Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-10-09

1
dous report seemed to lift us from our
feet. Now we ascsrtained it WAS the
powder mills, by the dense black smoke
rising in piles of clouds and gathering
into column, fold upon fold, and twlat-,
| ing into oorkscrew shape, varying I'M
| lights and shades, stretched over our
heads and seemed to totter as if ready TO
fall and crush ell bsneRth. Some Of the
dark folds appeared bespangled with
stars, others looked like brilliant clusters
suspended and enveloped by thin mist
shooting out and twinkling as they fell,
till lost in the blaze OF MONDAY. This
scene was too magnificent for ordinary
powers to portray.
Nearer home horseman passed in full
gsllop, shouting ''Raise your windows"
Another followed as rapidly and cried,
abandon your dwellings the grand
magazine will soon explode" Every
dwelling was quickly deserted, even by
the domestic animals. Being about the
hour to prepare dinner, some had meat
on the fire, others had it spitted, and in
the general confusion much was thrown
on the floor, where it lay untouched fof
three hours at least.
Friends had assembled for worship,
when the messenger gave the alarm; and,
as rere occurrence, they Left the meeting
house in q body and walked up tho
middle of the street. From the lower
part of the town not q few women and
children fed across the Ohristiana. Men
and boys, with some women, ran TO the
fatal spot. But o very large group of
women and children, of every age, class
and color, mingled on vacant square on
Market street, Invalids who had not
been out of their homes all winter, and
the aged and infrm, fed for shelter to q
school house with no chimney. The
March wind blew keenly, yet none Of
these caught cold, 80 intense was the ex-
element.
Amid this great CONSERVATION 1t might
truly be called noiseless day Every
voice was hushed and all spoke in a
whisper; no noisy mirth or crying If
children disturbed the q1iet sadness ce
the mixed multitude. Tbs dos wes sub
dued and csassd TO bark, and 81 s1tsenad
into sylf pathetic fear, crouehed at his
owners feet. PACING OF horses ard scSt-
steps were the only sounds to interrsps
the awful silence, while memory was re-
fIeshed with ths descriptions read Of
earthquakes in bygcye Gays, Wh+a dangeS
threatened !; the people were seizsd WITH
the sad doom to he engulphed in the
bowels Of the earth.
Intense anxiety wag depicted in ehch
countenanoe TO hear the true Staiemant.
at O'Clock the THRILLING story WAS told
thai instsntsneuusly 40 souls were hurled
into IN unknown eternity; and fragments
of their mangied bodiss were scattered
over the faos of the earth, or lodged on
the tops ct trees; that widows aud Or
phapu rent the air in wailing and lamen-
tation, as they stood shuddering over the
spot of this appalling tragedy.
By throwing q quantity of powder into
the water mneE destruction was averted
and many lives preserved. 1t was er-
sremely perilans to those engaged and
these whose foresight and energy hal
prcpbsed it, smanS whon was Marshal
Grouchy, on visit TO the family. or all
Che EXCLUSIONS this one WAS the most ter
riffs an6 fatal.
The bereavement Of the widows
awakened the sympsthiss of 3. I. du Pont,
ESQ.,, ard it was ros a momentary im-
pulse. He, with Isoble generosity, al
lowed to each ona an annuity during her
widowhood, and this bevo!ence was faith
fully fulfilled and continued TO the few
who remained after he 10y Wondering in
the dust