The Placer herald., 1866-04-21
Terrible Explosion and Loss of Life in San
Francisco.

"I uiteen minutes past one CLOCK, L. NJ .
an explosion took place in the storeroom
back of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s building, in G,
W. Bells assay Office, adjoining on Califor.
MIA street, which demolished everything with.
in circuit of 40 or so feet, including the
whole interior Of Bells assay building, the
storeroom and west portion Of Wells, Fargo
d Co.'S building, the back portion Of the
Union Club Rooms, and other apartments
in the vicinity.
The explosion was so powerful as to shake
the earth like on earthquake for circuit of
a quarter Of mile. Every window in Cali
fornia street, between Montgomery and Kear.
ny, were demolished, and psnes Of glass were
shattered even far as Third street, dis.
tance Of half mile. For some time after
the explosion it was impossible to tell the
cause Of the calamity. Some asserting that
it was barrel Of acid in the Assay office;
others that it was steam boiler in the rear
of the flee; and others, that it was some
kind Of explosive material stored in the yard
Of Wells, Fargo g. Co. 1t has since been
ascertaiued to have been caused by Nobel's
blasting oil, or nitro glycerine, new expo-
sive five times, moro powerful in i,s effects
than powder. A OK containing this liquid
had arrived by steamer from the East, and
when landed upon the wharf was found to
be in leaking condition. 1t had been
shipped as general merchandise, and none
were aware Of the dangerous contents of the
box. 1t was sent to the Office Of Wells,
Fargo & Co. and placed in the rear of the
building; among the unreclamed freight,
where Mr.. Webster, freight clerk in the New
York department of the Express office, and
Mr.. Havens, freight clerk Of the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company, went to examine that
in connection with another package claimed
to be in a damaged condition The last
seen of these gentlemen alive, they were
employees, having tools as if about to open
the box. 1t is supposed they made the at.
tempt, when the explosion took place by
conclusion, which resulted in terrible loss
of life and destruction of property.
There was not whole window for long
distance from the building in which the ex-
plosion took place, and in Brannans block,
opposite Wells, Fargo & Co.'S. on Mon'gom
cry street, the Stevenson House, opposite,
and in many buildings between California
and Sacramento streets window frames and
doors were generally shattered to fragments,
while huge splinters of costly plate glass GOV.
cred the streets. Fragments of human re-
mains were found scattered in many places.
In the auction room of Cobb & Sinton,
on the east side Of Montgomery street,
human brain, almost intact, and other frag-
ments Of the body rear it, was found. A
piece OF human vertebra was blown over the
buildings on the east side Of Montgomery
street, and was picked up in front of Squar.
za's, on Leidsdoiff street. A piece of skull
was lying on California, street, east Of Leids-
dorff, with other fragments Of human re-
mains, and human arm struck the third
story window of the building across the
street.
Other fragments Of human bodies, were
found several days afterward, on the roof of
Selleck's daguerrean gallery, on Montgomery
street, where they had been thrown by the
explosion.
The Union Club occupying rosms over
Wells, Fargo d Co.'s Office we're just setting
down to dinner. Tables, crockery and other
ware scattered around. So far as We could
ured. The plate gMss on both sides of
Montgomery street to Sacramento street is
all shatter, and on California street up to
Kearny street, and down Caliafornia street
for block below, windows are completely
blown out. In some places nothing but the
sash is hanging. Not whole pane Of glass
can be seen in the building occupied by
Wells, Fargo & Co., nor in S,evenson's build
ing, on the opposite corner. The damage to
glass alone for blocks around cannot be less
than 100000. A large number Of people
were slightly injured by the falling of glass
iu the streets, and in buildings as far away
from the scene as on Sacramento street be-
tween Montgomery and Kearny.
The following persons are known to have
been killed and wounded.
Samuel knight, Bank Superintendent, in
staneously. .......
F. E. Webster head of the New York De.
partment, Mr.. uaven of the Pacific Mail
Co., and w. Jester, porter blown to pieces.
G. w. Bell, fatally injured and died in a
few minutes.
John Gallagher, ostler, killed.
Belonging TO the Union Club, the follow.
ing causaties are reported:
Felix Duriveau, cook, killed.
August Michel. second cook, killed.
F. Rust, or F. LIE Rey, third cook, severe
Iy, and it is feared fatally injured.
w. H. Cox, steward, badly injured; sup
posed to be beyond recovery.
Chinese assistant, (name unknown,) mis-
sing, probably killed.
Another Chinese assistant (name un-
known,) killed.
John Mcguire, waiter missing.
j. II. Wright, waiter, missing.
Wm Smith, waiter, leg broke, will recover.
Edward Kent, waiter, missing.
Dennis O'Donnell, waiter dead.
James Burke, waiter, missing.
The number of the wounded it is mpossi-
ble 10 ascertain. Many are seriously hurt,
and hundreds were wounded by the flying
fragments of glass in the streets.