Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-02-18

SecSaA DisPatcA.
CHESTER, Pa, February IA number
OF colored families lived in the old Porter
Mansion. 1t seems il first took fire, and
while the firemen were playing on the
flames, with large crowd surrounding
them. an explosion occurred, scattering
destruction far and wide.
The number killed is between fifteen and
twenty, about twenty dangerously, and
fifty more or less seriously wounded. The
dead being laid in the City Hall, and the
wounded cared for in various drug stores.
So far no accurate list can be obtained
Third Dispatch.
CHESTER. Pa, February 1.-THE follow.
ing is list OF the killed and wounded:
Killed-John Lamplugh, Thomas Dallison,
Thomas Anderson. Alexander Phillips
John Pollock, JOS Kestner, George Taylor,
James Doughty. Ben. Gartside, Perry
Williams. colored; Anthony Barber, VIM.
Wood, fireman; John Davis and Edward
Straphire All the killed lived here.
Fourth Dispatch.
CHESTER, Pa, February 17.-Fifty, more
or less, were injured. three fatally. Part
of the mansion has been used by Professor
Jackson pyrotechnist, for some years rs
place OF refining explosive commodities.
The 'firemen, after being assured there
was no explosives in the place, went to
work. After playing on the. flames for
about half an hour a
Terrific Explosion
occurred. Bodies of men were thrown in
every direction. The air was filled with
rubbish and the ground covered with vic.
tins, some killed, some seriously injured.
and others badly hurt Dead bodies OF
men lay cold on the ground, and others
labored in the agonies OF death. mum.
Der wcltering in their blood moaned and
groaned piteously for help. Many lay in.
sensible TO their surroundings, and Others,
Bruised and Bleeding.
groped their wav from the scene OF the ter.
rible accident. The scene beggars descrip.
ton. People prayed in the open streets,
and the shrieks OF the dying were appall-
ing. The fire was abandoned, and every
body in condition to do so, turned their at
tention to alleviate the distress. The
houses in the vicinity Of the explosion
were converted into hospitals and the
wounded removed thereto.
Another Account.
New YORK, February IA special from
Chester says of the explosion there: This
is the blackest day in the history OF our
fair city. Death in most frioh'f"i shane
mas lmd low nearly score OF our people
and many more have been wounded. The
entire city is in mourning. Following
close upon the destruction of the military
q severe loss in itself 10 the COM
munity, came this morning an alarm OF fire
from Jackson's fireworks factory and mag.
azine. This was in the old Porter mansion,
ON Second street and the river front. Prof.
Jackson had occupied il for the past i've or
six wears. He employed eight or ten
hands and was running the place TO the
fullest capacity, in order to supply his
large trade. At thirty minutes past seven
O'Clock the elarm was sounded.
In Five Minutes
after the alarm was sounded the fire de.
partment was throwing water on the burn
ing building Suddenly terrific cKplo.
sion shook the city, the noise rcyerberated
throughout the country rs far as the Jersey
shore. A mass OF flame shot high up into
the afr and the fragments Of the building
were hurled about. A quantity OF gun
powder had exploded. II was felt that the
danger was over and the ilrcmen approach
ed the flames uutil within touching dis
tance without apprehension, and a large
crowd OF citizens gathered. AT the time
when the spectators were sureSt that abso,
lutte control had been secured, and that all
danger was passed. another explosion,
much more fearful than tie last, gave
terrific shock to the earth. The scene was
Awfnl and 40 Horrible
that il is impossible 10 describe II. Ihe
crowd OF firemen were scattered in all d.
rections many Of them with their bodies
beyond recognition. Some we're
so badly torn that IL was Impossible 70 teil
what part OF the body the shreds OF flesh
were torn from. on the spectators the
fleet was scarcely less disastrous. Many
of them we're killed, more were wounded.
Those who were not rushed through the
city spreading tue horrible news. lmost
instantly thousands Of people stricken
with terror. poured from adjoining streets
10 the scene Of the disaster. The news
quickly spread 10 the country and hun
dreds of people came from there. The cries
OF women and children vino had lost hus.
bands and fathers in the calamity and Wild
INQUIRIES of others added to the terrible
effect OF the
Masses Of bloody Corpses and Wo"seea'
All the physicians in the city and all the
priests and pastors were on the, spot in
Short time to dispose OF the dead and assist
the wounded The nearest house was
about hundred yards away. Many OF the
sufferers were taken there, and every other
house in the vicinity was thrown open ana
kindly hands ministered to the relief of the
victims. Wagons were hastily transformed
into ambulanees. and everything that
could be was done to mitigate the horror.
In little time the rumor got abroad that
the now rapidly-spreading flames were ap-
preaching another large quantity Of dyna-
mite, and rush was made for the vicinity.
Among the DesA
are Dalton, chief engineer OF the fire de.
partment; Barber, assistant foreman OF one
~ the trucks; James Wunderlicb, well
known citizen; McNeal. an employe near
the factory; william Blizzard, police ON.
Ger; Perry, a colored man, who was killed
on the spot. A child, whose name Is un-
known. was killed while sitting on the
door stsp OF its home.