The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-02-22
WHOLE NO. 1905
AFATAL EXPLOSION.
BY Which a Large Numberof Lives We're
Lost aud Many Wounded.


Lost aud Many Wounded.
CHESTER, Pa, Feb l7-About o'clock
this morning an explosion occurred At the
Py rotechnic Works of Professor Jackson. in
this city. The building was badly shattered
took fire andwas consumed. At least fifteen
and probably more lives We're lost and
many dangerously wounded. The building
was the old homestead of Admiral Porter.
\ number of cOlored families lived n the
Old Porter mansion. II seems thar t inst
took fire, and while the firemen were play
ing on the flames, and large crowd aur-
rounded them, an explosion occurred scat
tering destruction far and wide The num-
Der of killed is between fifteen and twenty
About twenty are dangerously, ana fifty
more or less seriously, wounded The dead
are being laid in the City Hall. and the
wounded cared for in various drug stores, so
10 accurate list can be obtained now.
The following is list of The killed John
Lamptugh. Thomas DOllison, Thomas An
derson, Alexander Phillips john Potick
James KeStner. George Taylor, James
Doughty, benjamin Gartside Perry VII
liams (coiOTedl, Anthony Barber. William
Wood Firemen John Daiers and Edward
Shropshire All the killed lived here
fl1ly were more or less NOuluel. I1fG
| fatally. Part of the mansion had beer use
| by Professor Jackson, pyrotechnist. for SOD
| years as pace for manufacturing explosi1.
| commodities The firemen. after being2s
sured that there were no explosives in th
place, went 10 work. After playing or the
| flames about an hour q terrific explosion
occurred. Bodies of men were thrown IN
every direction. The air was filed with
rubbish and the ground covered with vic
tins, some killed. some seriously
| injured and others badly hurt. The dead
bodies of men lay coiled on the ground
Others labored in the sgonies of death. A
number writhing in Their blood, mOane6
! piteously for help Many lay lnsensible OF
| their surroundings, and others bruised and
bleeding. CROPPED their way from the scene OF
the terrible accident.
The scene beggaTs description. People
prayed in the open streets, and the shliezs
of the dying were appalling. The ire was
abandoned, and everybody, in condition to
| do so. turned their attention 10 aileviatang
the distress. The houses in the vicinity of
the explosion were converted into hospitals
and the wounded removed thereto.
The following is a correct list OF the
killed: John Lamplugh, Thomas Donald
son. Thomas Anderson, Alexander Phil
lips, John Pollock, James kestner. George
Taylor, James T. Doughty, Perry Williams.
! Anthony Barber, VIM, Wood, David Daiers
and Peter Vescati. Benjamin Gartsi6e, re
ported killed, is still living. VIM. =. Frank
lin, Frank COwan and a boy named Calls
have since died from injuries.
The list of wounded is increasing. Charles
Dalton, son of Chief Engineer Dalton, is
injured internally, with no hopes of his re-
cOyery. The Chiefs injuries are serious.
James Doughty's head was blown off
The families of many of the killed and
wounded are in needy circumstances, and
relief committees will be formed.
AT the inquest this afternoon Professor
Jackson testified he was surprised az being
told of the explosion, as he considered the
place safe. There was no powder N the
room, and the explosion must have origin
ated from the gas from the stove The
stars used for filling bOmbshells Were the
only things OF explosive character, and they
did not believe them explosive. = strong
conclusion will explode these stars. The
shells are about six inches in diameter,
and contain about two pounds o. stars. 1
| think the explosion was caused by these. II
this detonatiOn had been OF poUder the
roof would have been blown off, but these
stars must have exploded with
great force, as the walls of the building have
been torn down. There were probably ten
pounds Of these detonating stars in my man
ufactory this morning.