Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-03


9 rebellion? ? None would have dreamed oi
It had they witnessed the reception of oul
nag and troops that day. It was wonder.
iul display of loyalty and patriotism.
Colonel Bennett took possession of tho
: arsenal at once, just in time to save it from
i explosion by train laid by the rebels
Fires were in progress in various parts oi
the city, kindled by the rebels, but the
: fremen soon got at work and
9 the flames were at oaes ouslIed
: The most terrible scene was
CATASTROPHE AT THEwILMINaroN DEPOT
In this buildiDgs quantity of cartridges
and kegs Of powder had been stored Inv
the rebels, and as they had not time to re-
move 1t they Left it unprotected. A num-
Der OF men, women and children had col
lected to watch the burning of a quantity
OF cotton in the railroad ward. which the
rebels bad fired, and during the conhaprs-
tlon number of boys, while running about
the depot, had discovered the powder. For
the fun OF the thing, and without reslizing
the anger they incurred, they began to
take up hsndsful of loose powder and car
trldges and bear them from the depot to
me mass OF burning cotton, on which they
hung themI and enjoyed deal of amuse-
ment IN watching the flashes of the DOW.
der and the strange effects on the cotton RS
1t was blown hither and thither by the ex-
ploslon OF the cartridges. Quite number
ot boys soon became engaged in this dan
gerous pastlme, and speedily ths powder
running from their hands formed q train
upon the ground leading from the FIRE to
main supplies Of powder in the depot.
The terrible result is very easily coniec-
/ tlrad II II. s.En r. :-..4-a
line Of fire along the ground, and then an
explosion that shook the city to its very
foundations from one end to the other
The building was in 8 second whirling
mass of ruins, in tremendous volume of
flame and smoke. A report rivalling
Heavens artillery followed, and then 8
silence ensued that made every one trem-
bic and hold his breath. The cause of the
tremendous explosion soon became known,
and rush was made for the scene of the
catastrophe. Such q sight is rarely wit
messed. The building was in ruins, and
from the burning mass arose the agonizing
cries Of the wounded, to whom little or no
assistance could be rendered by the para
lyzed spectators. Many, wounded by the
flying fragments were removed from the |
additional danger of the fire, but those in |
the depot or Immediately about it we're ir-
retrievably lost. One by one was reached |
by the furious flames, the suppIicating |
voices, and the fearful sgonizing grosus !
that appalled, the stoutest heart, died away |
and ceased, and charred remains only were |
left by the devouring element as it moved
on to new victims, who soon passed amid |
that horrid scene from life to death. Ian
guage cannot adequately describe the ter
rible nature of the scene. The cries for
aid and rescue from the wounded within
fell upon willing ears; but nothing could /
be done to assist them, or even alleviate
their final psngs. The flames, like tabled
monster, strobe on, licking up everything
infsmmable, and eIveloping its victims
in its fiery ard deadly embrace. Forum
ately, the suferings Of the unfortunate
creatures were not prolonged. The work
wss done quickly, and soon every voice
wss silenced, every moan hnshed, and ev-
cry spirit gathered to its Maker. The
horrors of the scene will never fade from
the minds Of those who were SO unfortunate
as to witness it. Over one hundred and fif-
ty are said to have been chsrred in that
hery furnace, and hundred were wounded
more OF less seriously by the explosion, or
were burned by the fire.
From this quarter fires spread to the sd-
Joining parts Of the city, doing great dam
age. They were, however, extinguished as |
soon as possible.
The rebel feet WAS destroyed by the reb- !
els On Saturday morning, the Palmetto {
State, Ohicors and Charleston exploding.
The Syren and Due de Chartres, block !
ade runners, and both valuable steamers, Z
lan the blockade" soon after the capture 8
Of the city, and fell into on hands. Three '
more are now due. '
PROPERTY CAPTUREDIN THE CITY.
A large quantity of property was cap !
.uIed in the city by our forces. The rebels :
burned q great deal that could be got at
out we are informed that st least ten thou =
and bales of cotton are in the city, secTe-
ed in various places, which the rebel su-
'horities could not reach and destroy. A
arge quantity of rice also remains in pri-
7ate hands. Over two hundred thousand .
pounds have already been found and have
been turned over to Captain Fowler, As {
istant Commisssry of Subsistence en- Gen. 9
5chemmelfnnigs staff A portion of this I
will be given the poor. Then there is
luite large quantity of manufactured to- C
1aeeo already in our hands, ana more is t
,oming TO light daily. Some supplies ]
we're captured which could not be destroy c
ID or carried off by the retresting rebels. q
This will also be given to the needy. q
Seven locomotives in pretty good order, q
and quite number of cars of various {
kinds, were taken, and will be repaired and I
made available for future use.
In the Notifications Of the city over two
hundred guns of hesgy cslibre were found, Z
spiked, and rendered temporarily useless. S
N immense quantity of ammunition also !
fill into our hands, and all of the best quail q
ity. Precisely how much has not been as !
eertained, as scarcely ali have yet been ,
visited, and no inventory has been taken
Of their armsments.
THE APPEARANCE OF THE CITY.
On landing you observe that the whsrves +
ire in q very dilSpidated condition that I
tells very plainly that they have not been
much In use the past four years. The pal
netto logs that form the cribs are covered
with grass, and the planking is much de- :
ssyed, full of man traps, and about worth J
less so far as carriage is concerned. Ad-
Vancing up the riekety docks, you come to +
1 psrspst Of sane, over which peer the muz- I
lies OF heavy guns, bearing down the chan a
lol lOI AJmo 0olcASoi tH0A aNOuuu OF / n
over the batteries into the silent streets,
covered with the debris from shattered r
torres and dwellings, and bearing at points :
! tolerably good crop of grass-the same
Kind ofgrass that was to have sprung up in S
he streets of New York when King Cot =
on exercised the potent sway. Not a 4
building for blocks here that is exempt \
rom the marks ofshot and shell. All have \
uttered more or less. Here is fine brown =
tone bank Building, vacant and deserted, z
With great gaping holes in the sides and a
,oof, through which the sun shines and the a
ain pours, windows and ssshes blown out n
,y exploding shells within, plastering n
Knocked down, counters torn up, floors I,
rushed in, and fragments OF mosaic pave o.