The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-16
The Mobile Explosion.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In the
issue of March 10, Comrade Noah NJ.
Riechelderfen, of the Hath Ohio, makes
inquiry in regard to the explosion in the
city of Mobile in the Spring of 1865.
1t was estimated at the time that 1000
people were killed by the explosion. The
warehouse, or magazine, as he calls it,
contained about 30 tons of powder, in
barrels, when We took possession of the
city, together with some boxes of shells,
both cap and fuse. Then when the Con-
federates up in the interior surrendered,
their ammunition was stored there also.
The day of the explosion about 30 col
ored soldiers We're unloading Gen. Dick
TaylOr's ammunition. mostly capped
shells, from wagons, and storing it in
the warehouse. A soldier from Co. G., of
our regiment Ghe 18th Wis., was on
guard. He spoke to one of the Lieuten-
ants in charge of the detail, and told
him he thought the soldiers We're too care
less, as he had seen them drop several
boxes of fixed ammunition. The Lieuten-
ants reply was that there had been no
accident so far.
The Co. G man was relieved at I p. M,
l believe by Matthias Gliun, of our COM
pany CID. The last ever seen of Glinn
by any survivor he was in about the CEN
ter of the building.
| forgot to state in the proper cOnnec-
ton of all kinds in the warehouse at the
time of the explosion.
Eight solid squares of buildings We're
RACED level with the ground, with the ex-
ceptiOn of one cOtton-shed. which our regi-
inent occupied for barracks. That was =
new, strong shed. and the day before the
Head Surgeon of our regiment had given
us permission to cut holes through the
wall to give a better circulation of air.
As it was. the heavy slate roof was lifted
up, and the trusses thrown out of shape.
but not enough to cause them to fall. OF
course shell. brick. slate. iron posts, etc.,
were sent all over the city.
a pile of baled hay was carried in one
grand sheet of flame right over fleet of
seven transports. setting all on fire.
On one of the transports We're three
Paymasters with S2.500.000 in green
backs, to pay the soldiers. We had been
moving so much that we could not stop
long enough to make out muster rolls and
get our pay. We had six months due us
at that time. We had to wait two months
longer, and mustered for eight months
pay. The burning of so much powder
made the air so dense that n gunboat ~
ing in the river Il half mile away was
SAID to have raised from the water line
three feet.
The shells were largely thrown into
the cottOn-sheds. filed with cotton. near
by, and in spite of all that could be done
fire kept working into the cotton. and ex-
plodinS the shells, which made it danger
Gus for the firemen as we'll as everybody
else. The city of Mobile was able to mus
ter one steam fre-engine, and l believe
two hand engines. The gunboatmen would
help the firemen hold the nozzle. and we
soldiers would help on the hand-engines.
Confronted by a common danger. we We're
thus early working side by side in COM
mon cause.
1 forgot to state that all the glass left
whole in that part of the city were some
little. old, out-of-date 1X9 panes in one or
two very old buildings. l came off duty
at the cotton press right across the cor
ner from the explosion, that morning at
8 o'clock.-F. S. HEMINGWAY. Co. FL,
Doth Wis, First Brigade. Third Divi-
sion. Thirteenth Corps, Vernon Center,
MIMI