The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-02-18
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION.
Fire Works Mandatory at Ches-
ter, Penn, Blown Up.
FIFTEEN PERSONS KILLED AND MANY
INJURED.

FIFTEEN PERSONS KILLED AND MANY
INJURED.
CHESTER, Penn, Feb. 17.-About O'Clock
this morning an explosion occurred at the py-
rotechnic works of Prof Jackson. The build
ing was badly shattered, took fire and was
totally consumed. AT least fifteen and proba-
gerously wounded. The building is the old
homestead of Admiral Porter.
TsEcoND DEsPATcH.]
A number of colored families lived in the
old Porter mansion 1t seems it first took fire,
and while the firemen were playing on the
flames and large crown surroun ded them the
explosion occurred, scattering destruction far
and wide. The number killed is between fif-
teen and twenty. About twenty are danger
ously, and fifty more or less seriously wounded.
The dead are being laid in City Hall and the
wounded cared for in various drug stores, SO
that no accurate list can be obtained. The
scene is one of great excitement.
THIRD DESPATCH.
Prof. Jackson has an office in Philadelphia
in charge of his son-in-law. The latter states
that only four persons are employed In the
mandatory in Chester. These are Prof
jackson, his son Samuel, aged 26, Charles
Van Horn of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Brown, a
married woman with two children who lived
in the house where the explosion took place
This was a spacious L shaped stone building
at the sfoot of Welsh street, and facing the
Delaware river. Immediately in its rear are
the Chester gas works. Admiral Porter
formerly lived in the house, and it is under
stood that he owns the property.
FOURTH DESPATCH.
The stone house where the explosion took
place this morning had long been occupied by
colored people and is in poor neighborhood.
Part of the mansion has been used by Prof
jackson, the pyrotechnist, for the manufac-
ture of his explosive The fire department al
night in subduing the Pennsylvania military
academy fire, responded quickly. Lines OF
hose were were run to the burning building
and the fremen began throwing water. A
large crowd had gathered. The colored people
and their effects were removed from the house,
and the firemen after being assured that there
was no powder in the place, it is asserted, pre-
pared 10 food the house If possible. Some OF
the fremen in order to get better range on
the spreading flames got upon small frame
shed in the rear. After about half an hour OF
constant playing on the building terrific ex-
several feet high The air was filed with
rubbish the ground whereabouts being covered
with the Victims some seriously injured and
others badly hurt. The shock was keenly felt
throughout the city. The scene was one OF in
tense excitement and distress. The dead
bodies of men lay piled on the ground. Others
labored in the agonies of DEATH A number
writhiDg in their blood moaned and groaned
piteousy for help. Many lay insensible of
their surroundings and others, scratched and
bruised, with their eyes filled with dust and
smoke, CROPPED their way from from the scene
of the terrible accident.
The following is the list of the killed and
wounded:
KILLED.
John Lamplugh, a boy.
Thomas Dollison, aged %.
Thomas Anderson.
Alexander Phillips.
John Pollok.
10 eph Kestner.
George Taylor.
james Doughty.
Benz. Gartside aged %.
Perry Williams, &olored.
William Woods, member of Franklin Fire Com
pany, wounded abort the head and body and died
shortly after removal.
John Daiens, aged 13.
Edward Shropshire, an employee at Roach's ship
yard.
Total-14.
Chief Dalton of the fire department
Geo. Turner, colored, slightly.
VIM McNeal, fatally.
Walter Graham.
Ellwood K Linegenburg, agee Is.
VIM. WOrr1IoW, slightly.
Isaac Showl, colored, badly.
James Cakes, badly.
VIM Co@an, lower part Of the face torn off.
Frank Mccall.
Henry Wood.
George Potts. colored
Ellwood Long.
Joseph Johnson, colored.
Willie Ward, son of Congressman Ward, slightly
hurt.
Robert Taylor colored, severely.
Charles Delaney.
Miss Jane Roy, colored, badly mangled.
Sallie slack, colored
Frank Hunter.
Lewis Mccullough, throat cut and internally in-
jured.
Hiram Griffith, scalp wound.
John Miller, reporter for the Times. burnt about
head face and throat but not fatally. This victim
remembers nothing about the explosion. He did
not even know that an explosion had taken place
when he recovered consciousness.
There were between 20 and 30 Others injured
more or less, but they were hurried off before
their names could be learned.
The scene beggars description. The loud
report brought hundreds of citizens to the
place to see if their friends were among the
sufferers. People yrayed in the open streets,
and the shreks of the dying were appalling.
The fire was abandoned and everybody in con-
dition to do SO turned their attention to alle-
waiting the distress. Messengers were sent for
all the physicians in the city, and upon their
arrival the houses in the vicinity were con-
veried into hospital and the wounded removed
thereto. Everything possible was done for
their relief. A number were taken home In
wagons, and those who were able to walk were
aided to their abodes by friends. The dead
were removed to City Hall.
Perry Williams was blown to the roof OF the
Mansion, there lodged and slowly scorched to
DEATH John W. Barnes, carpenter, volunteer
ed to bring him down and, strange to say, al
though he had been in that position half an
hour he was alive when lowered to the ground
but died soon after from conclusion OF the
brain. Three victims who were killed Were
standing ON the corner of Second and WEIGH
streets, 100 yards from the building, being
crushed by shower of stone, bricks and tim
Der.
Coroher Quimby at noon summoned jury
to investigate the cause of the explosion. In
order to help to bury the dead and provide for
the wants of the injured a meening of citizens
was held this afternoon and $500 raised in a
short time. Many families of the dead and
injured were found to be in actual need. A
corrected list of the killed places the number
at Is. The city council held special session
this evening and agreed to prohibit the manu-
faciure of fire works with the city and landing