The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-24
WASHINGTON.
EXPLOSION AND FIRE.
ST, 900, ,000Worth of Government
Property Destroyed.

WASHINGTON, July 22.-About three
o'clock this morning terrible explo-
sion occurred at the United States arse
nal, near the navy yard, destroying over
81 100000 worth of government prop,
erty. Full particulars have not been
received, but go far no lives have been
lost.
LATER
By the explosion at the Washington
arsenal this morning, al the win
dows were shattered, not only in the
warehouse, but in the other structures.
The ice-houses. were leveled to the
ground. Fuses, cartridges, DC, in pro-
fusion, were scattered all over the
ground. One of the guards, living about
fourth of mile from the scene Of the
explosion, states that the conclusion
was so severe as to throw him from his
bed and TO break the windows of his
dwelling. The doors Of the carpenter
shop were also broken open. Although
several families live within sixty feet of
the site Of the magazine none OF them
sustained injury in person. They were,
however, considerably alarmed by the
pelting of the flying bricks against
their frame tenements. Fortunately
the large quantity OF shells stored in
one of the buildings were empty. The
engines remained on the ground for six
or seven hours. 1t was thought this
morning, when the fire was in progress,
that the loss would be million of dol
lars, but since that time the officer who
made a hasty survey, thinks that it will
fall far below half million.
From the Patriot, Saturday
At three o'clock this morning an ex'
plosion occurred in small magazine a,
the Arsenal which is used for the pre-.
paration of rockets, lights, and shells
for the Signal Corps. The explosion was
distinctly heard in the northern part Of
the city, and it was almost Immediately
followed by an alarm of fire, for ii
caused a serious confagration, involv'
ing the destruction of at least one mil
lion dollars worth Of Government prop
erty.
The flames communicated to frame
shed near by, and were carried thence
to what is known as Storehouse No. 2
and in which were stored all sorts oI
cavalry and artillery equipments, which
are total loss.
In this building, too, was the model
room. or Museum, in which was stored
all kinds of models, &c, of foreign arms
and equipments, and which is serious
loss to the Government aside from the
mere intrinsic value Of the articles de-
stroyed
Storehouse No. was also in danger,
and would probably have been de,
stroyed but for the fact Of the wind be-
ing in the southwest. There is not
much powder kept stored in the maga-
zine where the explosion occurred. as
the Arsenal makes no pyrotechnics or
explosive articles, except for the Signal
Corps, upon special order.
Sergeant Flint was at work in the
magazine last night, and when he left
his work allthings seemed to be in good
order, and it is supposed that the explo-
sion was the result of spontaneous COM
bustion.
The fire also communicated to an
other building near by, in which were
stored saddletrees and equipments of
that nature. A quantity Of iron in this
building can be made available in iu-
ture.
The buildings to which the flames
communicated are totally destroyed
and several small houses near the large
buildings were injured by the flames.
The fremen were promptly on the
gronnd, but could do nothing in the way
Of saving the buildings on fire, but they
rendered good service in saving build,
ings near by. There was large crowd
about the Arsenal gate, but they were
generally kept back from entering the
grounds, as they could not render as
sistance.
The officers of the Arsenal were early
on the ground.
WASHINGTON, July 23.-The total
loss sustained by the late explosion and
fire at the Arsenal will not exceed
$4,000.