Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-06-18

The Explosion yesterday at the Arsenal.
FuhrRER DETAILS AND PARrrcuLARs-rHR
CoRoNRR's INQUEST.

-. =
FunrHER DETAILS AND PARr1cuLARs-rHK
CoRoHER's INQUEST.
The excitement attendant upon the eterriole
explosion and loss Of lite at the Arsenal yes.
terday was kept up throughout the entire day.
An excited crowd Of relatives of the laboratory
employees, parents, brothers, sisters, anxious
as to the fate of those dear to them, thronged
about the outer gate leading to the Arsenal,
and the scenes here were heart. rending In
the early part Of the afternoon, in order to pre-
vent confusion inside the grounds, an or der
was iesued restricting the number Of persons
permitted to enter. A few females and those
outside gave vent TO their feelings in bitter
wailing very distressing to hear. -
In the immediate vicinity of the accident,
inside OF the Arsenal grounds proper, the
charred remains OF those who had persisted
were laid upon the ground and covered over
with canvass. -. a. .- -
Many inquiries were made for missing par
ties, and by these inquiries we learned the
names OF the following as sufferers and dead !:
Sallie McEifresh, badly burnt, and taken to
the hospital, and has since died. Annie Bates,
also in hospital, and badly burnt. Miss Carr,
Northern Liberties, supposed to be among the
killed. Mrs. Scott, q street south, leg badly
burned. Millie Webster, who lives on 9th
subsequently learned that she was notat work
yesterday, and is consequently safe. Maggie
Yonson, 9TH street, between E and F, is among
the dead, Melissa Adams, 9TH street, between
g and H, dead Maggie Ecklof had her back
slightly injured by jumping from window,
but is not otherwise injured. Emma Knott had
her back, face and hands badly burned. Jo-
hanna Connor, who lived on English Hill, was
among those burned to death, but heI remains
were subsequently recognized by q portion Of
dress which remained upon her unconsumed.
The whole. top OF her head was, however,
gone, and the brain was visible; and but for the
fragment of dress it would have been impos-
sible to recognize her. Jnlia Mckewen, cor
ner ~ and streets, Island, supposed to be
an ong the killed. Ellen Roche, also supposed
to be killed. Rebecca Hull, badly burned about
the head; taken home, corner OF 5th and K
streets north, and subsequently, died. Bridget
Dunn, East Capitol street, supposed to be
killed. Search was made for Margaret Cush.
man, who lives on the Island, bnt it is now
positively ascertained that she arrived at her
home safe. Mrs. Tippett, living at corner of 4
and streets south was among the burned.
Kate Bresnahan, G street, between Sd and Ak,
and Susan Harris, who lived on the Island, are
supposed to be among the killed. Minnie
Mitchell was badly burned about the face and
arms, but was taken home. and'will probably
survive. san
The scenes while the fire was in progress
was truly heart-rending. Those who could,
jumped from the windows, and many Of them
tainted as soon as they alighted on the ground.
By the heroism Of some persons present some
were saved from q frightful death. One young
lady ran out Of the building with her dress all
In f1ames, and was at once seized by gentle.
man, who, In order to save her, plunged her
into the river. He, however, burned his hands
and arms badly in the effort. Three others,
also IN flames, started to run up the hill, and
the upperpart of thein clothing was torn OFT by
two gentlemen near by, who thus probably
saved the girls from horrid death, but in the
effort, they too were badly injured. Thirteen
girls ran upon tug at the Arsenal wharf, and
Were carried around to the 9Th street wharf,
where their friends took them in charge
THE INQUEST
Coroner " Woodward having been summoned
by dispatch from Major Benton, arrived q
little after four O'Clock, and summoned the
foremani james Lawrensen, Thos. E. Lloyd,
Robert II. Graham, Herman G.. Lorch, Thos
Taylor. VIM. II. Lusby, s: Fl. Ingerson, w.
Joseph Pullin. =
The canvas covering the remains was then
removed, and most terrible sight presented
The charred remains OF seventeen dead bo.
dies lay scattered about some in boxes, some
on pieces OF boards, and some in large tin pans,
they having been removed from the ruins in
these receptacles. In nearly every case only
the trunk of the body remained, the arms and
legs being missing or detached. In one case,
however, that Of a young girl, every shred Of
dress had been burned from her but her gaiter
shoes, which had slngularly escaped touch
of the flames. 1t is probable that some portion
them from the flames. We believe the body
has since been identified by her friends through
these shoes.
A singular feature of the sad spectacle was
burned to a cinder being Gagged, as it were, in
the wire Of their hooped skirts.
These bodies seemed more badly burned than
those not thus enveloped In hoops, and it
is probable that the expansion of the
dress by the hoops afforded facilities for the
flames to fasten upon them with fatal effect
We would suggest. in this connection, that ope-
ratives working in such dangerous localities,
should by all means wear non conclusive
clothing. Cloth washed in alum water is said
to be fre-proof. N -
crisped quite bloodless; the flesh, where ex.
posed, being perfectly white, while in Others
the red blood visible, showed that they had
been exposed to less terrible degree Of heat.
ing about the loins, by whichit had been iden-
titled, had upon it paper placard, with the
words, "This is Johanna O'Oonner."
In box was collected together large num-
Der OF feet, hands, arms and legs, and portions
Of the bones Of the head, which it would be
impossible to recognize. .'t
mold, who was standing by, and who is the
mother Of Mrs. Tippett, who was among the
killed, tainted away at the ghastly sight, and
was carried into building near BY.
The jury was then sworn, and the following
testimony was elected:
Thos. B. Brown, sworn.-Witness resides on
AZ street, between M and N south, and is
pyrotechnist. Has been employed In the Ar.
seIal since 1s41, with the exception Of a few
months. Witness was present at the time Of
the explosion, standing with Major Stebbins
and Mr. Cox. The fire communicated along
the bench where the girls were at work. The
girls were employed in "ehoking" cartridges,
Witness here explained that choking" the
is attaching 1t to the ball by q ma
chine which fas tens the end of the cartridge to
the ball. Witness was unable to recognize 1
any Of the bodies, but believed one Of them 70
be MISS Dunn, who was OF large size. The
books were burnt up at the time. Witness !
could not tell how the accident occurred. The I
girls in the building were cumming and cho.
king cartridges and labelling boxes. No rock
cts were being made in the building The fire
originated in the lower corner, near the fence,
southwest corner.) Witness had charge Of the
building which com prised these rooms-ene
being used for choking cartridges, another for
making boxes, and q third for making cylin-
ders CT cases. a rocket was In the building in
one of the drawers; there was not over three
signal rockets In the house. Witness had some
white stars lying in the sun In copper pans.
These stars were composed of chlorate OF pot
ash, nitrate Of stroncia and copul, but no sui.
phur. WITNESS explained the composition OF
tha stars At length i These Dams were nlaced