Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-19
Terrible Explosion at the Arsenal
Nine Mem Instantly Killed
THREE MORTALITY WOUNDED.
Important Order from the Postmaster General.

Important Order from the Postmaster General.
WASHINGTON, Dec. IS, 1865
! THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA RELIEVED
THE STATE COMMITTED TO TIE GOVERNOR ELECT.
The following has been addressed by Mr.. Seward to
Mr.. Parsons:-
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, December Is, 1865.
To His Eccellency Leuis E. Parsons,
Provisional Governor Of the State Of Alabama.
MONTGOMERY, ALA.
SIR:-The time has arrived when. in the judgment
Of the President of the United States the care and
conduct of the proper affairs of the State of Alabama
may be committed to the Constitutional authorities
aee peace and safety Of the Gned states u INC
By direction Of the President, therefore
eved from the trust which was rsPoSed in
Whenever the Governor elect shall have accepted
and becomes qualified to the discharge of the duties
of the executive office, you will transfer the papers
and property OF the State now in your custody to his
Excellency the Governor elect 1t gives especial
pleasure to, convey, to yop the Presidents acknow
edgment Of the fidelity, the loyalty and the discre
ton which have marked your administration.
Iop will please give me reply. specifying the day
on which this communication is received.
have the honor to be your EXcellencys most obe-
dicnt servant, W. II. SEWARD.
Mr.. SEWARD TO THE GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Dec. Is, 1865.
STE-By direction of the President | have the
honor herewith to transmit to you a copy of com
munication which has been addressed to his Excel
ency Lewis Z. Parsons late Provisional Governor of
Alabama, whereby he has been relieved Of the trust
heretofore renosed in him. and directed to deliver
into your Excellencys possession the papers and pro-
perty relating to these trusts.
have the honor TO tender you the cooperation Of
may be found necessary in ettectng the early resto
ration and the permanent prosperity and welfare of
the State over which you have been called to preside.
have the honor to be, with great respect,
your most obedIent servant,
WM IL. SEWARD,
Secretary of State.
OFFICIAL ANSoUNCEMENT-THE CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT DULY RATIFIED.
The following official announcement has been pro-
mulgated from the State Department.
10 all To t1hORl these presents may
Greeting: Know ye that whereas the Congress Of
the United States, the first of February last
passed resolution which is in the words following
namely: "A resolution submitting to the Legislatures
OF the several states q proposition to amend the
Constitution of the United States.
ReSoired, BY the Senate and House of Representa-
tyes of the United States of America in Congress as
sembed, two-thirds of both Houses concurring that
the following article be proposed to the Legislatures
Of the several States as an amendment to the Const
tuition OF the United States, which, when ratified by
threefnurths of said Legislatures shall be valid to
all intens and purposes as part of the SAID COnst
tuition, namely.
ART. 49, See. /. Neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude except as punishment for crime, whereof
the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist
within the United States or any place subject to their
jurisdiction.
article by appropriate Legislation.
And ,chercds, it appears from official documents
file i'll this Department, that the amendment to the
Constitution of the United States proposed afore
said has been ratified by the Legislatures of the States
Of illinois. Rhode Island. Michigan Maryland, New
York West Virginia, Maine, Kansas, Massachusetts
Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Missouri. Nevada, In
diana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin. Vermont
Tennessee Arkansas, Connecticut New Hampshire
South Carolina, Alabama. North Carolina and Geor-
gld. III all t'ceatV- geccH Mates,
Ard, ,ehereos, the whole number of States in the
cd Is
Aad ,rhereaa, the before specially named States
whose Legislatures have ratified the said proposed
amendment, constitute three -fourthS of the whole
number of States i'll the United States.
NOw therefore, be it known. that l. William H.
Seward Secretary Of State Of the he United States by
of Congress, approved the 2lth of April. 1915 cni
tied IN a IA Act to nr9yd f u the Sr PaB P9ar @
do hereby certify that the Amendment aforesaid has
become valid, to all intents and purposes, as
In testimony whereof | have hereunto set my hand
and caused the seal of the Department Of State to
be affixed.
Done at the city Of Washington this eighteenth
:.......: day Of December. in the year Of our Lord
T.. s: one thousand eight hundred and sixty five;
-: and of the independence of the United
WM II. SEWARD,
Secretary of State.
