The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-06-09
THE MOBILE EXPLOSION.
Full Particulars of the Calamity.
pecisl pIspatch to the Chicago Repnblican.

Special Dispatch to the Chicago Republican.
CAIRO, May 31-The Mobile Neps Of the
25th says: The main ordnance depot of the
United States In this city was blown up at
o'clock this afternoon, making tremendous
report, and spreading the widest consterna-
ton throughout the city. The magazine was
located In the Marshals Office. The appear.
ance of the city in that neighborhood beggars
description. Maj. Gen. Granger, accompanied
by Col. Shipley, went to the scene of destruc-
ton almost before the flying shells ceased to
explode, and Immediately took steps for the
relief of the suffering and for the safety of the
city,
mite information of the number lost However,
200 will scarcely cover the number, exclusive
of wounded. Men were thrown down and
seriously injured at distance of half mile
from the explosion. Many persons are known
to be buried beneath the ruins, and the com.
manding general has used all available labor to
rescue those still alive. All the prominent
buildings. from st. Louis street up, includ-
ing, Water, Commerce and Front streets are
about completely demolished.
The steamers Kate Dale and Col Cowles ~
ing at the wharf opposite the Shippers Press,
were torn to pieces, and it is reported that ev.
cry soul on board them was lost. The shock
every building to the foundation; the crash
ing of broken glass was heard in every dlrec-
ton, and the falling walls made the earth re-
sound like the rumbling of an earthquake.
There are ct least four entire squares of build.
ings blown down at the burning ruins. Short
ly after was witnessed q scene which no pen
or tongue can describe, or imagination con-
ceive. -Four or five blocks entire were one
coDglomerated mass of ruins, two thirds of
which were on fire, while every two or three
seconds shells exploded and fragments and
bullets whistled through the air, which pre-
vented the bravest of men from going near.
Added to the flames of demolished build
ings, were burning steamers along the levee,
and from 5000 to 10, 600 bales of cotton, which
rendered the scene ill more grand. Not a
warehouse in that portion of the city was left
standing, and Thousands of men worked hour
after hour among debris, bringing forth one
after another of writhing and dead victims.
number OF bodies recovered are so burned
ami mutiated that recognition is impossible.
"A great amount of damage is done to the
city In pecuniary point of view, variOusly es-
timated ct from five to ten millions of dollars.
Eight squares of large and costly buildings
were completely demolished. The windows
of the custom house were completely demol-
ished. not whole pane remaining. The news
offices shared the same fate. All the buildings
on Royal street from Cont street to the Mobile
and Ohio Railroad depot, had the windows
knocked out, the glass being strewn in minute
particles oil around. Various partitions blown
down.
The Tribune building was made complete
wreck OF inside by the entrance of a shell,
weighing about sixty pounds, through the roof,
which tell among the material, smashing
things generally. Cabs, carriages, &C., on
Royal Street, were capsized, and horses, in
some instances, fell as if shot dead. The shock
seemed to affect the horses q great deal more
than human beings. The force of the shock
may be imagined when it is known that man
was killed instantly on board the Kate Dale by
the conclusion. Not mark was visible upon
his body, when taken up few minutes after.
Buildings on corners seemed to suffer most
some OF them being TaZed within few feet of
the ground. On the river facing, the doors
and windows were all smashed and broken in.
but beyond this the injury done was slight,
There were about 200 tons of ammunition.
consisting of musket cartridges cannon DOW
der and large number of blank musket cart
ridges, and quantity of loaded shells, grape,
canister and solid shot, principally for field
and siege guns, the amount of powder reach.
ing fully thirty tOns and was contained in the
warehouse. 1t was brought from Gainesville,
and is about One-third of the ammunition sur.
rendered by the rebel General Taylor.
The New Orleans Times s'ys an officer who
arrived from Mobile states that there were be-
tween 1000 and 600 boxes of fixed ammuni-
ton in the building. Ammunition was
brought there from Augusta Georgia, after
the surrender and was to have been removed
yesterday on board steamers in front of the
city. He thinks that the explosion had oc-
Cured while preparations were taking place
for its transfer