The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-07-01
THE EXPLOSION AT VIRGINIA
CITY.

THE EXPLOSION AT VIRGINIA
CITY.
Full Particulars Of the Terrible
Affair.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 80.-The officers
oI the Giant Powder Company Of this
city say II has been ascertained definitely
that the terrible disaster at Virginia City
was not caused by the explosion oil Giant
powder, but by nitro glycerine with which
they think Van BakkelerRnd Others were
experimenting at the time ofthe explosion,
The following particulars Of the explo-
sion at Virginia City, Nevada, were re-.
cecived last night: A terrible explosion Of
nitroglycerine and Giant powder, occurred
near the corner oil Taylor and B streets,
killing ten person and wOunding many
Others. A number Of persons are miss.
Ing and are probably buried beneath the
debris. The explosion Is supposed to
have been caused by six cans Of. nitro
glyCerine exploding without any sppar.
ent cause, and the conclusion, exploded
fifty pounds Giant powder, which was
stored beneath the room Of Gen. Van
Bakkeler, the agent for. the Giant powder.
The following buildings were shattered
and thrown 10 tho ground: Bank Of Cali.
fornia building; Kennedy i MalsoRs gro
Gerry store; Douglas building, upper ap.
partment used as o lodging house; Dalley's
saloon and Armory hall.
The number oi persons known 70 be
killed are ten, among whom are Major
Gen. Jacob T. Van Bakkeler; J. 2.
Smith, hardware merchant; W. II. Davis,
clerk with ]. P. Smith; Ben. Mendel, dry
goods merchant; Charles II. Knox, San
francisco; John Divine and Mrs. Emily
Conner, formerly Of the International
Hotel OF this city; Mr.. Edward d. Hill
and daughter years Of age, Gold Hill.
The body Of Gen. Van Bakkeler was found
in the corner oil his room, his features so
bruised and chsrred as 10 be hardly rec
equitable. j. P. Smith aud his former
clerk were found In Taylor street between
B and G streets, about fifty feet from the
room occupied by them, both their bodies
covered with debris and fallen timber and
and not got out till this afternoon. Some
fireman saw Mr.. Knox last night
and spoke 10 him. He asked for water
and said: ".BOys, It's no use; you can't
save me-" The body, with the exception
OF his head, was entirely covered by4aH-
en- timbers and bricks. John Devine was
killed by an iron door which was hurled
q distance Of about one hundred feet. A
large number Of sWoFkmen are now en-
gagged removing the dirt and timber from
the bodies Of the remaining seven known
TO be beneath them, and are working with
almost superhumRn efforts. The build
ings in all directions are shattered, and
many escapes were truly miraculous.
Sam Doak and Charles Higgins were
thrown down from their room In the
Douglass building, Dally's Exchange, and
were got out with difficulty, both slightly
injured. D. L. Blanchard was thrown
from his room to an0Idef several yards
distant escaped with slight injury: Great
excitement was caused last night by the
screaming women on top ol the Douglas
building, which was at that time In
flames. They were finally rescued by
Capt. Frank Asburton, aa5lsted by the
flremen. Gs
Another explosion took place this
morning at 1890, In the rear Of Kennedy
& Malone's store, but no person was In
jured.
The body OF Chas. II. Knox has just
been taken from the timber, and Is horri'
bly, charred and mAngled.
The city Is all excitement. Business ls
suspended and all the schools arc dismiss.
ed. The streets are crowded with men,
women and children. Ropes were drawn
across the streets, as the buildings arc
considered dangerous. The vault Of the
Bank of California Is cracked In several
places. The business Is moved to Dris.
call s. TnItle's banking house. q
II Is now understood that there will not
be any celebration on the Fourth Of July
and that the money collected for that
purpose will be expended in burying the
unfOrtunates and the remainder is
10 be distributed among the different
fire companies. Tho city will go
into mourning, all the flags are
are now at hall-msst. Joseph Shannon,
Dan Lyon, Charles Van Gorder and SEN
ator Hobart, who were reported killed,
are all safe. Ii isvnow ascertained that
Van Bakkeler had stored beneath his
room six cans Of nitro glycerine, l6O
pounds Of Giant powder and 200 pounds
Of rock blasting powder. 81 .yt.
SAN FRANcIsco, June 80.-The officers
Of the Giant Powder company to-day,
have ascertained degnitely1 y1that the terri.
BILE disaster at Virginia City was not
caused by the explosion Of the Giant
powder, but by'nitrogly lyceTine with which
theY think Van BakEeler was experiment.
ing at the time Of the explosion.