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION.
This afternoon fifteen minutes before two o'clock,
a terrible explosion occurred at the Arsenal which
resulted in the death of nine men, and three ia
onestory frame bndng short distance ~ from the
first gate leading to the Arsenal, and about one hun
dred yards to the left OF the main avenue leading to
the penitentlary gate.
The building was used for emptying the ammuni-
ton as it was taken from the boxes turned in from
the Notifications around the city. But few boxes
at one time were allowed in the building, and the
powder was taken from them it was placed i'll kegs
and taken from the building.
At the time of the explosion two boxes, each con-
taining eight rounds in all about forty pounds of
powder and twenty -four pounds of loose powder on
the floor, was all in the building While the work
men were engaged in emptying the two boxes the eX
plosion took place, and the building was blown i'll
thousand pieces.
Ten men were employed in the building under
Sergeant Flint, whose names are as follows: James
A Mahoney, Patrick Reardon, Marsland Whiteley,
John Crane, James Moran, Michael McDormott
John Meehan, Martin Kyle, John Fealey. and Peter
McGarcerey.
Every one in the building was killed except Martin
Kyle who Is horribly burned, and the physicians say
Parts of nine bodies have been recovered from the
ruins blown and mangled III the most terrible man
ner
Sergeant Finn. who was in change Of the maga-
zine was in the building and left about two minutes
before the explosion
Mr.. James Lawer the driver Of thepOwder wagon,
was.stting on his wagon few feet from the building.
ed of his recovery The mule attached to the wagon
was blown to pieces. Most of the workmen in the
building were men who have been in the service and
their terms having expired they obtained work in the
Arsenal. The greater portion of them have families
residing in the Seventh ward in the vicinity of the
The scence after the explosion cannotbedescribed-
legs, arms and portions of the bodies scattered
over the ground. Pieces of timber from the building
scattered the ground for five hundred yards
around. vi the ten men employed IN the building
not one escaped
Chas Lynn, labOrer employed about the build
ing, was near by, and was terribly wounded DR..
Eldridge. of the 2l4th Pennsylvania, attended him
and says he cannot live.
The alarm of fire was sounded by officer Wheeden,
of Tenth precinct, from box No. II, and the engines
were soon at the place Sergeant Gessford, with the
Of fhn Ion h ,1~
rendered all the assistance in their power.
Col. Benton, the commandant at the arsenal,
at the place very short time after the explosion,
and remained until all things cleared away.
Mayor allach was also present.
The scene at the Arsenal gate truly heart-rend
daughters, were at the gate inquirng of every one
who came out the names of those killed and wound
ed. Their cries and shrieks could be heard for
squares.
The explosion was heard all over the city, Houses
shook, windows ratified and the very ground seemed
to shake as il from an earthquake.
DEATH OF Mr.. coRwIN.
At2-35 P. NJ. Mr.. Corwin expired For hours pre-
vious ii was expected that he would cease breathing
at every moment but vitality apparent up to the
in their attention to him from the first; and at the
time Of his death, Mrs. Smith, cousin of Mrs. Cor
T nd ReT Sd and RT s Eane
agent Of the State of Ohio present in the cham
Der.
week:
The Usage, Iowa.. capital $4,000; the Valley Of
Staunton. Va, capital $ll0,000; the Peoples, of
Charleston s. c.. capital 2OOO00 the State National
Bank of Minneapolis Minnesota. capital 100000;
first National Bank, Charleston, capital $4,000
The number of National Banks now in operation is
1923. The total amount of National Bank currency
issued up to date is S229, 746,0S5.
... CERTIFICATES REDEEMED.
The Treasury Department last week redeemed Ger
tfcates of Indebtedness amounting to S533 O00 and
currency and gold certificates to the amount o.
S. 391 ,430.
NEW FEDERAL COINAGE.
The Director of the mint has forwarded to the Sec
retary of the Treasury for his approval specimens of
the double eagle, eagle and half eagle (god coins)
and the dollars, half dollars. and quarter dollars
the reverse Of each coin as provided by the fifth sec
ton Of the act of Congress of March g. 1866 The ad
dition of these words on the specimens we saw add
La,re 1T