New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-10-20
Local Intelligence.

One Life Sacri.fcca.-About ten o'clock
yesterday morning, the ship George Hurl-
but, Captain Mason, discharging cargo at
the head Of Hospital street, uuloaded a
number of cases which resemble boxes con-
tanning vermouth, with the exception that
the boards are thicker Thirty-two OF these
cases were loaded on two drays, sixteen on
each, the drivers being Timothy C,Connor
and Jacques Cologne. BY some means, as
yet not positively known, after the two
draws started off, terrific explosion &C.
Cured. for the cases contained patent
celebrated Union tOrpedOes." The explosion
took place when the first dray was near the
French market, not far frOM the corner of
Decatur aud Madison streets. On the in
slant of the explosion, which made report
as loud as large field piece, O'Connor was
blown into the air, his body horribly mo-
t;lated, one leg taken of entirely, and after
ward found by Mr.. Blasco in jackson
square, block from the scene. All was
confusion in the neighborhOod, as other
persons than the drayman were injured.
The dray was shattered to pieces, but the
mule was not badly harmed. A street car
was close by. the driver Of which was
thrown down by the conclusion, but he was
saved by the iron dashboard in front. Not
passenger in the car received any injury,
which is quite miraculous.
Several persons in the vicinity were
bruised or wounded. Henry Miller, a
tailor. No. ll3 Old Levee street, was badly
hurt in his right arm. Mr.. Masquera, .
drayman, wounded in his right thigh.
Jacques Cologne, drayman in charge Of
the other load Of torpedoes, was considera-
bly, bruised about his head. William FOs-
ter, colored laborer on the streets, had one
OF his feet wounded Mrs. Besrens,
wounded on her head slightly. Auguste
Mason, butcher in French market, small
wound in his right side. George Henne,
butcher, slightly wounded in his back.
Henry Dutre, barkeeper-corner OF Decatur
and Madison streets, received su,all wounds
in his arm aud back
Everything in the neishborhood felt the
shock. The cOffeehouse corner of Madison
and Decatur streets was pretty well
rocked: almost every piece OF glassware
and crOckery shattered. OTHER establish
nents in the neighborhood suffered to
some extent. Plastering was broken in
many places.
The spot where the dray stood when the
explosion occurred was sight the poor
man lying near, his clothing gone or in tat
ters. his body misshapen and bIackened
Pieces of the dray. sawdust bits OF coarse
pasteboard were strewn around and on the
railroad track.
Captain McCann's policemen were quickly
at the place, and assisted greatly in restor-
ing order and attending to the wounded.
An alarm of fire was turned in. and several
companies were there in trice, but their
wiling services were required in an unsual
way. The second load OF torpedoes stood
near the market, but after the disaster most
men were afraid to touch it, and the iremen
were solicited to throw water on tie load.
The dead body ard Mr.. Cologne were
taken to the third precinct stationhouse
and the latter's many wounds dressed. His
condition is critical. He was afterward
sent 70 his home, on Frenchmen street.
All that could be done for the sufferers
was promptly done, when attention was di-
rected to the cause of the disaster. 1: was
ascertained that besides the thirty-two cases
on drays there were ttty-six more on the
wharf, and two hundred and twelve more
still in the ship-three hundred in all.
MAYOR Flanders. Administrator Cockrem,
Acting Chief of Police William Baker and |
Captain Mccain Immediately ordered that |
the dangerous boxes be LETT alone until an |
was made.
The ship Hurlbut arrived here on the |
ninth instant, twenty-one days from New
York, consigned to Thornlike, Norton &
Co.. and landed at post eighteen, head Of
Hospital street. 1t is reported that the tor
pedoes were consigned to Mr.. NJ. McGraw,
corner Of TchOupitOUlas and Gravier streets.
b.: that he had refused to receive them on
ascertain;ng the facts. We did not learn
where the boxes were to be seat. The dead
drayman usually hauled for Mr.. McGraw.
Each case contains one hundred pasteboard
boxes, the latter flied with torpedoes and
So wdust. A portion OF the lot was to he
sent up the river. Each torpedo is about
the size OF a small hazienut and looks some
what like one. They are queer rlaythinSs,
but suit American love for noise.
Their composition is not precisely known.
" some it is held that water will not destroy
le explosive quality; Others asse-: that
t,ey viii! become pulp by soaking. The
anufactory is in New York, and load Of
ese same articles blew up i'll street of
lat city only few weeks ago. killing sew
a persons one of the victims being reia-
'e of the manufacturer or agent These
I the same kind that exploded IN MIXERS
dy factory, New Levee street. killing
!, lads. a. that time our City Council
ied aa ordinance prohibiting persons
,r.'rting these dangerous articles. and Mr..
'taw must have been aware that the
t::t5 still in force.
JAW Orleans has received her second les
+" the destructiveness of torpedoes. and
3. ,is, strength of that i. is expected that
Il 'one shall suffer for bringing these
U.s. to our city. Coroner Jackson Will
gate the case fully, so far az lies in
%;::re.
,.s GUAR RoBBEKY-A Solution De-
Elatost. merchants and brokers keep
~ ,:;D1es in bank. after business hours,