The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-11-09

AWFUL EXPLOSION OF NITRo-GLYCER-
INE.-The terrible power of ntro-glycerine
was illustrated in the little town of Fairport,
Ohio, on the afternoon of the 18th inst, ac-
companied by horrors which chill the blood
by their recital. In that town was a large
mandatory of this dangerous material, con-
nected with which were two large magazines
said to contain about 10000 pounds of the
article, all ready for shipment. On the after
noon referred to, while four men were engag-
ed about the works, both magazines suddenly
exploded, from some unknown cause, creating
a shock which was felt as far east as Buffalo,
100 miles distant and gave rise to the report
that the city had been visited again by earth
quake. The scene which Fairport presented
Immediately after the explosion is indescri5-
able The whole place seemed at first a com
plete mass of ruins. The buildings were
shattered, the doors blown off their hinges,
| the windows all smashed in, pastering off,
crockery, lamps and looking glasses demolish
| ed, chimneys torn down, stoves overturned
and everything in the houses in utter chaos.
But if the scene was terrible within, it was
still more so without. The whole population
nearly were in the street, wild and crazed.
The crash had come SO suddenly, and the con-
cussion had been SO great, so affecting their
minds and nerves, that many of them for the
time were perfectly insane. Some of the men
we are told, were for few moments attack
ing each other, and women were insanely
struggling, while all were loudly weeping and
wailing. Children were running wildly about
screaming in terror, as if seeking protection,
while Others were struggling and screaming in
the arms of their mothers, who were rushing
hither and thither, not knowing what to do
or where to 60. 1t is said to have been one of
the most heartrending scenes which could be
imagined.
The conclusion, or force of the explosion,
preceded the report, so that the first warning
that the people of Fairport had!was the crash
ing of their doors and windows, the falling of
plastering, upsetting of furniture, and racking
and cracking of the buildings. People both
in and out of doors were thrown violently
down, and several were made for a short time
insensble. There is not house or building,
as We understand, left in Fairport, which is
now in anywise tenantable. The night was
terrible one for the people who were turned
into the street instantly, and exposed to the
cold winds OF the night. To add TO their ter
ror it was reported that there was at least
thousand pounds of glycerine in the manufac-
torysalmost in their midst, which might at
any time explode, and finish the destruction
OF property, with perhaps greater loss of life.
Some left the place and fled to gainesville for
security, while others gathered in groups in
their broken homes and shattered houses, wear
ing the night away as best they might.
A new scene of terror was witnessed at the
ssite ofthe magazines. The four men at work
there were blown to atoms. The only frag-
ments that were found were piece of flesh
about as large as mans hand, and bone,
apparently piece of a rib. Undoubtedly the
bodies, blown into shreds, were scattered far
away on all sides. One Of the victims was a
married man, and the cries and grief of the
wife and little ones, on learning his terrible
fate. filled the stoutest hearts with pity. 1t
was a scene never to be forgotten.