, 1863-05-15
Terrible Gunpowder Explosion in
New York City.
Great Loss Of Property--seve1al Per.
sons Seriously Injured.
Windows Destroyed at the Distance Of Sir Niles
from the Srene.

One Of the most terrific gunpowder explos- |
Ions which ever took place in tlis city oc-
cured at late hour on Monday night, at the
foot Of Seventy eighth street, East Riyer. TIE
for the distance Of fifty miles. The damage to
the property is very great, and the wonder is,
that no lives were lost By the catastrophe.
The particulars Of the occurrence are as fol-
lows: For about eighteen months there has
been cartridge mannfaetory and 4 powder
street, East River. The proprictors, Messrs.
Jullnston & Dow, have had contracts with the
rnItt States Government for the manuflc-
tnre aid delivery Of cartridges. During the
last year and a half, they have had Oh all ave-
1agc 600 persons in their employ. There were
Ct them between seyen'y-elghth and Seventy
ninth streets, and the other . short distance
below the foot of Seventy eighth street,
East River. No accident Of any kind had
occurred during ill this year and . half, until
that OIL Monday night, Mr.. Drake, the fore
porter that the strictcst watch had been Kept
uEon the premises, and that the utmost care
had been taken to prevent an explosion, nr
to avoid accidents Of any kind. lie further
stated that at about liz o'clock on MonIay
night, he Was aroused from lis slumLcrs by
tie explosion.
The magazine where the powder was stored,
and where the explosion took place. Was sit
uated between Seventy eighth aud Seventy
seventh streets, and close to the river, iinmc-
diatcIy opposite Randali's Island, 1t was :.
low brick structure, about sixteen feet
lace. Mr.. Drake, the foreman, states that
they usually kept about ten barrels Of gum
powder in this magazine, and that no other
colnbustible material WAS, or had been at any
time stored there. He further status that
they ilad three months past employed as,lit
f1trr, Etf= Sr0H in fho f1rL, ht,i5A
in the manufacture Of cartridges, etc.
The Effect of the explosion was terrific. and
shook the HOUSES of persons living fifteen miles
away from the scene ofthe disaster. At Flush
irg,six miles distant windows v erc broker, and
many persons were aroused from their s]um-
ters by tue motion Of the furniture in their
rooms. The same effect is reported by per-
sons residing in Manhasset, Long Island,
| distance Of twelve miles further. At New
| town the doors of many Of the Inhabitants
were thrown open by the force Of the exp!o-
| sion, and tho inmates started from their beds
in alarm, under The belief that M earthquake
had visited Them. The public buildings on
the Island, Qces than half 4 mile from tho
scene Of the explosion,} and directly oppc-
ei1c, were much damaged Window glass aud
broken by the force Of the conclusion. In the
| immediate vicinity, on the New York side,
! the damage WAS also considerable. Mr.. Seth
c. Reese, residiug at the foot Of seycuty -si<th
street, was thrown from his bed against the
side Of the wall, and very much bruised. His
lousckeeper was also severely injured in the
| tame manner. The windows and doors
| OF his residence were NIL stove In, tho cell
ings shattered and his furniture be-
came almost q wreck. &c estimates his dam-
residing in Seventy fifth street, had his house
completely demolished by the force Of the
explosion; his loss is about 5000. Mr.,
White, a florist in the vicinity, suffered
severely. His house was almost rent to frag-
r1ents, and his ilnc garden, including green
More than one. half Of the glass in his garden
WAS broken. lie estimates his damage al
S3,CC0. Mr.. Hastcy, ut the foot Of Seventy.
fourth street, lost about 5000 worth ii
Woods Hotel, had the whole Of one side o1
his billiard saloon STAYED in, and his Windows
ard doors broken. His LOSS will amount II
about Il ,00O. The following named person:
also sustained heavy losses: Frederick Rob
crtson, Bellevue Garden; Mr., Underhill
Grammar School No. $, situated on the cor
| ner Of Third aycnnc and Seventy -nfnth street
about ten blocks from the scene Of the eXplo
; sion, was eo much damaged rs to render j
, unfit to be occupied for school purposes unit
repaired. Our reporter was informed that
child which was sleeping In its cradle in
/ house in Third avenue, near Eishty-thir
street, was thrown by the force of the cxplo
~i"n against the ceiling, and SO much injurc
that lis lite is despaired OF. For miles an
miles III every direction ne hear reports {
the effects Of this terrible explosion. L
, New Haven the inhabitants believed 1t to
! ! IN earthquake; the windows Of many {
the houses Of that city were shaken, au
: very reeceptible tremor vas felt through
: ont the town.
The Police report that there were only {, sc
pounds of gunpowder stored in the nagazin
! ut the time of the explosion. The foreman
tie establishment also states that nothin
but gunpowder in barrels, {only ten Of wllic
7 were then on store) was allowed to be pt
9 there. Ills idea is, tha* the magazine ":
fired By some malicious person: An invest
G gas;on Of the STAIR will be had to day, whe
a it is supposed that there will be some ligl
thrown upon the cause Of the explosion.
Prom the New York Herald
The premises occupied By Mcssrs. Dow
/. johnson, who were engaged by the gover1
lnent to manufacture an improved cartridl
j properly, and Is located between Seycnt.
eighth and Seyen1 y-nin1h streets, fronting I
, the East river and extending back to ayenl
r b. The buildings consisted Of the uansio
II | over one hundred years old, which WAS ust
as factory, and Il new building used as d &C
( lodion room, an old icehouse used as stor
IS house, and q brick magazine, built express
. tor TINT purpose, and inspected and pronoun
&c ed ssie. The magazine was Of brick, sixtes
,e feet by sixteen feet inside. having two wall
/. and ceiled inside with wood. Tie door #;
D double and plated with heavy iron on the on
+, side. The roof was heavy and donble time
;s At the time of the explosion it containt
- about 40 barrels OF blasting powder, al
S about twenty barrels Of gunpowdcr, some
a which WAS made up into cartridges. 4 fl
- weeks ago there was over one million Of ca!
&c ridges stortd in It; but the Government
nt | fuanH h1s been SO rTcot that the mauufAct
49, rers could not keep up to their orders, a
y they have shipped them as rapidly Ms th
IS. they were ready. The magazine was locat
n q few yards from high water mark, the r.
- portion being asninst high bank
H. earth, the front facing the river. 1t Is st
d, | posed that the lock was filled with powd
Il slow match attached to it. aud in this "
~ the explosion was communicated to the Ill
to bod! of the magazine.