The Morning herald., 1877-05-31
VIL1lreToH., nay u. ls5s.
!. Nouca 10 Su1snnERs.-Thoae q our
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mittancs. a,
rnE onEAr ExPLosI0H.

14gs aSt%'9 u.-.. - Z. =
" tavr rur CnRAr ExPLosIoH.
!, This d. ! twenty-three Year, ago @
CURED the great exploaion Of Dpponi
Powder vasons in the streets Of this city
Several people we're killed, and qhouse
dsnolishsi and damaged near the scene o
the disaster. It occurred in Foureentt
street near Orange. The drivers and hsr
~ were blown all to piecea Houses
wsrs injured down the Brandywine, and
Ne plastesing shook down and door
bunt open BY the shock a. far - Sixth
and Spruce Streets. In some Of the houses
people were buried in the ruins, from
which they were rescued ; one Of them =
small baby, that is now living, grown up,
and We believe married. The principal
houses that we're damaged and injured
asias from those in the immediate vicinity
were the residsnce Of Bishop Lee, and the
houses in Market St. below Seventh, and
some now called the Brandywins Walk.
The residence Of J. Fleming Smith, then =
wealthy young man, received especial in
jury. He afterward died, We believe in
New Orleans Of the yellow fever.
The reason of this accident was ss fol-
lows: Against especial orders the men
drove their wagons close together, and this
added to the force Of the explosion, which
shook the city to its Foundation. The
powder had leaked from the kegs into the
beds Of the wagons, and from there drop.
ping through was kind'ed by the wheels
striking fire on the 'stones, the dash Of
which rose up to the beds of one Of the
wagons, and this set all off, almost in.
simultaneously. There wxs . woman
blown up in this explosion, Of whom no
account was taken, and who she was We
believe was never known. All that was
left Of her, that our informant reollects was
. beautiful arm and hand, blackensd and
scorched BY powder; but still remarkable
for the delicacy of its contour. 1t was
found by Dr.. FieldA who had it in his
hand.
There were many singlar incidents con.
nected with this explosion, ono Of which
I will relate. A citizen who was = wheel
wright was standing iu the yard Of his
house and shop, which were together, when
he perceived the powder wagons coming.
The day before he had 4 fire in the street, |
1t which he was tiring wheel. He turned
around to young man who worked with
hin, and was just about saying, (but he
never uttered the wordp) It's it not luck |
mat We have not that fire alighs now, for
here comes the powder wagons, when he
slta cold chill come over him, and every-
hing was dark. He thought somebody
lad shot him, and supposed be was about
o die. He heard no noise. When he
'ome too, he found his house was blown
lovn, that his family were under the
ulns, from which, however, they were all
'aPpily rescued. The young man was
Tiled. This citizen afterwards moved to
;ecil comfy, Nd, and died q few yesrs
'fterwards.
At the time Of the explosion, Alex. /.
)npont The member of the firm, who had
special charge Of the manufacturing of
hs powder, was attending . religious
ssembly in one of the churches. He At
nce left suspecting what had occurred.
'he damage was very great, We believe in
he neighborhood Of fifty thousand dollars.
he noise of the explosion was heard in
and in all the neigbborine
owns and cities, and the affair excited
rsas deal Of discussion over the whole
ountry. ..
Another singular incident connected with
bic aftalr was, that an old Irish lady living
o the Lancaster pike, who had been bed
'dden several years with the rheumatism
linking that one Of her near relatives
~ with the wagons, as he revived the
'uss in her anxiety leaped from her bed
I'D running in her night dress down the
nd to inquire into the case, was cured
her disease and was enabled Ia v.,l
bout a. usual, afterwards. .-