The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-02-24
HORRIBLE AFFAIR.
A Fireworks Factory ExPlodes ne
Chester, Pa, Killing Sixteen and
WOunding seventy Persons.

A Fireworks Factory ExPlOdes ne
Chester, Pa, killing sixteen and
WOunding seventy Persons.
CHESTER, Pa. Feb. IT,
This is the blacklist day in the history OF our
fair city. Death in Its most frightful shape
has laid 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 aoademy-a severe
loss Of itseh to our community-came
an alarm Of fire from Jackson's fre-
works and magazine. This was In the Old
Porter mansion, on Second street and the river
front. Prof Jackson had occupied 1t for the
past five or six years. He employed eight or
ten hands, and was running the place TO It's
fullest capacity in order to supply his large
trade AT 1880 the alarm Of fire was sounded
In five minutes after the alarm, the fire depart
ment was throwing water on the building
A terrific explosion shook the city. The
noise reverberated throughout the country Az
far AZ the Jersey shore. mass of flame shot
nigh into the air, and the fragments of the
bu; lding were hurled about A quantity OF
gunpowder had exploded. 1t was then felt
that the danger was over, and the fremen APP
preached the flames until within reaching dis
lance without apprehension. A large crowd OF
citizens gathered. At the time when the citi--
secured and the danger was passed, another
explosion, more fearful than the first, gave a
terrific shock to the earth.
The scene was horrible and so awful that IL
is impossible to describe it. The crowd of
fremen were scattered in all directions,
many Of them with their bodies mangLed
beyond recognition. Some were 60 badly
torn that it was impossible to tell what part
of the body the sbreds of flesh were torn
from. On the spectators the effect was scarcely
less disastrous. Many OF them were killed,
many were wounded. Those who we're not
rushed through the city spreading the news.
Almost instantly thousands of people, stricken
with terror, poured from adjoining streets to
the scene of the disaster. The news was
quickly spread to the country, and hundreds of
people came from there. The cries of women
and children. who had lost husbands and faith
ers in the calamity, and the wild inquiries of
others, added to the terrible effect of the
masses of bloody cOrpses and wounded. AL
the physicians III the city and the priests and
pastors were on the spot in short time 10
dispose of the dead and 10 assist the wounded.
The nearest house was about hundred yards
away. Many of the sufferers were taken there,
and every other house i'll the vicinity was
thrown open, and kindly haNds mnistered to
the relief of the victims. Wagons were hastily
transformed into ambulances, and everything
that could be done was done TO mitigate the
horror. In little time n rrimor got abroad
that the now rapidly-spreading flames were APP
preaching another large quantity of dynamite,
and a rush was made from the vicinity.
After the explosion the ground was covered
with victims, some killed, some seriously
wounded and some badly hurt. Dead bodies
of men lay coiled on the ground while others
labored in the agonies OF death. A number.
wrthing In their blood, moaned and groaned
piteously for help. Many lay insenslble
of their surroundings, aud others,
bruised and bleeding CROPPED their way from the
scene OF the terrible accident. The scene beg
CARS description. People prayed IN the open
streets, and the shlieks OF the dying were APP
palling. The lire was abandoned. and every
body III condition to do so turned attention to
alternating the distress. Houses in the vicinity
OF the explosion were converted into hospitals
and the wounded removed thereto.