The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-08-19
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION.
"A Powder Magazine Struck by
Lightning.
Several Persons Killed and a Num-
ber Seriously Injured.
Great Destruction Of Property.

PorrsvILLF, PA, August l7.-At half.
past this afternoon thunder storm
passed over this city, taking is course In
the direction OF Minersville. At the
above named hour bolt OF lightning
struck the powder magazine Of Weldy &
Co., situated near the Gate Vein Colliery,
northwest OF the Fishbuck Magazine,
which contained about 800 kegs Of pow
der, and which exploded with terrific
crash, shaking buildings In Pottsville,
breaking large plate-glass in several
business houses and hurling the occu-
pants Of the houses upon the floors.
Several OF the handsome stained glasses
OF the Flrst Presbyterian Church were
broken; also the windows at the Lutheran
Church were broken. Around the scene
OF the terrible explosion everything
was in confusion; large trees uprooted
and snapped asunder like pipesiems;
about % houses in the immediate vicinity
were crushed, and many Of them literally
demolished.
In rayine about half::a mile from the
magazine, II picnic was being held. The
scene was terrible. The large stones Of
which the magazine was constructed
were blown into the midst Of the pleasure
party, bruising and severly injuring
number Of persons, several fatally. Will
liam Reese, seventeen years OF age, had
his right leg so shattered that 1t had obo
amputated at the knee. Andrew CALLS
CHER, twelve years old, had his head
completely torn from his body, leaving
nothing but pulpy mass scattered
among the rocks. Richard Vaughan, q
boy, had his leg broken in two places, his
hips and lower extremities were mashed
and his entrails protruded. He died at
6P.M. Richard Stevenson, aged sixty,
had his leg broken in two places and,
shattered; amputated at the knee. Saddle
Brazer, ten years old, had her shoe torn
from her foot, which was badly mashed.
Two young ladies, who were driving TO
Minersville, narrowly escaped large
rock, which struck the horse in the side,
tearing the animal open and killing II on
the spot. The ladies jumped from their
carriage and ran for their lives. The
community was appalled, by the terrible
calamity, but no time wa1 lost In render.
ing assistance to the sufferers. The
pliysicians Of this city responded i'm
mediately to the call Tor help, and did
everything possible TO relieve the wound
ell and save lives. The damage 10 prop.
city can not at present be estimated.
PorsvfLLE, August lS.-The scene oil
yesterdays explosion was visiedby sew
eral thousand persons to-day. Among
the wounded that is thought cannot re-
cover are:
Mrs. Steable, an elderly lady, whose
skull was fractured. Last night portions
Of the skull were removed.
Richard Stevens, aged sixty, who had
his leg severely cut and refused TO have it
alnputated. will die.
The verdict Of the jury to-day was that
Richard Vaughan and Andrew Gallagher
died from injuries received from stones
thrown by the explosion of the powder
magazine. They find no persons censura.
Bile for the explosion, and believe II was
caused by lightning.
Additional discoveries OF wounded
make the number eleven. -r..l
John Richardson and Samuel Carl
we're killed at Cameron colliery yester-
day by fall Of masonry.
Last night block OF buildings in the
business portion Of fremont was burned.
Nine families were made homeless. Loss
about $4,000.