The New York herald., 1866-09-04
THE WATERFOWL ARSENAL EXPLOSION.
Disastrous COnnngrati0n Attended by Ter
ribie Explosions -(:0vernment Property De-
stroved-Accidents and Incidents.
From the Boston Post, Sent. al

A Disastrous Confngration Attended by Ter
ribie Explosions Government Property De-
stroved-Accidents and Incidents.
From the Boston Post. Sept 81
EarV yesterday morning the inhabitants of Watertown
ana the surrounding country startled Of their
proprety 0y series Of explosions which took place at
large amount OF valuable property The explosions were
heard for many miles around. The long, heavy,
bling report as fell upon the practised ear told
thai fearful explosion had taken place. Distinctly was
this report heard the Boston, and though no
telegraph could bc reached by the officers Of the post
the explosion was at the Watertown Arsenal Excite
ment was rife at once and all the thorougbfares leading
to the scene of disaster thronged with impatient
and women anxious to be first on the ground to wit
he wreck and ruins
ARRIVAL AT THE SCENE OF DISASTER
On arriving at the of destruction our reporters
amid the excitement and wreck of NATTER immediately
commenced to inquire into the cause Of the explosion
and rain all other information connected with The
WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED
II appears that the alarm of fire given bv the sen.
tinel twenty min tes past four O'Clock The fire
first discovered in the building situated In the northeast
alarm ,yas given the building was locked and the dre
was burning brskly in the centre Smoke issuing
through tue roof and windows This building stored
with lumber which had also taken fire, and when tho
door opened the newly created draught famed the
whole into volume Of flame which bid defiance to all
efforts 20 lis progress The fro then communicated
10 adjoining brick building, containing about seventy
hve tons Of salpetrc. After burning for some five or
ten minutes
occurred y Tand succession, THROWING tho dsbrs OF the
bnildng orek timhers, &c, several hundred feet up
wards and scattering the fire in every direction setting
fire 70 numerous piles OF lumber in the imme late vic
nifty, and the flames communicated 10 adjoining large
two story brick building containing large number Of
gun carriages Through the exertions Of the detach
men At tne post these carriages all with
ont nny damage All these three building entirely
destroyed
EFFECTS THE EXPLOSION
One man was thrown from the second story of the
carrfge Gudins throueh the window without injury
save some slight wounds from falling embers, &c.
Our ufoymant, who has been in three similar explo-
sions, aays lie saw such shower of brickba's
Windowglass in Cambridge was broken in a wholesale
manner, and IN charlestown, also, the shock
severe enough 70 throw loose panes Of glass from The
sashwofk. The buildings suddenly destroyed incln-
ing the small trick structure where the explosion oc
curred. measured three hundred and fv feet in IT,
The brick o0iiing thirty five by fifty feet and had
been usea for long mme for the storage Of satpere
and other material entering into the composition of gum
powder
Efforts OF THE FIRrMEs
Fire eng pes were speedily on the ground from Wal
than BRIGHTON, Cambridge, Watertown and Boston
Great credit due Chief Engineer Damre of Boston.
for his prompness Forwarding engines to the OF
disaster. rnmor prevails that some men are missing,
but no credit Is attached to the report at Post Head
THF INcrNDIARS.
From The act that the building was locked and sen.
tine sationod at the building it Is generally believed 10
be the work Of nccndary. The utmost caution had
ben exercised here by the officers in charge Of the Arse
nal IRE drill OF the men having been had on the after
noon preyious.
All rHE OFFICERS
ground Immediately after tho alarm given, and
worked with tho greatest energy Great credit is given
by the officers of the post for their active exertons
constant stream Of water was thrown upon the flames
from tho steam Of tho machine shop, under The
charge of master machinst Appleton.
The principal loss by this disaster is in lumber and
ammunition chests destroyed Mr.. A. I. Brewer
carpenter and carriage maker informed us that not
than 400 600 of the best kind Of pine lumber
was destroyed 500 900 feet OF which stored in the
building IN which the fire orirnated. The lumber was
ned n 0ulv of fha Nuiffp
chests saved.
The conclusion OF the explosion riddled the windows
Of the immense storehouse-l50 by 40-suated south
and limo With the buildings burned The top or the
bricks smashing IN tho roof and doing 'o other damage
The dfbris OF tho explosion lies scattered the
grounds, telling the story Of destruction
EscAPR.
narrowly escaped with his life He in one of the
adjoining buildings at the time of the explosion, and
was In the most unceremonous hustled into he
street His INJURIES are not serious Three soldiers
duty, named william Ring, John Timmons and George
Caah, knocked down by the explosion, receiving
only aslight hrulsing. II is miracle that life was
los. eoisdern9 the extensive nature OF the explosion
and The nul3er cf persons employed on tho premises
sALTTrRE
The ouhanp in which the salipetre stored
small ofick building 40x20 situated between the
large lumber hCases divided by drive way through he
middle on cns side the mass Of saltpere, he
other large mas of garafhne-a composition between
tar and wax being very much like spermacett used
lubricator
THK LOSS
The loss bf tho IRE will reach $3.50 600 The lumber
desroycd WAS " tn choicest description The buildings
burned worq valued ~ IS 600 snd about 81 $50 worth
of window glass aud sas,,es were broken
Refreshments we're provided for the fremeu and
others who bt 50 many hours worked hard, long aud
faithfully 70 arrest the progress OF the devonrng ole
ment. AZ mo o'clock the labcrs Of the Hremea we're
quite
The shoei Of tho explosion broke in ,e window sase
of a small House occupied by Mr. Roach, on the opposite
side the Street running north Of the building and also
shattcred ia class in the dyeworks beIon nc m IA
William Freeman few hundred yards furthc, on on
the same s. de.
cArrIDvspY MEASURES.
Just as leaving the grounds Colonel Kiugshury
was matiEg efforts 10 organize working
to remose lumber and 20 do such work with and
cnSinc as tho occasion might demand. Severa of the
Boston Lrclrcn raadilv volunteered and tho Colonel
probably had nodieuv in securing the requisite force
The alarm from box twenty-five yesterday morning
was rven ~ Chief Engineer Damre for tho purpose IL
calling oni steam engine No 10 and hose No. To pro-
coed 10 The scene Of connagration.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.