The New York herald., 1865-06-04
Bodies Thrown in the Air to 9
Great Distance.
GENERAL GRANGER'S ORDER ON TIE SUBJECT,
&s., As., &e.
Our Mobile Correspondence.
NOZZLE, Ala, May rs. 1865

Our Mobile Correspondence
NomLE, Ala, May rs. 1855.
sHRmms POWDER sxroHoN MOBILE.
terrible powder explosion occurred this afternoon at
the corner Of Lipscomb and Commerce streets Build
ings for several blocks around eveed the earth
shook like earthquake, and all the buildings Mobile
rembled like aspen At least onehah Of the panes Of
glass in the windows being shattered by the conclusion
The explosion heard for OF miles around and
the operator at Enterprise, hundred miles distant
teegraphed Mobile to learn IL possible the cause
the shock which every person felt in that town
TERRIBLE PROPERTY.
Marshas warehouse the main ordnance depot In this
city, situated the of nipscomb and Commerce
streets has been used lately storehouse for powder
and fixed ammunition
At to day there were nearly two hundred tons OF
fixed ammunition and forty OF powder in the build
ing; and two hours later this immense quantity
plodcd laying eight squares in the Immediate
vicinity and filing the city with dust and smoke Alarm
and horror seized the people, for such per-
haps before witnessed. Buildings swayed TO and
fro, and eth fell fearully shaercd The
cussion overturned horses and wagons and several
instances and women walking in the streets
siderable distance thrown to the earth with great
force. Several buildings caught Gro, and amidst tho
ruins which few around the city portions Of human
bodies Nearly three hundred lives supposed to bo
lost, and twice that number Of persons injured.
In the Marshall warehouse Ave white men belong
ing TO the ordnance department thirty coored soldiers,
ard n commissioned officer All killed.
The steamers Kate Dale and Colonel Cowies caught
Drc and entirely destroyed Ten thousand bales Of
cotton burned. Several persons were killed or
badly injured by being struck by fragments, which for
nearly minute were flying about In every direction
Major General Gordon Granger and Colonel Shpley
arrived al tho warehouse short time after the explosion
occurred, and in few moments after the following
order was prom ulgatcd:-
HEaDqrARTERs USrrD STATS Forcns
May 25--3 r. NJ
A snd cnlarnity has overaken us ut an unexpected
moment resulting the loss OF raany valuable livos and
great destruction or property from the explosion OF
the main ordnance depot in this city, nj Marshas ware
house Whether this fearful calamity the work OF
foul ncendaes the result OF carelcsncss Is for US TO
determine Stringent measures Will a once be taken TO
nx the responsibility upon tue guilty parties aud bring
Brigader General Dennis will immediately place guards
TO insure safety both citizens and soldiers and n per-
ordered to remain gviey &C home Until no fur
ther danger s apprchcnded.
O. GRANGER, Major General Commanding
The buildings from ST. Louis street, including Water
Commerce and ront streets, nearly all demolished
Wales for considerable distance shared the
fate Eight squares Of burning ruins Scores
of buildings icvcued with the Garth and II is feared
thst hundreds of human beings are buried beneath
Every moment, for nearly half an hour after the en-
ploson, boxes Of hxed ammunition wero exploded
Pieces OF shell and bullets few around In every direction
| along the burning mass.
The purser Of The steamer IAura was Killed by piece
of brick while sitting at the dcfk writing Others
| marks upon thcr bodies Scores Of tho bodies which
have been removed from the ruins black eped and
| burned that they cannot be recognized.
The IRE bells sounded genersrhlsun.
The loss In estimated AT FROM to eight millions
Of dollars The OF the explosion is unknown snd
| win probably remain 90, as all ia tho building wero
A large portion OF tho powder ard ammunition was
brought from Gainesville. II surrendered By Gen
cra Taylor Besides tho loose powder, u consisted Of
cartridges, loaded SHE'LL grape and canister and Eod
shot