Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-04-26
HE Alt'
MONDAY, APRIL % 1866


The explosion at AspinwaN "a 'tr 3I
INST was one Of The most terrible ac-
cjdents on record, About : O'Clock on
the morning Of that day, the West In
da and Pacific Steamship Company's
fine steamer European was blown up at
her wharf, resulting in the death Of
more than sixty persons, and DESTROYING
property to the value Of three. quarters
0, a million Of dollars The accident
which was at first supposed 10 have
srsen from powder clandestiucy ship
ped by agents Of the Chilian and Peru
| Wan Governments, was subsequently
0uni to have been caused by the eXplo-
sion Of a large quantity of nitro glyc-
| crime described in the bill of lading as
"glOnon oil" The explosion was ter
| rife, shaking every building in Aspin-
wa SCATTERING many roofs, tearing
doors and windows from their fasten-
lags smashing glass ware, crockery,
and scattering broken furniture over
/ the rooms.
The following particulars are given
by a correspondent of the New York
Times who writes from Panama under
date Of the 18th. The Mr. Burnham, whose
narrow escape is mentioned is Capt.
S. E Burnham who went to Aspin-
Eall from this place some months ago
\ The explosion took place in the after
| between decks. volume of fire and
white smoke ascended high in the air,
/ carrying up with it twenty or thirty
men from the hold and vessels decks,
spars, bales of goods, portions of the
j upper deck, etc etc, the goods unrol-
Ling as they went up and descending in
the red flames, forming, as described by
those who were at sufficient distance
% take in the effect one of the most
eTribly magnificent spectacles ever wit
t@sed. Almost simultaneously with
BE explosion the great iron and slated
loOt of the railway company's stone
n keght house was seen to lift itself
little from its walls and then dropped
Gown inside Of them, smashing the
Eghter goods piled in the house, and
fling several persons upon whom it
&kn. One of the clerks Mr.. Burnham
n sho was in the frieght-house, seeing the
Il rpoS lift, sprang from the high platform
over train of freight,Cars on to win
NdOw-sill, and the inner iron shutters, by
the |0TCe Of the draft, shutting him off
from the falling iron and states, escaped
4Gnhurt. Mr.. Forman, another clerk,
2E3ng into a doorway and was saved.
AT CalvO, native clerk, was torn to
s0ns. The great iron doors and door
says at both ends Of the freight house
re drawn inwards by the roof, and,
II well as the massive stone work, fell
among the wreck, The side walls, over
y eet in length, are standing unin
l'i The long wooden wharf of the
la.Foad company, on one side of which
D. The European, was almost complete
destroyed, up to within 100 feet of
= ght house. Thousands of dollars
Forth Of goods, on the end Of the wharf,
Sere blown into the sea or destroyed.
lTyuty-twO men Of the crew Of the Eu-
NFe4u, who We're in the forward lower
a0.d. We're Uuharmed
Capt C0ale, who was on deck, was 80
oo"u to pieces as to be scarcely recog-
aA6ie. Mr. Swanson clerk OF the
eeamship Company, was blown on to
ae wharf and killed. Mr.. Glass, Chief
a0ficer Mr. p4rson, Second Officer
pf' Burrows, Surgeon Mr.. Nisbet, En-
sineer Edward Davis, Carpenter, and
ooUt dozen hremen and sailors were
nstantlY killed. The whole of the
ssng OF ten or twelve laborers who were
10 the after between decks, as well as
nost OF those waiting on the wharf to
p to work, ,.were killed. Altogether
apI less than sixty persons, probably
lore. lost their lives. Out of about
twenty wounded, taken to the Panama
El,road COmpany's hospital seven or
sght died. During the next two days
Ser the accident, six bodies were
HsShed on shore,
Immediately on the explosion the
aps decks were covered with fire, and
ne wharf was in flames. The fire on
NC after was extinguished by the exer-
aols of private engine belonging to
falter Field, under the control of G. RO-
slthal, Esq. a merchant, who worked
ftha will. A report having gained
gound that there were fifteen hundred
rs Of powder yet remaining in the
H'-r hold, and the town and wharves
elg still in great danger, it was deter
fned to pull the burning vessel out to
yea Capt. Moir had just come into
port with the Royal Mail Company
s.eamShip Tamar, and the anchor Of the
european having been cotton in by the
gre" OF the United States gunboat
sames Adger, and other brave men, at
imminent risk to their lives, a cable was
laue fast to her, and she was tOwed q
apie Of miles over toward the Oppo
'e shore from the city, and abandoned
sooner had the Tamar left her thar
Other terrific explosion took place OF
ard, supposed this time to have beer
IL powder magazine, and just before
COCK p. N. she settled down aft auC
ahk, nothing but her smoke-pipes be
now visible.
The Caribbean, q fine new steamship
the same company, occupied q spac
the opposite side of the wharf from
European, and received great dam
q: from the explosion. AS soon as pos
Ole she left tBe wharf, aud anchored a
y safe distance I wap+ m, boa ~ of ha,