The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-06-23
Great Fires at Nashville and
Chattanooga.
Immense Destructic ofGov-
eminent Property.
Fatal Explosion at Chattanooga
LOSS OVER So, 900, 900.
From the Nashville Dispatch, 9th

LOSS OVER So, 900, 900.
From the Nashville Dispatch, 9th.
One of the most destructive CONGREGATIONS
that has visited Nashville for many years, oc.
Cured yesterday at o'clock p. NJ. The sontb
halt of two immense Government buildings
known as Taylors Depot, on Summer street
below Broad, was totally destroyed, with all its
contents, amounting to about 81 900 900 worth
OF Quartermaster's stores. 1t is not Known
how the fire originated, although several sto-
ries are afioat, but all of them, evidently. with
out foundation. The most probable, however
was, that the roof ignited from sparks elected
by the locomotive attached to a train of cars
which had passed few moments previous to
the fire, the buildings being quite near the rail
road track.
From Captain w. A. Wainwright, who is in
charge of the Quartermaster's stores in this De-
partment, and had his Office adjacent to the
buildings, we learn the following particulars
regarding the disaster:
At the moment the alarm was given the
building was enveloped in smoke which was
coming out of all the windows. The fire hose
was Immediately directed on the building, but
the elements were already under full Roadway,
and the water caused the flames to burst out
with terrific rapidity, barely allowing the men
In the building to escape. 1t was reported that
two government employees failed to get out,
kuu "CiC UuauCO W Uut lTOIu all the
circumstances attending the early stage of the
fire, we have every reason to believe that no
lives were lost. There were two men in the
building while it was wrapt in flames, but they
were both seen when they got out, one of them
jumping through window and badly injuring
his leg. The following list comprises the bulk
OF the property destroyed:
In the cellar there were 800, 900 pounds of
wagon grease, 100 barrels of tar, 10, 600 pounds
of oakum, and 200 bales of oakum, SO pounds
of pitch, 10000 pounds of pitch, about 1000
pounds of tanners grease, 1000 wheelbarrows,
1900 water buckets, 500 sets of blacksmiths'
tools, 800 anvils, 200 bellows, 200 portable
FORCES, 800 vises, an immense amount of RUM
ing gear for wagons, and 600 heating stoves.
On the first floor there was 1900 pounds of
harness leather, 60 600 kegs of horseshoe and
cut nails, 5000 boxes of sheet tin, S., 900
pounds of iron washers. % 900 pounds of rope,
1900 pounds of paint, 10000 feet of lead pipes
9, 600 gallons OF neats-fOCt OIL 1900 pounds of
bride leather IL OCO feet of betting, 200 circular
saws, 1000 picks and handles, 5000 lanterns.
10000 flies, 1900 hay-forks, 1900 axes and
handles, TO- 600 augars about 800 chests of vau-
able horse medicines, 5000 wagon covers, 5 900
sets of harness, 5000 horse brushes, 5000
jockey sticks, II 600 neck straps, 5000 halter
chains, q 600 bride bits, 1900 wagon spokes,
and an immense quantity of boxes containing
glass.
Capt. Wainwright estimates the property at
about $4,0O0,000, of which about S1,OO0OOO
will be recovered from the iron, which is not
materially damaged.
EXPLOSION AND FIRE AT CHATTANOOGA.
From the Chattanooga Gazette, 10th
About halfpast one o'clock, Friday after
noon, a locomotive attached to long train of
empty cars, attempted to start off from where
it was standing, on the lower track at the river
landing. The engine was within very few
| feet of an DID, tumble down brick building, en-
| tirely open at one end and on one side, which
| has been in use tor over year as o sort of
| powder magazine. Lately i, has been used for
| the storage of captured ammunition, several
| tons of which were in it. There was consider
able powder open in boxes and even the floor
had streaks of the intlmmable article scat
tered over it. The train being heavy, the en-
| CINE gave two or three short, quick puffs, the
| air was filled with sparks from the SIN oke
| stack, and in the same instant, the powder in
| the magazine exploded. From the Statements
| of some of the guards, the powder on the floor
seemed to ignite first, but the explosion was
almost instantaneous. The next moment the
bursting of shells and the whiz of the flashing
powder attracted the attention of every one in
the neighborhood, but the whole building was
on fire in less time than it has taken us to tell
| it, East and south Of and separated from the
| magazine by cross street, were three long
warehouses 1.-TWO reaching down Market street
and the third one running westward towards
the new magazine. Two of the warehouses
were packed with hay in bales, of which there
were about 5000 bales in one and 200 in the
other. The other was about half filled with
commissary stores. The explosion and rush
of bursting shells were SO rapid that many
were deferred from going in the immediate
vicinity of the fire, but few men rushed into
the warehouses to see what could be done to
| save them. Five minutes, however did not
elapse after the first explosion until the ware.
houses containing the hay were entirely in
flames, driving out the firemen who had got q
a stream into them. About seven o'clock in
the evening smaller explosion occurred. AT
the time it took place large crowd of soldiers
were walking about among the ruins of the
magazine, and several of them were seriously
injured, one of whom will probably die. His
name we did not learn. A piece of shell struck
him on the forehead. Another had his RICH,
arm carried away by another piece, and third
man, Elisha Joiner, Co. Fl, 18Th Ohio, was
struck in the shoulder by piece OF the flying
shell, iDficting an ugly wound, besides being
hit on the ankle. One man was struck on the
head, another in the back, both wounds, how
ever being slight. In addition to these. quite
number, perhaps twenty, were injured dur.
ing the afternoon by bursting SHE'LL A few
men, some six or eight, are reported missing.
and at the time of writing it is not known
whether they are dead or not.
| 1HC u1y. VI WuiCu llltIc were t,UU OaleS in
the two warehouses destroyed, was in charge
of Capt. Clark, 4. Q. NJ.
In the commissary warehouse, in charge oi
Capt. Toll, Post and Depot, Commissarv, there
were 407 brls. of pork, all of which was saved:
623 brls of -four 81, 900 lbs. of hard bread
$1,000 bushels of beans II 900 lbs rice 90. 500
lbs. coffee; $4,000 lbs. sugar; q, 900 lbs. OF
mixed vegetables; $4,000 bushels salt. Capt
Toll estimates that about one-third of these
articles are lost to- the government. The
whole loss, according to rough estimate. will
probably amount to $3.50, GOO.
Two small buildings between the wore.
houses and the landing were totally DESTROYED
and poor horse that was tied up in Shed
near one of them, WIS burned up with them.
The magazine which exploded was under
the charge of Capt. Hogan, ordnance officer,
and we learn he has been ordered under arrest
until an examination can be had into the cause
Of the explosion and consequent loss of life and
property.