Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-02-15


aforesaid, to prepare a condensed statement
Of the condition Of these finances, aud pub
lish the same, at the cost OF the district tot
three successive weeks, IN the two newspa
pers having the largest circulation IN the city
or county.
TERRIBLE FxPLosIoS or An ENGiSE.-We
have learned the following particulars of one
of the most terrible aud yet the most singu
lar explosions that VIC have ever read or
heard Of. On Monday night, week ago,
about II o clock, as the locomotive Iuniata,
was standing on the track, about "a mile above
McConnellstown, on the Broad Top Road,
having train Of coal cars attached, the steam
hues exploded. The fireman was thrown
back by the force Of the explosion to the fifth
truck, while the engineer was carried with
the engine, about sixty feet, up the right
hand bank, when the engine turned over, end
for end, precipitating him some distance be-
vond. about forty feet into a snow bank The
engine was completely damaged, ana al
though the fragmeHtg Of iron, cindHr, &c,
were scattered for some distance around the
scene, yet the tender was not injured
nor was the track torn up or b.ocku-
ded, but everything vas as clear for travel as
before, in a few minutes time. All that
showed there was an explosion was the re
mains Of the engine on the bank, totally de-
molished.
The injuries to the engineer were but slight
although he was carried such a great distance,
but the fireman, whose name is Asahel
Brown. sustained severe injuries about the
face, caused it is supposed, by the red hot
coal and cinder blowing through the door of
the engine full into his face. His right leg
was also crushed and sprained in several pla-
ces, he is now at Jacobs hotel IN this place,
and is rapidly recovering under the treatment
r. n E5s So
dent of the lower end of the county. About
two weeks ago he lost S700, which he was
carrying in his pocket while he was running
along the top of the cars. Huntingdon
Globe.
BURYIYG OF CHAmEasBURG.- .-EARiY's
STATEMENT IY RELATION TO IT.-While at
Martinsburg il was ascertained beyond all
doubt that Hunter had been again indulging
in his fayorte mode Of warfare, and after his
return to the Valley, while We were near
Washington, among other ontraGes the pr
vate residences Of Mr.. Andrew Hunter q
member Of the Virginia Senate, Mr.. Alexan-
der r. Boteler, an eX-member 0tthe C0nted-
crate as well as OF the United States Congress
and Edmund l. Lee q distant relative Of Gen.
Lee, all in Jefferson county, with their con-
tents, had been burned by his orders, only
time enough being given for the ladies 70 get
out Of the houses.
a number of towns in the Sou th, as well as
private country houses, had been burned by
the Federal troops, and the accounts had been
( heralded torthin some of the Northern pa
pers in terms Of exultatiou, and gl0ated over
By their reader, while they were received by
others with apathy. / now came to the con
clusion that we had stood this mode Of war
fare long enough, and that it was time to open
the eyes Of the people of the North to its
ay,,rr7ftyy Inv nvofssria in the way Of rpfaiia.
ton.
I did not select the cases mentioned as
having merit or greater claims for retaliation
than Others but because they had occurred
within the limits Of the country covered by
my command and we're brought more imme-
6iately to my attention. ] had often seen
delicate ladies who had been plundered, in
suited and rendered dcs0late by the acts of
our most atrociOus enemies, aad while they
did not call for it, yet in the anguished cX
preston Of their features while uarratiug
their misiortuues, there was a mute appeal 70
every manly sentiment Of my bosom for retri-
button, which | could no longer withstand
The town of ChambersbuTg, IN Peunsylva-
MIA was selected as the one on which retaIia-
ton should be made and McCausland was
ordered to proceed with his brigade, and that
/ of Johnson and battery Of artillery, 10 that
place and demand OF the municipal Authorities
Q
United States currency, aS q compensation
/ for the destruction Of the houses named and
/ their contents; and, IN default Of payment, to
/ lay the town In ashes, IN retaliation for the
[ burning Of those houses and others In Nir-
/ giua, as well as for the towns which had been
| burned in the other Southern States. 4
written demand to that effect was sent TO the
municipal authorities, and they were informed
what would be the res ulJ Of failure or refusal
/ to comply with it.
/ desired to give the people Of Chambers
/ burg an opportunity OF saving their town by
making compensation for part of the injury
! done and hoped that the payment Of such
sum would have the desired effect, and open
/ the eyes of the people of other towns at the
| North to the necessity of urging upon their
/ Government the adoption OF a different policy.
/ McCaaslaud was also directed to proceed from
! Chambersburg toward CUma"rIaud, in Mary
| land, and levy contributions Iu money lp0u
il and other towns able to bear them, au if
possible to destroy the machinery at the coal
pits near Cumberland and machineshops, de-
pots and bridges on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad as lar as practicable
On the Goth Of July. McCausland crossed
the Potomac near Clear Springs, above vii
Transport and ] moved with ROade's and
Ramsear's divisions and Taugbh's cavalry to
the latter place, Im0oden demonstrated with
his and jackson cavalry towards Harper s
( Ferry in order to withdraw attention from
McCausland Breckenridge remeined at
Martiusburgh, and continued the destruction
Of the railroad. Vaughn drove a force Of
cavalry from NiiHamsport, and went into
HagerstOwn, where he captured and destroy
ed a train Of ears loaded with supplies. One
Of Boadcs's brigades was crossed at Williams
port. and subsequently Withdrawn. On the
Both McCaUsland being well underway, ]
moved back to Naryiasburgr and on the 3lsl
the whole infantry force was moved to Bunker
Hill, where we remained on the lst, ID and
Sd Of August.
On the ID Of August McCauslaud reached
Chambersburg. and made the demand as
directed reading TO such OF the authorities as
presented themselves, the paper sent by me.
The demand was not complied with, the peo-
pie stating that they were not afraid Of having
their town burned, and that a Federal force
was approaching. The policy pursued By our
army on former occasions had been so ienIeat
that they did not suppose the threat was ia
earnest this time, and they hoped for speedy
, relief
NcCausland however, proceeded to carry
out his orders and the greater part OF the
town was laid in ashes For this act I alone
am responsible, as the officers engaged In 10
were simply executing my orders. and had ng
discretion left them. Notwithstanding th,
lapse Of time which mas occurred and the re
sut Of the war, / am perfectly satisfied witt
my conduct on this occasion and see no rea
son to regret it.