Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-05-08
A TERRIBLE CASUALTY.
Graphic Description of Scene of Unspeal
able DeSolatioI.

Graphic Description of Scene of Unspeak-
able DesolatIon.
Doctor Mowris, surgeon OF the One
! Hundred and Seventeenth New York
Regiment, went with brother-surgeon
10 inspect Fort Fisher on the morning
after its surrender. They found many
of the Confederate wounded still inside
the fort, together with many mutilated
bodies. Two Federal regiments were
on guard, and some of the men were ex-
plOring curiously the innermOst recesses
of the place. Doctor Mowris had passed
through the works, and was on the outer
slope below the level of the undulating
crest of the fort, which externally was
an immense mound of sand.
Ny companions were lingering above,
surveying the interior of the work,
when l was startled by deep explosive
sound, attended by sensible quaking
of the earth. At the same moment /
fell, and on looking in the direction of
the sound, l behold an immense shaft of
earth and rubbish, in outline no. unlike
great waterspout rising as it vert to
the clouds.
clearly comprehended the nature of
the occurrence, but before could con-
slider my own situation, / found myself
the victim of the most intense violence.
| felt myself as an atom amidst the
crash of worlds.
Then came a distressing sense of suf-
location, with a clear conviction that
my immediate death was inevitable. I
felt the grave rudely closing around me,
and realized the horror of being buried
alive. Then followed the pangs of sew
ering earthly ties.
Then there was temporary lull In
the descent of the debris. Instinctively
l thrust out hand, and felt the air
EXTENDED hope"
Again was l depressed and over
whelmed by a fresh fall of sand and
rubbish. Another agony of suspense,
another struggle for life, and gained
the atmosphere.
The danger had passed, and was still
alive. On realizing my deliverance l
experienced the most pleasurable, bliss
full emotion of gratitude. That transit
emotion was the highest state of happi-
ness l ever attained.
This feeling was succeeded by more
sordid but not less natural impulse to
confirm the advantage l had so provi-
dentially gained. With one shoulder
fractured, the arm hanging useless,
managed to cxtricate myself, and in an
extremely bad plight | set out from the
fort with singleness of purpose which,
under circumstances less serious, might
have been amusing.
! had gone some ten rods, up to which
time l had no thought of any person in
the world except myself and the mem
bers of my household. Then / recovered
my sense of outer social relations, and
my next thought was my companions,
the doctor and the corporal. To seek
them was the next impulse, which l
would have obeyed irrespective of peril,
and l rapidly retraced my steps.
On my right, as approached the spot,
lay quivering face, all that was WISH
bic of victim. All the bodies that had
lain along the descent before the explo-
sion had been suddenly buried in
namcless grave, while the surface of that
general graveyard was already dotted
with the mutilated members of scores of
new victims.
soon found the doctor-his lower
limbs both injured, and one thigh badly
fractured. Corporal King was nowhere
to be seen, but his body was found later
in the day.
As l reached the edge of the parapet
which overlooked the interior of the
fort, what sight presented itself! The
great amount of sand which had been
the magazine had disappeared. A wide
excavation marked the spot where it had
stood. The incredible quantity of sand
which once formed the magazine now
lay spread out over a vast area. 1t had
been distributed so evenly, and had so
softened the angles of the various OBJ
iects on which it had fallen, as to Sug-
gest the idea of natural phenomenon.
The victims of the terrible casualty
more than two hundred-were seen
here and there, while over all the black
smoke had descended, rendering the
scene one of unspeakable desolation.-
Youths Companion.