Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-04-02

Luz c1PLostoN AT ST. LOUIS 700 StoFe9
Btoten 70 frlgments--A lllfllbsT OF l.tres Lost.
We learn the following facts in regard to
this terrific explosion, from the ST Louis Demo-
.er1t;
On Friday evening" . few minutes after six
O'clock, aquantity Of powder inthe gurslnith
shop and store Of Messrs. Il. j / Upright & Son,
on Main street, near the corner of Chestnut, cS-
ploded with terrific effsct shattering the entire
building to atoms, and completely demolisllinS
the hardware establishment of E. r. Graft Is Co,
Which adioincd 1t on tho South. So far as ascer-
tanned at the present writing, some four5or Ave
persons were badly injured. and one or two Kill
led.
From Mr.. John Curtis, wc learn so:nsthins of
the cause which led to the explosion. IIs was
in the store at the time, buYiipa Colts pistol
from Young man supposed to.be the Junior
member of the firm. ~ Albright. While Mr.
Albright was loading the pistol It accidcntlY
went off and tleI our Informant states re-.
membcred nothing further. The impression, Is 5
that tho fire Of the ptstoI was communicated to
a key or some other magazine of powder under
or ncarthe counter
The noise of the explosion was not instanta-
ueous and sharp, but a heavy, prolonged roar,
which was not heard nny further IN in town
than Fifth or Sixth streets Tho coacussion
caused the earth tn trem6le in the vicinity, and
| shattered the glass from every window in the
banking house of Bogy, Miltenberscr & Co.
which stands Oh the opposite side OF the street
Tho window shutters Of several of TIC stores in
fhs nei0hhorhon,I l,eine,5 closed tho eylos, suS
ltained but little damage The next bnihltno on
tho north of Albrjght's. Is the one occnpiei bv
\ NNarne Checyer & Co no hoose-Elrnishinr
establishment. The proprictors and clerks of
| this store felt the shock very severely. Tho
wall was not FJrceiin. and from all appearances
last night, did not seem much iniurci. nat the
Eshelves attached to it. and their contents were
{, hurled with great violence and leslrncfion down
upon the floor. Mr.. Frank Lane, one of tho.
! proprietors, was stadnina behind the counter
neXt the wall. at the time but SAYS mo LEANED .t
the first rumbling sonnd aud reached tho mid!
die of the store room lust in time to save his
head from the avalaac6e Of clustering. shelving
and goods that chrashei down mon, the knnf
/ where he was stnndinp
s yentlern9tS who was COMING, nm Main etree+
atthe time, says he first saw the walls flying out
in the street: next hilo,.E column n smoke
shooting in the air and then 5eorI The bnorso
heavy rom. In minute after TIM smoke set'
tied down in the street, and the whole at,nos.
Ephcrc for squares around was ;nnre0notcd
with the sitting effluyia of burnt poyviler Ilhc
fire bells Immediately ranp, the nIorrn and tho
iremen were soon on the ground endeayoripg
to snb1ne tho amos ,r;cb Iad -, tas
among The ruins Of the buildings. IN to y l Sts
hour last night the following the onTv reliable
information we could gain as resenects the Iii
led and wounded:
John Galtlingsr. raattrcss-rnakcry No 1Os
Second street, between Plum and Cedar was in
Istantly killed. lie had talton sumner nj home
and was coming up town with friend to make
purchase Of some small article needed in his bu-
siness. At the moment the two were passing.
the explosion took place. He WAS cr,sbrTl int9
the gutter by the falling timbers and bricks. and
4 hn1an