Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-05-31


1hese boxes came into the hands of Wells,
Fargo & Co., as freight agents for the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company. The first box
leaked something, which looked like oil,
which had run down upon and damaged the
other. They were removed from the wharf,
and as it was a case OF damage, Mr.. Web
ster, the freight clerk of Wells, Fargo & Co.,
sent for Mr.. Haven, the freight clerk of the
steamship company, to examine the same.
Both gentlemen lunched at the Union club,
and afterwards descended to the courty ard
by the exterior stairway. The boxes were
IA the yard, ard it is but natural to suppose
that in examining the box which was leak
| ing they proceeded to open the same, when
the conclusion caused the explosion. This
supposition is carried out from the fact that
nitro glycerine only explodes like a percus-
sion cap, on conclusion, and that both Mr..
Webster and Mr.. Haven were absolutely
rent to pieces, showing that they must have
been Immediately over or near the explosive
material.
Mr.. Bells servant says that Mr.. Bell had
given him orders to have his horse saddled
and ready at the side door, which led into
the yard of Wells, Fargo & Co., at about
o'clock, as he was en- route for Petaluma.
Mr. Bell left his Office, came into the yard
to mount his horse the servant still having
him by the head, only few feet from where
four men were standing around box ex-
aiming it. Two of them were Mr.. Ravens,
| of the Pacific Mail Steamship company, and
! Ar Frank Weber, of Wells, Fargo & Co.,
the other two being workmen, one Of whom
had a hammer or hatchcJ in his hand, and
the other what seemed to be an iron claw
chisel The wooden cover of the case had
Just been forced off, when one Of the gen
tlemen spoke to Mr. Bell, (he being chem
ist, as if 10 ask his opinion Of the damage.
Mr.. Bell then turned to his servant and re-
marked that he might go on to the boat and
he would overtake him in moment; and
| following his orders he turned the horse
and led him towards the gateway on Califor-
MIA street.
| This person was about the stliving man
| who saw the men and the case before the IA
| tai explosion.
! Il is now ascertained that the first box
contained nitro-g lycerine, though it was not
/ so marked
FORTE OF THU SHOCK.
The solid stone pavement under which
| asbox exploded vas driven down into the
rocky gravel nearly two feet.
I In the debris half dollars were found
| bent, and as if 70 illustrate the terrific pow
er of the explosive material, on the body OF
| one the goddess of liberty is lndented with
| the word america" from the diverse side
| of the coin.
The new two and half story brick build
ing Of the Spring Valley Water Works COM
pany was moved some two or three inches
from the line of its foundation, and a gla-
zier, at WORK under the skylight, was car
ried upwards upon the roof to distance of
20 feet. He escaped with light scratch
on one Of his legs. Fragments of human
remains were found scattered in many
places. In the auction rooms of Messrs.
Cobb & Sinton, on the east side OF Mont
gomery street, lay a human brain, almost
intact, no other fragmel is of the body
near il.
A piece of human spine was blown over
the buildings on the east side of Montgom-
cry rect, and was picked up on Leides-
dorff street.
A piece Of skull was lying on Califor-
MIA street, with other fragments of human
remains, and human arm struck the third
story window of the building occupied by
Squarza.
Glass was broken as far off as Stockton
street OF the west, Suffer street on the
south, Washington street on the north, and
Front street on the east. Within full
block in any direction, from the force of
the explosion, hardly whole pane of glass
is left.
A large number of gentlemen were at
lunch in the dining hall of the Union Club,
Immediately north of the kitchen, the doors
and windows of which were blown to atoms.
They were covered with fragments of the
glass, splinters &C., but, wonderful to tell,
none were killed, and but three or four
slightly hurt.
The body of a man was found lying at
the head of a horse, which latter had been
standing in the yard. The body of the man
was so mutilated that the remains could not
be recognized.
| Immediately after the explosion, the con-
cussion breaking all the glass in the vicinity,
the latter, In its descent in fine particles,
resembled fall of snow, and passers-by
had to shield their eyes,
One curious effect of the explosion was to
impregnate every scrap of broken wood
around with the compound to such degree
that blow with hammer will cause the
slightest chip to explode with a report like
d musket.
THE KILLED, WOUNDED AND MISSING.
Wells, Fargo Co.'s establishment, is the
most public place in the city, and is always
crowded at the hour Of the day at which
the explosion occurred. The Union Club
rooms and the area below contained many
| people at the moment whose names may be
recoIlected. and it is therefore impossible to
say how many were really killed or injured.
1t is known however that nine persons were
killed; u severely injured; and more than
90 slightly injured. Two others are known
| to be missing.
DAMAGES TO PROPERTY.
1t is estimated that the total damage by
the destruction of glass alone cannot be less
than $50, 600, and the total loss to property
Of every description by the explosion can
hardly foot up under $500, 600; it may reach
a far larger figure.
! Mr.. BEECHER's EXPERIENCR.-Rev. Hen
ry Ward Beecher told his religious expert