Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-17
Frightf"i Explosion of Pyro,cchnic~.

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FIFTEEN OR MORE PEOPLE KILLED AND MANY IN
JCRED.
CHESTER, Pa, February l1.-Abouts O'clock this
morning an explosion occurred at the pyrote ,hnic
works ot ProL Jackson In this city. The building
was badly shattered and took fire ami was then
totally consumed. AZ least fiftern and probably
more lives were lost. ana many dangerously
wounded The building is the old homestead OF
Admiral Porter.
LATER--l5 OR 20 KIIED-so DANGEROUSLY AND 50
SEVERELY WOUNDED
A number OF colored families lived In the ola
Porter mansion. It seems that IL nTst took nrr
and while the nremen were PLAYING on the flames
ana large crowd surrounded them, the explosion
occurred, scattering destruction far and wide
The number Of Killed is between fifteen and twenty
about twenty are dangerously, and fty more or
less seriously wounded. The dead are being laid
In the city hall. and the wounded cared for in va
riOus drug stores, that no accurate list can be
obtained now. The scene is one OF great excite
ment
DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE DISASTER
fire originated in the old stone house at I'd and
welsh streets In this city this morning. The build
Ing Is known as the Porter mansion, having been
at one time occupied 10y Commodore Porter's an
cestors and is at present owned by the Porter
estate. The structure was built In i72l and com
mands fine view OF the Delaware river. A cen.
tury ago it ranked among the important resi-
dences In the country, but time has nearly de-
Stroyed II, as II is now ricketty old affair covered
vacated by those whose name IL bears and has for
a number OF years been occupied by colored
people. It's location is in the poorest part of the
city, principally inhabitated by the poorer class
OF citizens Part of the mansion has been used by
Prof Jackson. the celebrated pyrotechnist for
some years as place for manufacturing his ex-
plosive commodities The fire department, al
though the members We're exhausted after
The Pennsylvania military academy nre, re-
spndsd spEnded tTHm S%k the t1s the alarm Ra which
1:3O a m. and were soon on the spot ready to ner
form their duty Lines OF hose were run to the
burning building and the firemen began throwing
water on the flames. large crowd OF citizens
had gathered near the scene, as is usual In this
city, TO watch the progress OF the fire. Tie coli
the old mansion, and the firemen, after being as
sured that there was no powder in the place. ft
Is asserted, prepared to flood the house il possi-
better range on the spreading, got upon A
small frame shed in the rear. After about an half
nour on constant playing, terrific explosion
occurred. Bodies OF men were thrown several feet
high. The air was filled with rubbish, the
ground thereabouts being covered with victims,
some killed, some seriously injured, and others
badly hurt. The shock was keenly felt throughout
the city. The scene was one OF Intense excitement
and distress. Dead bodies Of men lay coiled on the
ground, others labored in the agones OF death,
a number writhing in their blood, moaned and
groaned piteously for help. Many lay insensible
bruised, with their eyes filled with dust and smoke
CROPPED their way from the scene of the accident.
The calamity was the greatest that befel Ches-
ter The scene beggarS description, and the pen of
an eyewitness could not properly picture IL. The
loud report brought hundreds of citizens 70 the
place OF the accident 10 IL their friends Nere
among the sufferers People prayed In the omen
streets, and the shrehs or the dying was appall-
ing. The fire was abandoned and everybody
In condition 10 do so turned their atten-
ton to alleviating the distress Messengers
were sent for all the physicians I'm the city, and
upon their arrival the houses in the vicinhy OF the
explosion We're converted into hospitals and the
wounded removed thereto. Everything possible
was done for their relief. A number were taken
home In wagons, and those who were able 10 walk
were aided 10 their abOdes by friends The dead
were removed u the City Hall
DTS Stoors, Perkins, Mott. Delaney, Miner,
Waru. Clfick. Weston and Je1erS were upon the
ground and did all they could for the sufferers,
some or whom were in the adjacent houses
others upon the ground and others I'm the drug
stores Anthony Barber. VINO was holding
one or the noZzleS In the frame shed In which the
explosion occurred. was blown several feet away,
irightfully mangled form. Perry Williams was
blown TO the roof OF the mansion; lodged and slow
ly scOrched TO death. John W. Barnes
and strange to say although he had been
In that position half an hour, he was alive when
lowered 10 the ground, but died soon after from
conclusion or the brain. Those OF the victims
who were killed were standing on the corner ot
ri and Neich Streets l50 yards from the building,
being crushed 10y shower Of stone bricks aud
timber.
WHAT is SAID IN PHILADELPHIA.
PHILADELPHIA, February 17.-PrOf. Jackson has
an Office In this city In charge o. his Son-in-aw,
The latter states that only four persons are EN-
piOyed in the manufactory in Chester. These are
Prof- Jackson, his son Samuel. aged 20 years;
Charles Van Horn, OF Philadelphia. and Mrs
Brown. m1rried woman with two children, who
lived In the house where the explosion took place.
This is spacious L-shaped stone building, at the
foot OF Nelch street, Chester, and facing the Della
ware river. Immediately in its rear is the Chester
gas works. Admiral Porter formerly lived in the
house, and it Is understood that he owns he prop
erty.