Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-03-24
The Explosion In PHILADELPHIA,

A telegrsphc dispatch in yesterdays Co.
zstte gave an sccount Of the explosion Of the
boiler Of tho tug boat Henry o. Pratt, 10 Pna-
delphis, at 4:55 q. m. Farther details of be
catastrophe represent il to hsv, been enc cf
the most terii6, steamboat xolosioas on re-.
o,rd, pics cf debris and msDgled human
beings having been hurled for blocks .r,und
the scene Of the disaster.
Ga tho railroad pier GEAR by Was a large
consignment Ct paper; also hous,b eff 9 8
belonging 10 oit:z rs ut ths seaside. and olhcr
goods. all CT which We're Consumed By The
tarcs 10 tho LfioaS of the Narrow Gauge
stiissy w:ro valuable pap.rs belonging 10 tho
ecmpe"y. which wtr, al:o destroyed. The
so;ca ot tho * ;lasioa tare the front doors of q
l.rse tauT story tudirg pear by fttm their
ssienioe1 snd shattered ths glass n the wis
doWs. B:oSen spers a5d blocks eff wo:d and
lohen masses OF iron from tho Inflated boat
sshcd through ths building and scattered de-
stsooiOn 10 their psh. BIKES srl barrels fell
% Tho ground. s,atlerirg their coateuls oc the
hoor. and 'hs crash OF the flying liubers .rd
bars Wss followed b2 succession Of r-vsrbs-
rsiloE sounds SIS the Gocrs f,w from their
bicg:s, aud the broken widow paucs apd
shattered glass fell. Ito looks OF The doors
wars blown eff and hursd hundreds of feet
oWGy. aud scmo Ct Tho irjn bars and hinges
S,ra fauod fast embedded 10 The thick walls
back of The bajdog. Toe stock was covered
With debris. bat hs damage was tr.frg
40 o'd-'asbioned fn proof vault lcc lpied lie
front pars Of the ofhoa. The ooccaisiou forc, d
the air through the holes sud see the Or, pro of
bsck and the sidtsef che vsut cr:s,i,g thrcu. h
the bui'd'rg literally bowiop it icsiIe out,
Tho iron door of ID, vault which faced Chest
Get street wss hurled from lis birges snd rolh 4
Up almost iplo soroll, while The massive ircn
bars which barrie ended ths door wrs rput 10
twain snd hutlsd sg,ost thu wall. The hyiog
n.ssss ct brick and limtot cr,sh. ttrcuah the
gisss doors and private ofios and sluok
heap of fur barrels 10 the s'oro room. Tho
barrels we're burst opsn aad the contents &c It
tered owe. thu floor. A red bot mass If iron,
weighing about twenty pounds. came 10 Tie
front window, crashed Lhrourh the glass doors
In the reaT of the private Office. leaving gap
ing hole II the cbarred WOOD. aud the e or CT
the ssorc-rcom within Two feet Of number OF
tales OF cotton which were piled up 90 the flor.
The windows and doors were completely shat
tsrsd, AID the desks spd chairs were buried
through tho doors l1!o The stcrc.rotms 10 tie
rear.
When the boiler WIS released from i:s les:at-
!ngs it shot ipto the air like rocket, tcatteripg
destruction 10 its path. L took az upwsro
G u,ss and stru,k tho roof of a fou: -,!o1y brick
building on South Dssw,re avenue. Than it
bounded of add fell 70 h, sidewalk With
crash. tesrug away part Of the gsblsd roof Of
iho building and leaving gspipg c,vty behind
it. An x,minstisn shows tha! The boiler of the
tug had boeo made GU of three -,igh,bs iron,
but WAS go old AMI worn Gu. that 10 some pls-
ces BY acual measurement il WAS fturd
not to exc,ad three si1,eentbs of 60 ioch in
thickness.