisco Herald AEg. s.