The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-04-12
1 DEADLY EXPLOSION.
ELEVEN PEOPLE KILLED AND
SEVEN WOUNDED.
Destruction OF Romaine'S Fire Works
Factory The Powder Takes Fire
and Causes the Explosion.

Factory The Powder Takes Fire
and Causes the Explosion.
PETERSBURG, Va, April 9.-Satur-
day was one of the saddest days known
in the history of Petersburg, and it
will never be forgotten. 1t reminded
those who-were here at the time Of
the militia fight in front of Peters
burg, when some of our oldest and
best citizens were killed and their
bodies brought to the city in wagons
and on Filters.
Saturdays distress and lamentation
in many families here was caused by
in explosion which occurred at 3
G clock p. IN. in the powder-house of
the fireworks factory of q. n. Romano
& Brother, in Blandford.
The explosion was distinctly heard
in the city, and window glasses of
stores and dwellings were fattled by
it. As soon as the explosion occurred
the building was set on fire, and the
flames communicated to other build
ings near by, in which there was DOW
der and fireworks. All of the build
ingS were set on fire, and the flames
shot high up in the air, while the
smoke was as black as possible. As
each house would take fire an eXplo-
sion would follow. Fhe flames shot
across the street to the large trunk
factory of Romaine s. Brother, which
was burned TO the ground, as was also
the old whisky distllery.
THE FIRST EXPLOSION.
When the alarm of fire was turned
in Chief Engineer e. V. Farley drove
rapidly over to the scene Of action.
AS soon as he reached the house the
first explosion occurred. His head
was cut in a frightful manner, and he
was otherwise badly injured. He was
carried in a wagon to the Home for
the Sick, and it is thought that his
injuries will prove fatal.
THE KILLED.
The following is list of the dead:
Charles n. ROmaine, portion of
his head blown off.
John B. Bland, skull blown to pieces,
jaw broken and right leg blown off be-
low the knee.
Captain James T. Tosh, burned to
death.
James w. Perkins, bricklayer, head
blown off.
James Rowland, a farmer of Prince
George county, who was a spectator
after the first explosion.
Robert Rowland, q carpenter, body
badly mutilated.
John +. Harris, tailor at the
tailoring establishment of Mr.. James
Nj. Quicke.
Edward Traylor.
William Parker.
Quincy Livescy and James Bryant,
employees in the fireworks factory.
Thomas Voolfolk (colored) of Prince
| George county.
THE INJURED.
Chief Engineer E. V. Farley, fatal.
Charles Wells, injured internally.
| A. w. Redgray, employe at the fire.
works factory, fatal, and will, it is
| Thought, die.
Walter NunalIy, hand broken and
flesh wound in left breast.
K. Stith Beasiey. struck in thigh
by flying piece of tin and badly in
| jured.
William Parker, an enployc at the
| fireworks, struck in the face by fly
ing piece of timber and painfully, but
not seriously, injured.
SUPPOSED TO BE KILLED.
William Trayior and Quincy Love
say, who were employees of the fire.
works factory, are missing, and are
supposed tc have been killed
Several Of the bodies which were re-
covered were burned almost to crisp
The remains of Captain Tosh were
identiticd by his knife, sleeve buttons
eyeglasses, and watch. Captain Tosl
was a candidate for Commissioner OF
the Revenue, in opposition to the in
cumbcnt, Mr.. James =. Blanks, anC
some of his election tickets pfert
found in his pockets.
PAIL OVER TIE CITY.
\ The death and injuring Of so mlny
people have thrown pail over the en-
tire city, and but little else is talked
Of in the community. The shocl
from the explosions was felt for dis
lance of fully mile, and in the neigh
borhood Of where they occurred plas
tering of houses was broken and win
dow glasses shattered. The fire:
which followed the several explosion.
destroyed the trunk factory OF RO
maine Brothers 81 Co, together with
their fireworks buildings and stock
The large tobacco factory of Blanc
Brothers q Wright, with a large
as was the old whiskey distillerN
building in the same vicinity.
THE LOSS BY FIRE.
The total loss by the fire, it is esti
mated, will foot up between S75, 00(
and 100000, partly covered by insur
ance. The fire aud explosions at
tracted several Thousand people tC
the scene.
CITIZENS MEETING.
In response TO d proclamation is
sued late Saturday afternoon by May.
or Collier, a large meeting of citizens
was hello. in the courthouse at three
O'Clock p. m yesterday when appro
pirate measures of sympathy and re-
lief for the injured and distressed
were taken.
| Ia Search of Novelties
The requirements of a concern OF
| Slcl nNt.r3nrfii nIrV InnUni fIIGo nS tn q