Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-09-13

hecteo the explosion with the heavy am-
munition train which had departed for
Johnsonvills precisely at eleven o'clock
At once be glanced at the clock, and
found the hands pointing to half-past
eleven o'clock. An engine was got
ready as quick as possible, and be start
ed off to the scene of the disaster. -
THE EFFEcr OF THE EXPLOSION.
The explosive force of the ignition of
eighty tons of powder, is difficult to be
comprehended by ths general public who
are unacqusiuted with the effects of
such powerful agencies. For instance,
it is ascertained by scientific men, that
if the immense magazine in New York
harbor should ignite, ths whole city
would be instantly tum bled into mass
of ruins, as completely as if a mighty
earthquake should swallow il up If the
explosion, in this case, had happened at
the Chattanooga depot. it is estimated
that large portion of Nashville must
have been made heaps Of rubbish, and
hundreds, probably thousands, Of lives
have been lost, It can, therefore, be
easily understood how the trees, for acres
around were entirely stripped Of leaves
and branches, shattered, broken, uproot-
&c; how truck wheels could be parted
from half to thres-quarters of mile;
and how distant objects could be Injured,
even so fer as this city, where several
panes of glass were broken out of win
doEs by the shock, and egen such a
building as the capitol could feel the
vibration. ln
The railroad track, for the length of
about four cars, was suddenly scooped
out Eve feet deep. One of the rails
was found about forty rods off not in
the least bent, while another was found
in the form of an ox-yoke, where il had
been arrested in its fight by striking
against large tree, which it bad badlY
shattered. A section of q truck wheel
was discovered some one hundred and
6fiy yards from the wreck, partially i'm;
beded IN another tree, which was split by
the shock. Ia some places trees, one
and balf feet in diameter, were blown
of leaving a stump about ten feet high.
Others were torn up by the roots. 10
every direction a scene of desolation
was presented, to describe which words
are inadequate. r.-.
That any one on the train escaped, is
incredible. The number killed outright
is believed 10 have been stated correctly
in our article yesterday. The wounded
are only q few more than supposed at
the time On such occasions names are
diaieult to procure, and have been so in
this case. 1o
The great explosion over did not ter
inmate the danger Shells we're scat
tered over the ground in every direction,
and every moment perillsd life by ex.
ploding. Yet we have not heard Of any |
person being injured by any of them. |
Shells were also momentarily bursting |
in the midst Of the wreck, which soon |
became a mass Of flames. The debris |
was burning until after seven o'clock |
10 the evening, and, even at that hour,
proximity to the locality was dangerous |
from the occasional explosion of shells, |
and from the liability Of coming in con-
tact with the numerous ones which |
strewed the vicinity. Later at night |
nothing but few ear-wbeels, battered |
locomotive, seme old scrap iron, and
pile of smoulderiBg ruins were all that |
was left Of the extensive train that had |
been rolling along the rails few hours
hefora
THE CoEcUssIoS IN THE Crrx.
The explosion attracted almost uni. |
versal attention. Many thought the |
noise the discharge Of heavy gun.
Some attributed the sound 10 the falling |
walls Of q large building Some sur
missed the crash to be a loud peal of |
thunder. And others conjectured an
explosion of 3 government maga~
zine in the neigbborhood, or in one
of the forts. The vibration was distinct
ly perceptibls even at the distance of |
seven miles. The capitol and other
buildings strongly evinced the,vibration |
OF the air. A pane of glass was broken |
at Christs Church, where the Diocesan |
Convention was in session, and occa-
stoned remark. Similar breakapes |
occurred in various parts of the city. |
The watches in the windows of the Jew
elry shops we're observed to be set swing
ing by the ooncussion.