The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-23


city and uttin0 into the Eastern Branch The shock
was 80 severe that It awakened people throughout
the District. Windows were ratified with greater
vlgor than ever Boreas dreamed OF, while startled
seepers were prone to believe that Washington, in
the march OF Improvement had been treated to q
YOUNG EARTHQUAKE
Immediately following the conclusion was an
alarm OF fire followed BY general alarm, sum.
mOning the Fire Department from all parts OF
the District to the scene of the connagra-
ton. This with the brilliant illumination brought
thousands Of people into the streets, and in the still
ness OF the night the bursting OF bombs and the
discharge Of small arms could be distinctly heard
throughout the city. General Dyer and MAJOR Eide
and other onicers. with the men OF the post, were
soon out, and finding that magazine and small
laboratory had been destroyed by the explosion and
that storenouse Immediately north OF the site Of the
destroyed magazine was in flames, as also No.
storehouse the two story building Immediately
south Of the ONCE they mad the hose attached to the
ireplug and q stream OF water thrown on the burn
ing buildings. In the meantime engines Of the
washington Fire Department reached the scene Of
the fire and were soon in service.
While the fire was in progress there were a num-
Der Of explosions from shell, and loaded muskets,
and at times the rattle Of small arms and
BURSTING OF BONUS WAS APPALLING,
but the men stood their ground, bravely battling
with the flames, and fortunately none Of them were
hurt. The names were not subdued until long after
daylight, and the Navy Yard engine and other
engines we're kept In service until near noon play.
Ing on an immense pile Of blankets. &C.. which
continued to burn. It s not yet determined
whether the explosion took place in the small
magazine, situated few yards east OF Nos. and
storehouses, about line with the south end of
No. 2, In which were
SEVERAL HUNDRED POUNDS OF POWDER,
OF In a small frame building about one hundred
feet northeast of 1t, which WAS used by sergeant
Flint as laboratory in which to make signal
rockets for the United States Signal Corps In this
small building the Sergeant at work yesterday
afternoon, out he reports that all safe when ne
left. At any rate, not trace OF either OF these
buildings was visible after the explosion with the
exception OF few feet OF the wall OF the magazine.
The one-story storehouse north OF the magazine
was entirely destroyed, and in it was q large num-
Der Of OLD shot ana shell, which were unloaded
In No. storehouse there was an immense guam.
tty Of cavalry and artillery stores and accoutre-
mems in the lower portion, ana in the upper story
was located
VERY VALUABLE MUSEUM
In which were many relics or the military art in
ancient and modern times, including ancient wea.
pons of warfare, armor OF the middle ages, shot
and shell and colOrs from our Revolutionary War,
and specimens OF the uniforms and arms Of almost
everv nation OF the past and present. forming COL
lection which can never be replaced. or the curios
ties stored here but few can be found. There were
also models or guns shot, shells-in fact of nearly
all the weapons used in war In our own times.
No. storehouse was great danger of burn
ing, as also the photograph gallery north
of No. house; but, through the Efforts
of the fremen. assisted by the officers
n
marines commanded by Captain Haycock
ana Lieutenant Harrington, they were saved. The
roof or this building raised and many openings
were made by shot. shell and musket balls, and
several OF the heavy Orders broken I'm two by
the explosions. OF them being split for forty or
fifty feet The conclusion near the scene Of
THE EXPLOSION WAS FRIGHTFuL,
and in nearly every building in the grounds panes
Of glass were broken, while In some doors were
blown of their hinges and heavy furniture upset.
piece Of scantlIng, supposed to be from the maya
zine, was blown q distance OF 400 500 yards, and
fell outside the enclosure The entire actual loss will
not exceed 500, OOO and probably with the excep.
ton OF the museum, $4,000 will cover IL.
In the house occupied by Sergeant Cameron,
about one hundred yards north Of the magazine, q
bed in which Two children were asleep was over.
turned, and they were thrown out and stunned.
The doors and windows were smashed, and but
little Of the plasteriDg was left. The
MOST MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.
however. that of Mrs. Heningsey and two chill
dren, who were asleep in her house, about one hun
dred ysrds south OF the magazine. A brick from the
blldin9 was forced directly through window and
knocked two knobs from the posts OF the bed, while
a piece OF glass from the windows slightly cut
her on the throat and one Of her legs was
hurt. The two children were unframed. A bureau
IN this room was overturned and the glass smashed,
and the door was driven square through the hail.
The house was also otherwise injured In the
garden pieces OF brick ploughed up the vegetables
and potatoes could be picked up this morning with
out digging. One piece OF brick was forced through
the roof Of the blacksmith shop, distance OF nearly
three hundred yards. All the windows were SHAT
tered, not only In this, but IN other neghborlng
structures The Ice houses were levelled nearly 10
the ground and the trees near by stripped OF their
bark, their branches broken and their life, perhaps,
destroyed. Fuses, cartridges. &C., In profusion,
were scattered all over the ground
One OF the guards, living about fourth Of mile
from the Of the explosion states that the con-
cussion was so severe as to throw HIM from his bed
and to break open the doors Of his dwelling.
Although several families live within sixty feet OF
the site OF the magazine none Of them sustained
any injury IN person. They were, however, con-
sderably alarmed Dy the peltng OF the flying brick
against their frame tenementS
beyond the eastern branch, in the neighborhood
of Anacostia and on the heights about Unlontown,
window papes were demolished by thousands plas-
tering was ripped from ceilings and walls a. neatly
as IL done by sharp instruments. All the glass In
the windows OF the Government Insane Asylum was
broken.
None OF the valuable ordnance stores were de-
stroyed, but some inconvenience may be expe.
rlenced by the Ordnance Department In providing
for the destruction OF the pyrotechnc works, the
appropriation Is quite limited.
FIRE IN WILLIAMSBURG.
At an early hour yesterday morning the baggng
otis ~ Wal