The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-16
THE LONDON EXPLOSION.
Details OF the Recent Outrage at the Victoria
Station.
New York Herald. |

Station.
New York Herald
Great curiosity was manifested by crowds
OF sight-seers on the day following the Vic
toria explosion to witness the scene OF
havoc, but strong barriers prevented them
from encroaching upon the wrecked area.
Colonel llaiendie and Major Ford con-
Quoted the examination OF the debris.
At about O'Clock in the afternoon it
was found possible to indicate apprOxi-
mately the spot where the compound
detonated; for, the laths and plaster
having been cleared from the party-wall
OF the cloak-roOm, a circular patch Of
discolOratiOn OF about six feet radius was
revealed, and within it a smaller ring was
noticeable. in when the brick-work was
scared and perforated as with shot. This
feature at first suggested that gunpowder
had been the agent selected. In order to
determine this important point the bricks
were sponged with distilled water, and the
Gloom" was thus secured for the pur-
poses OF chemical analysis. Beneath these
yapor marks in one corner OF the cloak
room the flooring had given way, and Col.
onel Maiendie ordered that the refuse
should be cleared away from thence. This
having been done it was ascertaIncd that
eight OF the ioists had split asunder along
the grain Of the wood, as though down.
ward pressure had been very great.
THE SHATTERED WALL.
The appearance OF the wall and OF the
gap at the foot recalled the characteristics
OF the dynamite explosion at the offices OF
the Local Government Board in March
last. A great many pieces OF tin, some
curiously twisted and many evidently
forming portions CT yellow-p painted bath,
were picked up within a few feet OF the
hole, together with the remains, almost I'M
recognizable, OF a travelling-bag. These
articles, together with a travellers empty
sample case, which bad been completely
riddled, were reserved for minute eXami
nation. While the huge pile Of rubbish
was being gradually removed, aud the
missing parcels brought to light in various
degrees OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT, the smell OF
gas was almost continually present; but
the man whose duty it was TO see that all
was secure stated that at twenty-five min
utes past II O'clock on Tuesday morning
there was no escape OF gas in the cloak
room, and that all the burners were extin-
guished.
THE DAMAGE.
The scene of the explosion covered an
area about sixty-dve feet in width by one
hundred feet in depth. 1t extended from
the glass-covered portico facing the station
ward TO the platforms in the rear. The
most serious damage was confined TO an
apartment which comprised the cloak
room, q first-class waiting-roOm, and
tIcket-office--the latter structure complete
in itself, and lighted by a lantern in the
roof. The exact sites OF the cloak-rOom
and Of the adjoining waiting-room were
not easily discernible, the portions OF glass
and wood having been thrown violently
against the ticket enclosure, which was
shattered. The whole building was slight in
character, the walls and ceiling being OF lath
and plaster, while the roof was slightly con-
strlcted OF states on iron bratticing and
wooden rafters. The consequences would
have been more serious had there been
substantially-buil floors above. When the
work Of clearance was commenced not
much force was required to bring to the
ground pendent beams and overhaDging
spans of roofing, which threatened to fall
Of their own weight. several OF the sup
ports having been displaced, and the walls
OF the building bullying outward. Not a
name OF glass was left intact, and few were
unbroken IN the roof OF the portico ada
cent. while window-frames had been ear
Iied clean away, the apertures being choEed
with matched lining boards, which had
been driven in lateral direction.
FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION.
Perhaps the most remarkable instance OF
the force Of the conclusion was that dis
PLAYED by the twisted gls'lamp frames ana
the condition OF the iron railing which
protected the steps leading to the sub
way communicating with the District rail-
wav. The massive castings had been
broken up like brushwood. Strange 10
saw. an improved lamp a few PAGES beyond
suffered no damage, and although many
windows were blown into the rooms OF
houses In Victoria buildings and Wilton
street opposite, none OF the numerous ad-
MISUNDERSTANDING covering the under
ground station were injured. In addltion
10 the departments already mentioned, the
ladies' waiting-room and the reireshment
bar ON the right-hand side. and also 'front.'
ing the platforms, the inspectors once,
on.superintendents oihce, WIN the
managers Office above, were either wrecked
or greatly disordered.
DAMAGE IN THE VICINITY.
The premises of the London, Chatham
and Dover Railway Company, on the LETT,
escaped serious damage. Wltnih the
Brighton mainline ticket office there was
great demolition. The three clocks therein
had all stopped at three minutes past
O'clock. According to custom, the station
doors were closed at about han-past ~ "A.
M. and the hooking Office was locked up
at midnight. The only persons on tne
premises were Nr. Manning, the hlgnI
insne,tor. and a few porters. Manning
was sbont fixing the fire-nose cnstomarily
attached st night TO the hydrant on the
nlatform when he felt severe shock and
heard the sound as from small cannon.