National Republican., 1876-05-20
FRIGHTFuL EXPLOSION AT THE CAPITOL.
Two Men Terribly Burned and Nangled with
Fatal lResult-Particulars Of the Sad Affair.

Yesterday afternoon, abeat $50 o'clock, terri
BILE explosion occurred al the Senate wing Of the
Capitol, which shook the building from founda-
ton to roof, and by which one human being was
hurried into eternity and another so terribly
manglsd and disigured as to be scarcely recog-
niZsble. The Senate was in session at the time,
and the eoneussion shattering the glass upon that
and also the gallery floor, caused a general stam-
pede, the Senators and employees rushing into
the halls, which were filled with sitting gases
and smoke. The greatest excitement prevailed,
and for the time business in the Senate was en-
tirely suspended.
The facts in regard to the explosion as near as
could be ascertained are as follows:
For the past few days carpenters had been
engaged in placing shelves in a little room, or
hole in the wall, directly under the east stairway
Of the Senate, on the ground floor, for the pur-
pose of storing away lot Of books from the fold
ing-room. This room has no windows or openings
whatever, except the door leading.nto it from the
hallway opposite the restaurant, and a bad leak
in the gas pipes was discovered when the carpen-
tiers first commenced the work Of putting up the
shelves. Aplumber had been notified Of the leak
several days since, but for some unknown reason
had failed to attend to 1t. Captain Cutler, assist
ant superintendent Of the folding room, who is
work Of putting in the shelves, and accompanied
by Mr.. King, carpenter, who has for several
years been in the employ OF Architect CLARK, went
TO the room, Mr.. King unlocking the door and en-
hind him.
The room is a small one, about, six by ten, and
as they entered both stepped back towards the
door, when they discovered 1t filled with gas. AS
King reached the door he struck match, q ter
rific explosion occurred, and both were thrown
with great violence against the wall upon the
opposite side of the hall. King struck the door
casing, fracturing both knees, and was cut In the
as well as the shelyeS floor and ceiling Of the
room having been shivered into q thousand frag-
ments. He was also terribly burned about the
head, side and arms, and was insensible from the
first. Capt. Cutler was stunned by the shock, but
was not rendered insensble, his strong will and
physical strength alone keeping him up; but he
presented frightful appearance, his face, neck,
hands and arms being burned and blistered shock
ingly, .and his hair, mOustache and eyebrows
singed close to the flesh.
window, and Cutler was taken into the Sergeant
alarms room, the latter suffering excruciating
pain, but giving directions as to the dressing OF
his burns with great presence Of mind. Senators
fession did all in their power to relieve the suffer-
ings of the unfortunate men by administering
stimulants freely until the arrival of the physi-
clans. Captain Cutler was then taken to his
home, and King removed to the Providence Hos
pital, where he was attended by DR.. J. E.
and administered opiates, although 1t was ap-
parent to both that he could not live many hours.
He fingered, however, until after O'Clock, when
death relieved him of his sufferings. As to the
condition Of Captain Cutler grave doubts are en-
tertained for his recovery by his physicians, and
even should he recover, he will be terribly dis
figured for life. i
To whom the responsibility of this frightful
affair belongs yet remains to be seen, but Il was
evidently the result of great careessness upon
stopping Of the leak, and to King in striking the
light.