Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-08-18
BLOWN UP.
Account Of the Explosion at the Arsenal,
Near PhiIadelphia-One Boy Killed and
Eighteen Boys Wounded.

DIV w IN III
Near PhiIadelphia-One Boy Killed and
Eighteen Boys Wounded.
PHILADELPHIA, August 8.-Shortly
after 9 o'clock yesterday morning, the
residents of Bridesburg and it's imme
date vicinity were startled by hearing a
loud rumbling noise, not unlike clap
of thunder, emanating from the direc-
ton of the Government Arsenal, which
is situated near the Delaware river,
above the steamboat landing. Upon
inquiry it was speedily learned that an
explosion of condemned shells had taken
place in the ammunition room, where
there were large number of boys at
work. The building contained upwards
Of thirty boys, who were in charge of
Superintendent Cole. The structure
was used to empty condemned musket
cartridges of their powder previous to
melting the lead and copper. The
bullet is drawn from the cartridge
and the boy then introduces a wire and
scrapes the powder into a bucket of
water. The wire bas a wooden handle
which undoubtedly caused the explo-
sion, as one of the boys must have ex-
plodea cartridge by hitting it sharply
on the top with the wood. The boys
have been repeatedly warned not to do
this. In conversation with one of the
attaches of the arsenal your correspon-
dent learned that there were in all nine
teen persons injured by the explosion.
Of these one lad, named John Nc
Laughlin, was killed. Young Nc
Laughlin was killed just outside of the
building, from which he had run when
the explosion occurred. The cause of
his death was the penetrating of piece
of wood about the size of rule just be-
low the neck, striking large vein and
causing hemorrhage. The unfortunate
lad was Is years of age. kilograms were
Immediately sent for medical aid. At
the expiration of an hour, three physi-
clans presented themselves and were
steamed up the river. On their arrival
at the arsenal the worst cases were ten
derby wrapped in cotton, and every at
tention was paid to the sufferers. After
the confusion had somewhat subsidized,
large gang of men were put to work
gathering the shattered timbers and re-
storing the building to its original con-
ditian. The structure was what is
called laboratory, and built in Sec
tons, being an iron frame with wooden
sides that will blow out and leave the
iron intact. The idea of this building
was conceived during the war, but it has
been used for a like purpose ever since.
The iron frame of the building stood
uninjured, but the large and heavy
wooden panels were scattered around
in all directions. Some were blown only
q few feet. One, in the corner where
the explosion took place, was hurled
across small creek some so feet distant.
It was reported that small boy had
been blown into the creek, but this story
lacks foundation. Suspended from the
iron rafters of the shattered building
was pair of blue pantaloons, that had
been torn from one of the boys. A tree
near by was riddled with cartridges. A
box of these cartridges was found in a
field several squares distant, showing
the force of the explosion. Immediate
~ after the explosion dispatches were
sent to every. quarter of the city asking
for medical aid. The doctors of Frank
ford and Bridesburg. numbering nearly
a dozen, responded promptly to the
call, and we're unremitting in their eff
forts to relieve the suffe rers, and in this
work they we're nobly aided by the
wives and daughters of the post, who
did all in their power to alleviate the
pains of the wounded. Capt. Helms,
with posse of officers, arrived on the
scene soon after the explosion, and took
charge of the premises. The officers
were stationed in skirmish line distance,
and only by using force were they able
to keel. back the excited crowd. To-
day the sufferers were doing s.s well as
could be expected, and hopes are enter
tanned that they will all recover