Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-08-18
.LLL-ln - 3.
EXPLOSION or GARestir,s PowD n
MILLS AT WILMINGTON, DEL.

|. -Four Persons Killed !--Sererdi ITounded!
wrrmrvaToN, Aug. "A terrible calamity
occurred this morning, at Garesht's Powder
Mills, near this city. AT eight O'clock, tre-
mendous explosion, which seemed TO con-
| yulse heavcfi and earth, announced that ano-
tber of those fearful accidents had taken
place. which can only result from the ignition
of an immense quantity Of the most dangerous
material in existence. Several tons OF gun
powder had in fact, exploded, scattering
death and desolation around.
| Trees. buildings, fences were leveed with
the earth, and every movea5le object was
dashed to an immense distance and shattered
in its fight. The sight resented, when the
catastrophe was fully evident, was pitiable in-
deed 1t has been ascertained that not less
than four persons were killed outright.
The explosion occurred in the Drying
House. and extended from thence to the
Packing House and Grinding Mil, standing
near by All the workmen connected with
its operations in the drying house -were killed
at once, They we're blown to thousand
fragments, as their remains were found at
various distances, from 200 to 800 yards.
The names of the persons killed arc James
DuplaEe, Francis Fischer, Eugene Perie, all
Frenchmen by birth, who were in the drying
house when the explosion occurred. and
DtN Ia NeuTS VI uSt, WIN Nuo iNlpS
The name Of this last victim was John Pugh.
Among those who were seriously injured was
Thomas Mullen, whose shoulder was disloca-
ted, and two men, whose names we could not
ascertain were dreadfully wounded the per-
sons last mentioned we're engaged in tho
Grinding Mill, which stood some 500 yards
from the Drying House, and to which fire
was communicated by some burning portion
of the latter being conveyed hther by the
high wind which blew in that direction at the
time Of the explosion.
The Drying House contained about one
and a half tons Of powder. The explosion
was tremendous, and broke a large quantity
of glass in the dwellings in the lower part Of
the city The Drying House had been in
operation for forty years without accident,
and was considered to be the safest house
embraced in the works
In the Grinding Mill there were four per-
sons, none of whom were killed, but two sere
dangerously hurt, and two others badly
wounded Peter Mckinley was thrown
about fifty feet, and it is feared be will not
recover. He received q severe confusion on
the right side of the head, his scalp is badly
cut, and he is otherwise burned and bruised
Patrick Bushe was running from the mill,
and was abont thirty yards distant when
lightning rod descended and struck him on
the head, fracturing his skull IN such man
ner rs to render his recovery doubtful.
Thomas Mullen had got short distance
| from the mill when his collar bone was bro.
ken by the decent of piece Of timber.
Another man, whose name could not DO
ascertained, was running beside Patrick
Bushe when the latter was knocked down.
He stopped to pick up his fellow workman,
and escaped injury.
The engineer, William Mitchell, wassoated
at his post reading newspaper when the ox-
plosion took place. He saw barrel ofpow.
der explode, and started to secure his safety
behind the chimney stack, when second ex-
ploded, which blew down brick wall over
his head His hand was caught by somo
( portion ofthe wall and bruised, and he also
received some slight scratches on his cheek.
! Patrick Guthrie and Michael Guthrie, who
were on the outside of the mill, escaped with
slight injuries.
| This mill was also torn to pieces. 1t con.
tanned about l400 pounds of powder, which
is less than the quantity usually stored there.
| The engineer says there were three sepa-
rate explosions in the MILL To those at a
distance it seemed like single prolonged ex-
| plosion.
The trees around the Drying House were
blown up by the roots, aud the fields wero
| literally covered with fragments of wood,
cinders, and the remains ofthe victims Ono
or two horses were killed.
Drs. Ashew, Bush, White, Wilson and
Draper, from Wilmington, were at the scene
soon after the occurrence, rendering all the
professional aid in their power.
Mr.. Garesche says the explosion must
have been caused by one of the Frenchmen
who worked in the packing room being ad.
dcted to smoking a pipe. Mr.. @. had
cautioned him two weeks previous, and told
him to quit the premises or give up his pipe.
| Mr. G. supposed he had abandoned tho
/ practice,
WEST CHESTER, Aug. 3.-The shock crthe
! Powder Mill explosion at Wilmington, wRs
| felt here very sensibly.