The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-13
DiaboI,cnI Attempt 10 Destroy L,fc.

lftcn the BostOL traveller, july ~
most foul attempt TO commit wholesale murder by
blowing up the house Of Mr.. Thomas wetneren the
cause Of great excitement in Br CLIFTON yesterday morning
The house In question Is capacious and strongly built,
two stories aud half high front and three in the rear
with cupola the top and Is worth several thou. ana
collars II is situated on Union square, opposite the
Baptist meeting house and Is occupied by Mr.. wcheren
whose family numbers seven, and by his partner, Mr.
Cyrus Brown and family five in number
The explosion occurred about A. NJ. Mr. Wetheren
and his wife slept in chamber the rear, above the
sitting room and below the latter is the cellar kitchen
IN which, supposed from the slaves that found
the keg efpowder was placed.
Mrs Wetheren aroused by the noise OF the explo
sion, and though she had distinct idea of what had
occurred, spoke to her husband, who Immediately be
aware that dense smoke filling the room, the
pasterng OF the sitting room below haveg been torn on
In such manner admit its free passage. He hur
ried down stairs the back way but could
kitchen account OF the thick smoke. He perceived
however, that the house was on ire and directing his
obtained lrkin Of water standing the house, and
with the aid Of the ne.ghbors, who assembled
ceeded in quenching the iiames though the powder
smoke which Ill, the house for several hours led the
inmates to search repeatedly during the night from fear
that in some part II was stu on fire.
The chief OF disaster the The kitchen
is mass of ruins. stout brick wall Is in some park
il must be demolished. The window frames aud blinds
blown out badly, some of them landing at n cons
derabe distance from the house The stout partition OF
ashed adjoining the kitchen thrown down. the doors
being blown oil and broken The wall above the stchcn
was blown up and the furniture OF the sitting had
fell down. filling the kitchen with broken stu furniture
boards, crockcry, &c, &c., in Of ruins The
large cooking stove In the kitchen was broken cons
derabe quantity Of matches found upon the top OF
It of different kind from those used in the house In
the cellar a partition was blown down aud he beams
started.
The parlor which Ia IN 'front.' on the same floor with the
sitting ROOM Is filed with the fragments OF the furniture
with which IL was furnished heavy sofa lies In front
Of the fireplace having been thrown the by
the rising Of portion OF the floor for about a foot Ma.
hogany chairs were broken into SIN all pieces aud card
table was nearly demolished together with many smaller
articles. A looking glas fell with the face downward
upon the floor and not broken. The window frames
Of this room were blown out This Is the chief damage
In the part occupied by Mr.. Wetheren
The floor OF the parlor the opposite side OF the front
entry raised to make II impossible 10 open the
door. stove near the fireplace thrown the
room and broken room adjoining this, Ia the rear,
appears 10 have escaped serious injury but the kitchen
underneath good deal damaged apartton between
that and the kitchen OF Mr. Wehercn having been thrown
The windows Of this kitchen and of the cellar blown
out and thrown into the field beyond.
fortunate for the inmates that they oil slept In
the upper part OF the house. which Is uninured the pow
er powder blast finding vent by bursting out the sides
the lower part OF the building The clock In the ktch
OF Mr. Wetheren stop ped at half past one which In
dicaies very nearly the time Of the explosion
The inmates OF the adjoining houses all awakened
by the shock which sho ,k the furniture NJ earth
quake had occu red This morning large crowd were
examining the ruins, and measures taken 70 have
legal Investigation by calling on Justice Of the Peace 70
hold Are inquest.
Mr. wethercn has upon the h,use OF 81 500
nj the Brighton Office His furniture, which Is badly da
mayed, u not Insured
AZ 70 the cause Of this murderous act nothing known
On the sth OF July Mr. Wetberen had some words With
several boys who were firing crackers his premises.
and at night they came TO the house and called upon him
10 come out; but II Is not probable that for slight
they would deliberately attempt 10 take the lives OF
twelve human beings.
one gentleman, in wonder and establishment al the
lifted hts hands and declared that he would not
have believed such outrage could have been perpe.
trated this side OF Kansas.