Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-06-03
The Explosion at -Particu-
lars Of the Disaster.

Accidental OF percussion toeilss Nhlcu we're oelng
uuloaded from cars az the depot and stored ia
the Marshall warehouse.
Five white emuloyes Of The Ordnance Depar,
ment. and thirty colOred soldiers were in the
warehouse at the tine with q commissioners
officer As they we're all killed il will probably
never be asceEtaised how the accident occurred.
The New Orleans Times has the following
items OF informatiou: Hn
An artillery officer, who arrived from Mobile
last nighf, states that there were between two
and three thousand boxes Of fxed ammunition
stored IN the building. The ammunition was
brought there from Augusta. Georgia, after the
surrender. and was 20 have been removed yester-
day OF board steamers ia front OF the city lie
thinks THAI the explosion occurred while prepara-
tions were taking place for the transfer.
SPECIAL Dispatch BY Telegraph 10 the y. o. Times.
NOBLE. May % Extract from the Mobile
Morning and Evening News, May %:
Inc main Ordnance Depot Of the United
States forces. stationed here. was blown up about
fifteen minutes past two O'Clock this afternoon.
makiDg tremendous report, aud spreading the
widest CONSERVATION throughout the city. The
magazine was located in Marshall's warehouse,
on the corner of Lipscomb aud Commerce streets.
The present appearance Of the city in that neigh
borhood. beggars description
Major General Granger, accompanied by Colo
almost before the aying shells had ceased to
explode and Immediately took steps for the
relief of the sufferers and for the safety of the
city. The following order from him will ex plain
the course 10 be pursued
HEADoUARTERs UNITED STATES FoRcEsJ
May 25-3 p. NJ
A sad calamity has overtaken us AZ an unex
pected moment. resulting in the loss of many
valuable lives and great destruction OF prop
erty, from the explosion of the main ordnance
depot. in this city, at Marshalls warehouse.
Whether this fearful calamity was the work of
foul incendiares, or the result of careessness.
is for Us 10 determine. Stringent measures will
az once be taken % * the responsibility upon the
guilty parties, and bring them to summary pun
ishment.
Brigadier General Deuni, will Immediately
place guards 10 insure safety TO both citizens and
soldiers. and all persons are ordered to remsin
quietly at home till no further danger is appre-
hended G. GRANGER
Major General Commanding
Ii is impossible at present 10 arrive at any
definite Information of the number of lost We
think, however. that two hundred will scarcely
cover the number. exclusive of wounded. Men
were thrown down aud seriously injured az the
distance of half mile from the explosion
Many persons are known 10 be buried beneath
the ruins ana the commanding General has em
ployed oil available labor 10 rescue those still
alive
All the prominent buildings from ST. Louis
street up, including Water, Commerce, and
Front streets, about completely demOl
ished
The steamer Kate Dale was lying at the
wharf. opposite Shippers Press, and. with
other steamer, was torn 10 pieces, and it is re
ported every soul on board Of them was lost
The shock made the city tremble like an a
pen, ShaA,Dg eyery building to It's foundation.
The crash of broken glass was heard in every
direction, ana falling walls made the earth re
sound like therumbling OF al earthquake. Gen.
Immediately after the explosion took place Col
Shipley is of the opinion that there are at least
four entire squares OF buildings blown down.
Too much praise cannot be given to the officers
and soldiers for their promptness in being on the
ground. and the assistance they rendered in re
moving many sufferers.
We visited the burning ruins shortly after the
explosion. in company with Colonel Shpley, and
witnessed scene which no tongue or pen can
describe, or Imagination conceive. Four or five
blocks, entire were one conglomerated mass OF
ruins. two thirds of which were on fire, while
every two three seconds shells exploded and
fragments and bullets whstled through the air,
which prevented the bravest of men from going
too near. Still all men did nobly Added TO
the flames Ut demolished buildings, were burning
steamers along the leyee, and from : 900 to 10.
bales of cotton, which rendered the scene still
more grand
Not warehouse in that portion of the city was
left standing, and thousands OF men worked
hour after hour among the debris, bringing forth
one after another OF The writhing ard dead vic
tins. We saw the bodies OF Mr Mem ihon in
charge OF the carpenters work; of the Captain
Assistant Quarter master. and the Purser of the
steamer Laura, which vessel was living on the
marine ways, opposite the city, who was killed
while sitting al his desk by piece of shell or
brick
a number OF bodies recovered are so burned
and mutilatei that recognition is impossible II
is estimated that the number killed will reach
three hundred. When il is taken into consider
alton that nearly all the work shops, boundaries,
cotton presses, &c which covered the vast area
destroyed, we're employing large number of
men, and from whom, so far, no accounts have
been received, it will be seen that our estimate
OF two hundred will be below proper figures
The bell on the guard house rang all the time of
the fire. A great amount Of damage is done to
the city in pecuniary point of view. We have
heard it ysriously estimated at from five to ten
million dollars. Eight squares Of large and
costly buildings completely demolished.
The windows Of the Custom House, on North
anu last 'FRONT.' streets, are completely demOl
ished. There is not whole pane remaining
This was all the damage sustained by this
building The News office shared the fate of all
buildings on Royal street, from Cont to the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad Depot, having is
windows knocked out, glass strewn in minute
PARTICLES all over, and various Partitions blown
down
The Tribune building VAS made complete
wreck of inside By the entrance of shell weigh
ing about sixty pounds through the roof, which
fell among the material of the office. smashing
things generally.
Cabs. carriages, &c, on Royal street were
capsized, and horses in instances fell a. il sho,
dead.
dea! more than human beings Those that were
not knocked down instantly seemed stunned and
paraly zed; and aid not recover tor some minutes
The force OF the shock NAV be imagined when
il is known that's man named John kavanaugb.
paro'ed Confederate soldier, killed instau-
tly on board the Nate Dale by conclusion. Not
q mark was visible upon his BODY when taken up
a few minutes after
On Wales street, the loss in property is i'm
mense Below ;. Michael street, the doors snd
windows suffered most A continued wreck
meets the eye, looking up this street. growing
more confused. and losing semblsnce of buildings
entirely as vision nears. Squares nearest where
stood the magazine. Commere street. the ware
houses and cotton sheds which lined the upper
portion. are now but mass of ruins
The buildings on the corners seemed TO suffer
most, some OF them being razed within few fee;
4 u