The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-05
Terrific Explosion ut Wilmington, Dell
Garesche's Powder Mails blown Up.

Garesche's Powder Mails blown Up.
OUR WILMINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WILMINGTON, August 3, 1855.
About eight O'Clock this morning our citizens
were startled by terrific explosion, which seemed
to shake the buildings by earthquake, rafting
windows breaking glass in several parts of the city,
and occasioning general CONSERVATION throughout
the place. 1t was soon ascertained that by one Oh
those mysterious dispensatons which occasionally
visit mankind, and which it is beyond human WISDOM
to account for, Garesche's powder mills mad been
blown up. These mills located at place called
Eden Park, about two miles from this city, and this
is the third time that similar catastrophe has oc-
CURED there since March last. was soon at the
spot and gathered the following facts from the
OF the proprietor, who very kindly afforded me every
occurred in what is called the drying house. which
contained 200 kegs of powder nearly ready for
4he packing house, building standing so feet dis
tant, and which was blown up almost simultaneously
with the drying house. This building contained
large amount OF powder ready for market. In and
about these buildings three Freachmen were en-
ployed all Of whom were nearly blown to atoms,
=. win a, the buildings lad passing ct the time
mill, standing some three hundred yards from
the drying house was blown up in about ten minutes
after the explosion. In this building large guam
tity Of powder In the course of preparation and
was involved in the general destruction by some
bnrning portion Of the drying house being conveyed
thither by the high wind which prevailed at the
time OF the explosion. In this building four men
were engaged and strange to say, all escaped with
their lives. Only one Of them was seriously in
jured.
All Of the buildings were literally atomized and the
fragments strewed the ground for great distance
around. A more complete wreck of matter can
scarcely be imagined. One of the men killed was
blown about fifty feet into the air, and fell great
distance from the spot where he was engaged. The
hv,slx1
and the residence of Mr. Garesche is also badly shat
tered Trees torn up by the roots, and present
4he appearance of having been dead u number of
years. Such scene Of desolaton it has never been
The persons killed presented most horrible spec
tacle, and could hardly be recognized as human
beings, they were SO shockingly mutilated. They
were strangers in the country. They were being
placed in their collins on my arrival, and prepare
lions making to place them in the grave in the
course of the afternoon. They were to be shipped
Into the earth" almost as; as unceremoniously as
Messrs. Garesche to say that in this matter they
have done all that lay in their power regard to the
melancholy duty which devol.ed upon them in rela-
ton to disposing OF the remains Of their deceased
workmen. They were strangers in strange land,
and to stranger hands has fallen the last sad rites.
Mr.. Garesche is unable to afford any satisfactory
reasons for the origin OF the explosion He was in
explosion, and found everything all right, the
performing their duties usual. He had proceeded
to the dust house, and when the explosion occurred
he at first supposed that the building in which he
was had blown up. The only way in which he
can imagine that the catastrophe occurred is that
one Of the workmen, an inveterate smoker, incau-
tiously put matches in his pocket, which were ig-
nited by the friction incident to moving the kegs,
setting fire to his clothes and thus occasioning the
ruin which involved his own life Mr.. G. is quite
certain that Of the hands were smoking as has
been rumored.
The buildings blown up had been in use nearly
quarter Of century, and this Is the only accident
that has occurred in them The explosions in the
spring were in other buildings connected with the
works.
The amount of damage is inc0nsiderable, aside
from the loss Of life. The buildings were old and
light, and Of no great value. WV.