Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-10-12
From the N o. Picdy,r11e, It'll
Later from HaVana.-Great Explosion
and Loss of Life.

The United States mail steamship Black
Warrior Capt. S. w. Smith, whose arrived IN
the river we reported in our evening edition
Yesterday, got up to the levee at IL O'Clock
last night. AS our readers have already been
informed. she left New York on the 2Sth ult.
She reached Havana on the Sd inst. and start
ed again the same day for this port.
Mr. Purser Gideon tavOrs us with the fol-
lowing interesting report:
.'On the 29th ult., at half-past Z. NJ, the
Naval Magazine at Havana, situated at the
head of the harbOr, containing over one hun
dred and fifty thousand pounds of gunpOwder
several hundred loaded shells, together with
a large quantity of rockets, fire works, &c.
exploded. The shock and effect as described
by the residents of the city, were truly awful.
"Thus far, there had been found in the ruins
and about the ground, rs dead bodies and $50
wOunded-fOur of whom died shortly after
being removed to the Hospital.
.For some moments the air was filled with
all descriptions of destructive missiles, and
stones, shells, &c, were projected long
distance from the building and into the bay.
mo damage was done to the vessels at
anchor. The dead bodies of three coolies
were blown through the air to the slope OF
Fort Atares, nearly quarter of mile off.
"There were upwards of 300 persons en-
ployed on the new sugar warehouses, in the
coolies. and among them the loss of life and
limb appears to have been the greatest. OF
the military guard of the magazine, consist
ing of a sergeant and 6 men, only remained.
MANY bodies were no doubt yet under the
ruins and in the waters of the harbor.
"The destruction of the fine pile OF sugar
warehouses, some twenty buildings. several
of which were finished, and the Others in
course of construction, was complete. Moth
,,,fn hnt mo nf
rubbish. The conclusion was so great as to
destroy the gas-meters, rendering the gas
works for the present, entirelr useless; and 1T
will REQUIRE at least three months before the
CITY can he lighted. Every residence is more
or less affected by the shock; several build
ings sustained great damage. Among the
number were the residence OF Don Domingo
Albania, fronting the military parade ground,
the house of Don Jose Maria Bonelly; and
the edifce of the Royal Economical Society.
..The Diario de la Marina, of the 30th, in
noticing the event, says: 1.-The attention and
relief afforded by the authorities of our city,
directed bv Captain General Concha in per-
son. who was by accident in the Immediate
vicinity at the time. and first on the ground
after the explosion, while he remained until
7 p NJ. and engaged the whole force of
marines. fremen and military corps which
were at his disposition, and by his energy and
encouragement to the troops. did great
service Our navy, with her usual energy.
also distinguished herself on the OCCASION
Meanwhile there was no neglect to protect
the public security. The city being left in
perfect darkness, the night watch were posted
at half-past six, which is to be the case until
proper lights are restored. The whole force
of the police and large detachments OF
infantry and cavalry are doing duty during the
night to guard the city against robbery or
disturbance OF the public peace. With these
precautions the city is perfectly safe.
"Sugar are down a fraction; stock, lis, 900
boxes. Exchange on n. o. 81 to 81 3 cent;
n. Y. Al to Al p cent; London Is to Isl p
cent u. S. gold coins in demand. none for
sale"