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

WILL tuo bthEtiluB l1toliiBehoo thht 81
lives had been lost. Late last night il
was hard to get any reliable information
OF the extent Of damage to life and
property.
NEW CASTLE SHAKEN.
Special Correspondence OF Every Evening.
New CASTLE, Oct. 8.-The explosion
of the du Pont powder mills was dis.
tinctly felt here yesterday afternoon.
Houses were shaken and many persons
rushed to the street in terror, thinking it
was an earthquake shock. Five shocks,
accompanied by loud rumbling noise,
followed each other in quick succession.
The true cause of the oOmmotIon was not
learned until last evening. In several Of
the schools and mills panics were mar
rowly averted.
HEARD At GEORGETOWN.
The shock OF the explosion was dir
tinctly heard and felt at Georgetown, SO
miles diBtant down the State. 1t was In
the midst of the speech Of Senator
Blackburn, when number of peSsons in
the audience were startled by what
seemed like a heavy, rumbling roll of
thunder. Many involuntsrily glanced out
Of the windows, but a5 there were no in
dioations Of any unusual atmospheric
disturbance, and no unusual features at
tending the rain storm that had been pre-
yailing all day, the incident was soon
forgotten.
WINDOWS BROKEN AT KENTMERE.
A large plate glass window in the resi-
denoe of w. M. Fisld was broken in hum
dreds Of pieces, and many panes of glass
in the mills and tenements were blown
out.
IT SHOOK THE COUNTRY.
The shock fairly aroused Philadelphia,
and the people thought an earthquake
had come among them. Hospital patients
were in terrible dread and occupants of
large buildings fed in abject terror for
their lives. The greatest excitement pre-
vailed.
The explosion was distinctly heard in
all parts Of Camden, N. j.. and in the
lower section Of the city caused con-
siderable alarm among the residents,
many of whom ran out into the streets
fearing an earthquake had visited The
city. There WAS difference of opinion
as to the number of shocks that were felt,
some claiming TO have noticed three,
while others stated that four distinct
shocks were felt.
The concussion following the explosion
of the powder mill at Wilmington yester.
day afternoon was very noticeable in
Norristown, Pc. Windows and doors
ratified for about 15 seconds as though an
earthquake were shaking the town.
The shock from the explosion of du
Points powder mills was more severe OF
D. kho, r.f
the kind evsr before experienced there.
Buildings shook and trembled by the
succession of shocks. and at the public
school building q panic enaued among
the children. They jumped from the
windows and leaped over the stair banis-
ter in their efforts to get out, and several
of them were slightly injured.
The cnncussion from the explosion at
the powder mills yesterday was so great
that a number Of pRnes OF glass were
broken in West Chester, Pa. The re-
ports greatly alarmed the people, and
nearly everybody rushed into the street,
believing that an earthquake had occurred.
1t was with difficulty that panic was
prevented in the several schools snd in a
number OF instances children fed from
their rooms and rushed to their homes.
The people of Chester were startled by
the explosion. Several distinct shocks
were experienced, while the reports
heard were very loud. In the public
schools OF Chester and South Chester
panic was nearly created among the
children. The shocks appeared to be
more generally felt here in the district
along the river front. Windows ratified
and women and children ran out into the
street. 1t was some time before the ex-
citement subsidized.
Most people supposed that du Points
works across the river had blown up;
others thought it was series of boiler
explosions somewhere about the city. In
the Franklin street pubic school the ex-
oitement among the children was very
great. One boy jumped from o second
story window. Others screamed and ran
from the building.
A Millviile, N. j., special says: Two
distinct earthquake shocks were felt ha-
tween $3.50 and O'Clock, each shock &C.
companied by loS, rumbling sound
like that of distant thunder. There was
also very perceptible Rwaying motion
with each shock, causing windows to
rattle and buildings to shake. In some
houses articles were thrown down by the
force of the shock. The shocks were not
felt at South Hillyills, 80 far as can be
learned, but were noticed In all other
parts OF the city. Some of the children
in the public schools, which were in ses-
sion at the time, were considerably fright
ened by the shocks ard rafting windows.
In some houses the windows rattled to
such an extent that the people ran to the
Ag,nk I1ka
approaching. From accounts received
tonight the shocks were felt generally
throughout this county and in portions Of
Cape May county.
Hammonton, N. j., special states:
This town was visited by three distinct
shocks of a supposed earthquake at $3.50
O'Clock. The motion lasted one mjnute.
A series of heavy jars, resembling an
occurred at Millvills, N. j.,
causing general alarm. Buildings rocked
10 and fro, windows and doors ratified,
and decided tremor of the earth was
experienced, lasting several seconds.
People fled from their dwellings to the
ltreet, and could not be induced to re-
urn for awhile, as they feared the recur-
renee OF the disturbance. The shock
vas severely felt at the court house,
where the Smith will case was being tried
md number Of the audience fed pre-
,ipitately from the building.
BENEFIT FOR THE SUFFERERS.
1t is proposed by Manager Abraham of
The Lewis Morrison Faust Company and
Manager williamson of the Opera House
10 give a benefit on next Wednesday
sfternoon in aid OF the sufferers from the
explosion ct the du Point powder works
II is intended that the benefit
shall be under the auspices of the mayor
and committee OF prominent .oitizens,
who shall control the sale of tickets and
n il annnastad that the aala of sea.a ha |