Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-10-22
TORPEDO EXPLOSION.

the denizens in the vicinity Of the
French Market were startled out of
al propriety, by sudden and ire
mendous defamation. On crowding
to the spot a tragical scene dis
played itself. There lay scattered
around a large quantity of saw
dust. scraps of pasteboard and pa
per, fragments of board, the rem
nants of a shattered dray, o hurt
mule, several wounded men, and
the mutilated half naked corpse of
a dead drayman; while near by
stood u dray with number OF cases
of merchandise"
A brief examination and enquiry
revealed the facts that the demolish-
ed dray WAS loaded with twenty
one cases OF the "P. .tent Celebrated
Union Torpedoes," which had been
taken from the ship George Hurl-
but, and were being conveyed to
some warehouse in the city /; when
on nearing Madison street on Old
Levce street, the dray came in
collision with a street car, and the
conscussion produced an imme-
date and terrific explosion.
In addition to the particulars
first mentioned, it was found that
two saloons suffered consider
able damage; windows and glass
doors, and o quantity of bottles
were smashed to pieces, and a lot
of plastering broken from the walls,
the losses are estimated at about
$500.
The unfortunate drivers name
who was killed was Jim Con-
ners. He was instantly killed
having one of his legs torn off.
and hurled two squares through
the air, over the tops of houses and
deposited in jackson square, two
ribs and several other bones broken
his skull fractured, and every tooth
knocked out. The explosion doubt
less started from the rear of the
dray and sent its fury forward en-
veloping and killing Corners in its
furious flight.
Neither the driver nor any of the
passengers in the street car suffer
ed any damage, the iron front to
the car resisting the rush of the ma
terial. The driver of another dray
also loaded with twenty-one cases
of the same articles, and immedi
ately in front of the exploding dray
one Jacque Coulonge, received (
/ severe cut in the head, but to til,
present time We do not learn tina
danger to his life is apprehended
The other wounded We learn are al
recovering.
Public attention was not long
since called to the importation o
torpedoes when q clerk in one o
our city stores was instantly killeC
by the explosion of box Of tor
pedoes and the City Council
adopted measure which was be
lieved would save the Public from
the dangers incident to the hand
ling of such material. 1t was there
fore but natural that as soon a
this last disaster occurred, tn
Police department, the City Ad
illustrators and indeed the Who'll
city should be reused to ascertain
under what circumstances thes
&c ises of merchandise" were foun'
in our midst.
Coroner jackson instituted
searching inquiry and ascertaine
that three hundred cases of torpe
does were shipped by the house c
Klueber & Goldschmitd, New Yorl
to Morris McGraw, of this city
who intended them for sale, bu
hearing of a recent explosion i
New York, he informed the hnus.
that he would not receive the art
Gle. He admitted, however, that
he had not heard of the explosio
Ec would have received them. 1
consequence of this refusal, NJ
Goldschmidt came from New Yor
and made arrangements to hav
them stored, and they were bein
landed and SO disposed Of whe
the explosion took place.
The captain Of the ship on hi
part, knew he was taking torpedoe