The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-04-07

Having reached the third story OF the
building in our examination of the many
interesting exhibits, and satisfied our
selves thoroughly with the Horse
Armory" wonders, we passed through
one of the archways leading TO the
oriental room (see opening in wall parti-
ton in diagram) and were examining
the contents OF one of number of plate
glass cases in that room Otis position is
approximately shown by the parallelo-
gram in the diagram above) the glass in
which was not less than one forth or
three-eig hths of an inch in thickness,
and its dimensions six or seven feet long
high, and perhaps three or feet deep,
when, simultaneously with the deafen
ing noise of an explosion occurring
almost underneath us, We were both
partially covered with fragments of glass
shattered from the case where we stood
and from the glass skylight overhead,
both of which, and indeed all the glass
cases in the room, were utterly demol-
ished by the force of the explosion,
which, at the same time, dislodged from
Vulnerable pieces of armor and other
exhibits affixed to the walls and sus
pended from the ceiling, and from the
tops of cases and cornices, a sufficient
accumulation OF dust to SO darken the
room that for a few moments my
daughter aud self were invisible each to
the other. Almost Immediately smoke
began to arise through large balus-
traded openings in the floor of
this and the adjacent horse armoTy"
room, made to admit light to the
second floor rooms below: ard then came
the alarming cry-fre. with hurried
steps OF persons below as apparently
seeking modes of egress, and the drum
beat of the assembly" calling the tower
garrison to arms This combination of
enough it will be readily conceived, the
desirability of immediate escape from
place already dangerous enough, and
likely to become very soon even more
full of peril. Looking around l could
see no signs of the presence, 10 either of
the rooms visible to me, of living soul
| excepting my daughter, and in the con
| fusion of the moment | could not recall
to mind by what entrance or staircase
/ had reached the third floor. | remem
| bered, however, that in passing around
! among the exhibits | had noticed a
| staircase in the northwest turret, and
to it, with my daughter, 1 hastily wendell
my way, and soon found the lower floor,
across which policeman was making
his way amid the smoke, and in a stoop-
ing position, as though ne feared the
! falling OF something from above. 1t
occurred to me that he was possibly in
search of the dynamiter, his rapid steps
tending as they did in the direction from
whence the explosion, had as it appeared
| to me, occurred. 1t did not strike me
at the moment that | should assist in
a search of that sort, and no demand for
the posse comitatus reaching my ears, L
pushed onward to the southwest side of
the building where found an exit, and
was soon in tie open air and outside the
tower walls, so blaokened by dust and
smoke that acquaintance would have
failed to recognize either my daughter or
myself.
Our next care was speedy return to
our hotel, but upon reaching the pCinci.
pal outer entrance to the grounds We
found that desire impossible of imme-
date qualification, for promptly upon
the noise of the explosion the exits from
, the grounds were closed to prevent the
escape of the dynamite fiend or fiends
All visitors of the day were required BY
an officer there present to have RECORD
made of their names, residences or stop
ping places, and the number of such
being quite large (probably one hundred
, and fifty persons-adults aud children
!, several hours elapsed before all could ge
| out. Exhibition to the officer in charge
D of an official card had with me, togethe
= with the nervous condition of my
!. daughter, procured for US the otiicia
t courtesy of a comparatively early retire
9 meut from the exciting scene. 1t ais
6 furnished, as | found subsequently t
. my regret, the basis of cablegrsm t
u the New York press, whereby my famil
L were alarmed before my advices Of GU
!, safety reached them
r. This explosion at the tower was one
:, three occurring almost Simultaneous
on that Saturday, one of them in base