Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-10-19
From Me Ifanehe.t.r Gnnrdian. S,pt % |

From the WdHehsstsr Guardian Sent %.
FRIGHTFUL EXPLOSION AT BIRMINGHAM-EIGHT.
TEEN PERSONS KILLED, AND MANY WOUNDED.
Yesterday terrific explosion occurred at the percus-
sion cap manuiactory of Messrs. Pursa Phillips sit
uated in Whitta street Birmingham which was attend
ed by enormous loss of life
IL appears that the firm having had large orders on
hand one Of them from the Turkish government being
for 100000 Of caps, had considerable number OF
persons employed in extensive range of shopping
the back OF their premises IL is supposed that there
could not have been less than eighty persons the aor.
~ of them being women and girls at work Yesterday
morning when the accident occurred Nothing at pre-
sent certainly known regarding it, origin; il is supposed
that It took place in apartment where the caps are
'pnmed with the detonang powder, aud where there
we're five females employed
This situated in the third story of the sbop.
Immediately beneath the Workhouse where "A
large number of women aud girls engaged: and IN
immediate coutguity others employed in various
operations connected With the manufacture They werr
all busiy at work, when in al instant terrific expo-
sion took place.
Windows, walls and roof were hurled into the air and
the nniortunate workpeOpe weiescattered in all directions
or buried under the ponderou' OF material which
lately formed the buildings Scarcely had the wreck sub.
sided into chaotic heap before FIRE added TO the horror
OF the scene the timbers Of the building having become
ignitcd 10y the intensity Of the explosion.
The persons engaged in the front part Of the building
who were comparatively uniujurcd rushed to the win.
doWs aud were rescued from their perous position by
the multitude who had been attracted the spot by the
noise Of the explosion fearful spectacle then
Ell itself to those who had the courage to make their way
htouEh the burning building.
Eight ten girls seen half buried in the ruins
chiefly with their heads downward whilst others whose
legs were crushed under the ,brs stretched out their
arms piteously mplong for assistance and cries were
heard from those whose position could be seen One
elderly woman sat beam unable TO e1trcac herself
as another piece Of timber Law across her eg An effort
was made TO her. but the burning building was
falling in all directions and she had to be left 10 borri
be fate. Scarcely had she been LEFT when part of the
roo fell in with terrific crash and she and some Girls
in her vicinity Immediately crushed To death
An alarm had before been convened To the FIRE engine
stations, and che brigadcs speedily NJ work II
an hour two however before the FIRE had been cot
under aud II possible 10 institute search for bodss
among the ruins. The result was up TO o'rocL last
night, no fewer than ~ bodies had been recovered An
were shOckiugly mutiaied and disfeurcd that ept
~ was impossible except in few Gases Most of them
wore the bodies 0igirls from ~ to ~ years Of aec
SeEnnteen, Who less injured were tai on
TO the Gcuoul Hospital aud one man died boz cab AZ he
being conveyed thcrc About one half of tese n,
tcnts were able 10 leave the hospital n the courc ofbc
atrnoon' but five remain iu the institution iu vcry
p,ccariou- state.
We may sdd that this l. the third c,pIo-iop in pr,r
zion car manuacorc' which has taken plscc in a many
months
TttE PAPAL STATES
Row., sept 20 day the Sacred College met and
appointed W bishops ln the annual ALLEGATION OF the
Pope his Holiness alluded 10 the National Asscublv OF
bologna and referred to the ccnsurc expressed bv h,t
assembly against the Pspal Government IN couc'u. ion
be expressed hope that the Romagucse would return m
their allegiance to the Holy Sec.