Evening star., 1932-04-17
Story of Old Arsenal and PenitentiarY

soldiers, marched down On Greenleafs Point
to destroy the powder magazine On reaching
the spot they found the magazine empty, the
powder the day before having been taken out
and thrown into dry well. The British, being
strangers to this fact threw q lighted match
into the wen. A most tremendous explosion
ensued whereby the officers and about 20 Of
the men were killed and the rest most shock
ingly mangled. Some Of these unfortunate
victims Of gunpowoer were seen flying In the
air to great distances, and others were totally
buried alive under tons of earth thrown upon
them. The survivors were carefully brought
up on the Capitol Hin, and those in the most
distressed situation were lodged in Carroifs
building, adjoining my house
Il never saw more endearing marks Of
sympathy than were here exhibited on the
countenanee of Gen. Ross. He observed look
ing at me with an eye of searching anxiety,
am much distressed at leaving these poor
fellows behind me. do not know who is to
mitigate their sufferings'
Il understood his meaning, and instantly
assured him that he need not make himself
uneasy On account Of his wounded soldiers
The Americans, Gen. Ross, said l. are of the
same origin as yourself We have, 1 trust, given
you many splendid instances of cur humanity
in the course of this unfortunate war; and
you may rely on it. sir, attentions in my
power shall be withheld from them He gave
me look Of gratitude which 1 shall never
forget, and then, turning toward his men
where they lay burnt. bruised and mansied.
on the floor, he silently gazed at their
deplorable state with that Godhke sensibahty,
near melting into tears"
A DESCRIPTION Of the Arsenal printed IN
~ 1887, says:
The Washington Arsenal occupied tract
of land Of about quarter of a mile square.
The principal buildings the arsenal or
nj he in VII tnA
materials for manufacture are kept; the
quarters OF the officers and men; three gun
sheds in which the gun carriages, when
completed, are placed; a small magazine and
laboratories, q model Office, in which the
models Of guns, carriages and small arms etc.
are deposited, and the workshops, consisting of
carriage-makers shop, backsmith's shop
armorer's shop, foundry. etc.
The machinery is mostly on improved plans
consisting Of a steam engine of IL horsepower,
attached to which is a trip-hammer two
screw cutting machines, a drilling machine
two saving machines (circular and upright),
cylinder bellows and several newly con-
structed lathes, in addition to which, are
several patent mortiSing machines of the most
approved patterns
The business done at the post is such as
the construction of gun carriages caiSsons, i'm
plements and equipment, and the preparation
of all munitions Of war. The average number
of workmen employed is about 100. The
stores for the most part consist of about 800
iron cannon principally of the large caliber,
above 80 brass cannon, howitzers and mortars,
trophies of the revolution, etc, which number
Is increasing from time to time About 40 600
stand of arms; about 100 field carriages of
wood, and a large number for Notifications OF
cast iron. The post has just undergone
thorough repairs, and many improvements have
lately been made"
During the Civil War the Arsenal was a very
in
manufacture Of munitions of war. Just in
our recent war, there was then scarcity Of
male labor, and the women, eager for the
employment they so much needed to help 10
support themselves and families accepted even
hazardous positions such as In the making Of
cartridges and the like.
OF course. 1t is not always the man with the
gun who does the most effective work, nor
the only one who makes the supreme sacrifice
and so we find in the explosion which took
place at this plant on June II, 1864, that the
lives of 81 women were snuffed out in the
twinkling of an eye, and the marvel was that
any lives at all were saved.
The explosion took place at 10 minutes to
II in the main building of the laboratory, a
one-story structure, which had been divided
into four rooms. and in which, 1O8 girls were
at the time employed making cartridges for
small arms.
THE accident, it is said, was due to the plae-
ing of large quantity of Red STAR
fireworks, in course Of preparation, out IN the
yard attached to the laboratory and right In
the sun. 1t became ignited by the extreme
heat. From the fireworks piece of fuse
foated through an open window into one of
the rooms in which were seated % girls and
landed in Some loose powder from which the
cartridges were being made. 1t Is reported that
the explosion which followed terrific, and
as the ensuing fire spread there were further
explosions, though of a milder character.
Those Of the girls who were not killed out
right or who were not manned too seriously,