Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-10-09
men in the magazine at the time Of the


calamity.
ESTIMATE OF LOSSES.
A member of the firm stRted that the
buildings destroyed include the dry
house, magazine, packing house, sepa-
rating house and a corning mill. The
buildings that escaped damage are the
glnzing and press rooms.
1t is estimated that the quantity Of
powder lost by the explosion was about
30 tons, distributed about the various
mills. The largest quantity was in the
magazine. II ia Understood that at the
time the company was engaged in heavy
contracts for the United States govern
ment and also for the Union Metallic
Cartridge Company. The government
powder comprises grades from the fine
small arms powder to the large sizs pris-
matte and cocoa-nut powder. There was
large quantity of the finest grade of
sporting powder destroyed.
IN THE OFFICES.
The offices of the company, which are
at the end of tho private road leading
from the Chadd's Ford road to the yard,
and close to the mansion Of the late
General Henry du Pont, were not seri-
ously damaged. All OF the windows
were blown in and much of the plaster
ing torn from the walls. Everything
movable was blown from its place and
strewn about the rooms. The persons in
the offices at tho time were sll cut or
bruised by the flying glass, splinters, or
the falling walls, but none were seriously
injured. As soon as the first explosion
took place every one started for the open
air. Before they could get ont the sue
ceedinR explosions took place, filling tho
offices with dirt and dust, go that the
men could hardly see, and had to prope
their way out. Dol. Henry A., Alexis,
Francis and Eugene du Point were in the
private Offices Of the company, and the
following clerks in the other offices: A.
ID. LeCarpentier, Frank Haley, j. w.
Macklem, Edward N. Lautilhon, d. b..
Ourlet, Edward Collision. Before dark
last night all Of the debris had been
cleaned from the building, and several Of
the clerks were arranging their papers.
scENEs OF THE EXPLOSION.
Immediately on reaching the foot of
the hill past the company's office a full
view Of the scene of the fearful disaster
was obtained. In front was a lire of
partly dismantled cottages. Groups of
women stood in the doorwaye. From
within means Of distress issued, aiding
in the vivid picture OF dedolation. To the
left the large charcoal mill was d mass of
blackened ruins. Adjoining the mill
three or four frame barns stood partly
unroofed and at @ dangerous angle from
the perpendicular. An immense store
house, filed to the peak with powder
timber, had its end torn completely off,
exhibiting to the roof thousands of cords
of valuable willow wood. Passing along
through the melancholy avenue OF dis
mantled cottages the Upper Banks hill
WAS reached. From tins point most
advantageous view of the whole yard
was gained. No words can describe the
scene of devastation revealed. At the
foot OF the hill was q large vacant
space flack and bare. This was the
site, hardly an hour before, OF the
dry house, magazine, corning mill and
separating house. Now not vestige of
those structures is to be seen. For sew
eral acres around the ground is bare, US
II from the whipping, laahing rush of a
mighty tornado. Stakes, planks and
large stones have plowed up and fur
Iowed the groGtd. One OF the most
striking and vivid illustrations OF the eI-
plosion's iiefcv onslaught is the remarka-
bic appearR &c of the trees which SUR
round the mills and village quite thick.
The inner ring of timber nearest the mills
is cut through in the centre of the thick
trunks aB cieGnly as wheat stubble. Big
trees of several feet girth lie prostrate,
their branches and upper limbs threshed
into kindling wood. A distinoI zone OF
breasage is discernible in the timber rs
the wave of foFos ex andsd and then ex-
pended itself against the wall OF black
ened lesf-denuded forest trees.
The two-story stone dwelling occupied
by William Haley on the summit of the
elevation was almost totally wrt cked.
The shock had demolished the porch,
shaken all the plasteripg from the walls
which in its fall had literally wrecked all
the furniture and household effects. This
cosy little home presented view Of utter
desolation. All the fences were blown
away and the garden products literally
picked up and blown to the winds.
her home and escaped injury. Her
daughter, Mrs. Lizzie Anderson, who was
in the house at the time OF the calamity,
duh0ECu DIohth hIDl luI is uunD5Itu
amons the injured.
In the rear of William Haley's house is
that of his son Frank. The building is
almost entirely wrecked. Fortunately no
one was at home at the time OF the ex-
plosion. The outbuildings and fences are
an int ricable mass of cor fusion, Picket
fences, trees, plarks and debris thrown
around in every direction make it almost
impossible to walk from one house to the
other. immense stones are dashed half
way into the ground. The yards and lawn
surfaces are narrowed ard scraped as il
some gigantic machinery had passed over
them. Chimney pots, planks, famed and
dead fowls are strewn around. The resi-
dence OF David Curlett near 10 that of
Frank Haley is picture of desolation.
From the rear 1t appears as il the
second floor had sildden oat through the
walls and now stands ut an obtuse angle
to the yard. The interior Of the house is
a wilderness Of plestcr, debris ard dust.
Pictures and furniture are completely
destroyed. Everything in the house is
Damaged and but very few articles worth
recovering.
Passing along through the avenue OF
shattered houses the sudden meeting OF
friends and relatives, who until those
moments had the gravost fears of ono an
others experiences, was extremely atfeeE-
ing. Relatives embraced one another, as
tears Of joy streamed from their eyes at
recognition OF their dear ones safety.
Beyond the company's cfflce the gate
way of Mrs. Henry da Points residence
was reached. The house was the picture
of desolation; wide gaping sash!ess win
dows and doorways looked black and for.
bidding in the evening shadows. It was
an inhospitable ruin. Blinds and cur
tains were blown clean cut of the via
dows and lay strewing in the yards in