Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-08-03
AS TOLD BY AN EYE WITNESS
The Great Powder Wagon Elk
plosion of 1853.
RECALLED AFTER FORTY YEARS
Scenes That Will Last as Long
as Mind Remains.


by One who Was Close at Hand When
the Explosion Occurred--Some Curious
Facts That We're Developed by the
Affair.
| Editor Gazette &c Journal: Very many |
reports and accounts have been from
time to time published, giving history |
of the great gunpowder explosion that
occurred in your city in the year 1858
/ suppose that there are very few per-
sons now living who can recall the Incl
| dents of that memorable occasion.
Being an eye witness l find myself oc-
casionally endeavoring to remember
some of the circumstances OF that terri
BILE disaster.
remember that was sitting at the
window of the counting room of the
firm of Joseph t. Price q Company,
merchant millers of Brandywine, being
member of that firm, engaged in writ
ing letters when the explosion &C.
CURED. l was stunned and for a
moment or two completely dazed by the
report. My first impulse was to rush
out of the mill into the open air. soon
discovered that the operatives, millers,
coopers and others were running to
some objective point Joining them, |
1
the Brandywine and approaching the
scene of the disaster.
On arriving at the corner of Market
and Sixteenth streets | began to realize
! that there had been fearful explosion,
caused by some of the gunpowder
wagons in their transit through the
city. Looking down the street there
seemed to be great CONSERVATION in
, front of the house occupied by Bishop
. Lee, but as my first thought was as to
the safety of my immediate family, l
, naturally proceeded homeward to my
fathers house, which was on Market
!, street, the furthermost one OF the row
! looking towards the centre of the city.
On my way | met one of my sis
:. tiers with her head bleeding. Happily
!, on arriving home, | soon discovered
that no one had been killed.
The house, however, presented pic
ture of desolation. The rear walls were
II shattered, the ceilings, chandeliers, &C.,
IS destroyed, doors wrenched from thelr
r hinges, chinaware and glass strewn
I, around in profusion. II was then that
u the cry of fire was heard to add to the
% CONSERVATION. 1t was found that the
stables in rear of the Price's Row had
caught fire. After considerable exer'
ton the horses were rescued and the fire
3 extinguished.
j 1t was only then that began tt
realize fthe fearful effects Of the ex
plosion. The frame stable, owned by
james E. Price, was destroyed, and hi
coachman lying dead in the ruins. Sew
4 eral dead bodies were lying in the vicin
a ity. The wagons which contained tn
gunpowder, as well as the wheel horses
were blown to atoms. There were, i
8 was said, three of these wagons, con
Z tanning many tons of powder.
4 Bishop Lees house seemed to hav
suffered greatly, the entire front beini
torn out, leaving the interior exposed t
0 view. / recollect that Miss Law, VIII
I was an invalid at the time, occupied on
of thejfront chambers. She was not III
iured, however, but the whole premise
were very much shattered. The bed c
,al the street was blown out to the depth c
ng several feet in front of Bishop Lee
as house, clearly showing three excava
IS, tions caused by the force of the explc
eI- sion. The rear walls of James E. Price
V house, looking towards the scene of tn
Id. disaster, were SO shattered that they ha
en- to be rebuilt. In james Canby's houst
ir. which stood opposite James r. Price
on residence, there was also great destru'
cn ton.
e., 1t is almost impossible to relate II
nc circumstances of the disaster, so awfl
ted sudden appeared to be the blow whic
ey. fell upon the neighborhood. recolle
os- that night set in on the scene with all i
ui. concomitant horrors of stricken home
a bereaved families, and u sense of utt
"a az desolation. OF course the tenants
Ne the houses in the Prices Row had
nv remove until their residences could
ne repaired. This entailed great expens
James E. Price lived at the lndi'
Queen Hotel until his house was re
dered tenantable, and my father rent
na Il house in the country.
s9G.i In this connection do not rememb
,ro. that there was any inquiry ever MAJ
civ into the cause of the disaster. II W
i've said that by an ordinance of the ci
her the wagons were allowed the privile
ing of transit through the city to the mag
ne zine on the Delaware river, but tn
, an they were compelled TO keep quart
'nna of mile apart That this provision
Ms the law was broken was obvious,
. he was reported that the explosion v
was caused by one of the drivers lighting
eek. pipe, but as none of them lived to
Iii the Lal6, Jne ITulu vi tlls Sahnop NC o.
! IL. stantiated. Twas always of the opini
/ re-. that there should have been an inqu
Id. held to determine the question of da
tier ages.
Some curious facts were developed
the explosion. People in the vicin
said that they felt themselves dra
rnal ,,ioIentlv towards The scene of the dis
Idle ter Folding and other doors were dra
rail- .',i., e,r,,at forca oiso towords the en-
Ken WIN Siea. eia IN: ~ -, 80 Il,
ling point piece oi iIoh t1ie was vi
the through tree IN blshop Lees yaru,
the that the two ends projected. ltcertal
and was scene that was calculated to
Dir. nress itself for MANY wears to come III
they ne minds of those who witnessed it.
M az j. S. PRICE
later BALTIMORE, ND, July 29th, 1888
PRLGE OLE MILK LQRERE ED.