The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1860-02-29
Volume XVIII.
A Terrible Affair in Kentucky.
EXPLOSION OF AN INTERNAL
MACHINE.

The Louisville Journal furnishes the
following particulars of desperate at
tempt on the 9Th inst. in Hawesville, KY,
to destroy life with an Internal machine,
some account of which we have already
published:
Our readers doubtless recollect the Lowe
affair. DR.. II. A. Davidson and a man
named Wltherow were charged with mur-
derlng Lowe IN his cell in the Jail. This
atrocious act had been denounced by Mr.
VIM. Serrett, a lawyer and farmer, who
Resides about four miles above Hawesvllle,
and engendered an i'll feeling between
him and Davidson. The latter, to avenge
himself on Sterrett, resorted TO an Internal
machine. We now give the account fur
nshed 10y the officers of the Grey Eagle.
| The persons in the store when il was
blown up were C. B Duncan, J, G. Dan
can, VIM. Sterrett, James Redding, -
Bennett and Davidson:
On Monday last DR.. Davidson entered
the store of Mr.. Duncan, in which Mr.,
Sterrett, with three or four o.her persons,
was seated He had under his cloak a
willow market basket in which, covered
over with some eggs, was an internal ma
! chine Of his own invention. A description
of this instrument of death may be Inter
esting:
1t was tin tube, large enough - con-
tain five or SIX pounds Of powder, with
which it was filled. This magazine was
contained within another tn canister Of
double the size. The space between the
Two was filled with bullets Of large sized
shot, sufficient number to weigh ten or
twelve pounds. This internal machine
was constructed under the Doctors special
direction by timer in Cannelton, Ind,
which town is Immediately opposite HaHes-
! vile.
! DR.. Davidson approached Mr.. Sterrett,
! and, when within few feet Of him, he
set fire to his Internal machine, with the
expectation of blowing himself, Mr.. Ster-
relt aud everybody else in the room, into
eternity.
| The shock was terrible. The room was
built of stone and brick. One whole side
of the house was blown out, the roof was
lifted from the raf,ers, and six large sills
above were broken.
Mr. Duncan, the merchant, was very
dangerously wounded--it is feared fatally.
Mr.. Sterrett was seriously hurt and
badly burnt. Three of the balls entered
his face, aud it is feared he may lose an
eye.
DR.. Davidson had his left arm broken in
two places, his collar bone broken. his
right shoulder disocated, the flesh torn of
the shoulder TO the bone, his clothes torn
from his body, and he was badly burned
in the face, breast and arm. He was a
horrible sight. and rushed from the house
after the explosion, crying xii me for
Gods sake; do not wan. TO live any
longer"
Two other persons were in the room,
but were not seriously hurt.
The citizens of the town, hearing the
noise and feeling the shock, rushed TO and
fro in the widest confusion. They thought
4 keg of powder had exploded in the
store room. When they were Informed of
the true cause of the explosion many per-
sons were in favor of killing Davidson
and strong efforts were made TO do so.--
The news spread through the county, and
the country people were rushing to town
with their guns for the purpose of taking
part in the mob. The whole town was
arming. The greatest and widest excite
men, prevailed throughout the town.
When the Grey Eagle LETT Hawesyille,
at nine o'clock OIL Monday night, the ex-
c,emeni was intense. and ii was thought
that Davidson would be taken out by the
infuriated citizens and killed. A strong
guard was stationed around the house to
prevent it. This is one of the most ap.
palinr atrocities that ever was perpetrated
in Christian country. 1t is ten times
more frIghtful in its conception than the
Lowe tragedy, but, fortunately. less de-
structive IN It's result.
The Louisville Courier Of the 10Th has
the following:
We learn that Mr.. Davidson, the wretch
ed assassin and maniac who made the dla'
bolical auemp, Monday to murder half
dozen people in Hawesville, KY, has since
died of the wounds he received on that oc
casion. 1t will be recollected that he pre-
pared an internal machine charged with
powder and buckshot, which he carried t'
the house of Mr.. Duncan, and by its rather
premature explosion he was terribly pun
ished and mutilated. He was the frs
victim, but before his death he acknowl
edged that it exploded too soon for him
and he also confessed that he had another
similarly prepared in his own house.