Year: 1865

naaAsA In every tenement and his uperrng crashed
throsgh every roof


Mn AnsnxAx-xuYIOnoa on Inn mnxA
A twelve o'sseck, midnight the flames had reached
Granite Hail. corner Of West Broad and Broughton
streets Thh had been used by the rebels arsenal
for shells end ammunition and II was known that large
quantity Of the former then stored in the building
Some asserted that there thirty tons Of gunpowder
in the azsena and this received credence
as the hands Of great many and spread with rapidy
throughout the length and breadth of the city. Fortu
naaeiy this report proved false had been few would
have been le in the city Of Savannah TO tell the tale


About ten minutes after twelve the hrse shell exploded
On the Of the startled inhabitants Of Savannah
This explcsbon was followed Immediately by several
Others which continued banging away 1t laundering
rate for period Of at least two hours With the ex
ception of the military duty and few citizens all
in the city had retired to rest When aroused by the
explosions the people did not could not understand
the Of such tumult The noise bore strong
sembancs TO the movements Of nerce battle. While
the nre gained headway the explosions became more
rapid and continuous leaving ground for the suspicion
that the combaants were drawing nearer and nearer
But donning their clothes and rushing into the open
cir the truth burst upon them


THE SCENE At Mom-rm CIT AROUSED.
When the fire burst into is full magnitude the scene
presented Of fierce and thrilling grandeur No
pen fully describe any artist properly delineate
the awful majesty Of the picture Thepigh was calm
and clear Fortunately there was NO strong wind blow
ing at the tme By standing elevated position
(which was somewhat dangerous) you had excellent
view Of the whole scene. Some Of the shells burst
high in the air, carrying destruction, and In
some cases, death, with them. The lurid flames lit
up the horizon for miles around. The sparks Of
nre few through the air the entire city,
and in several instances fred buildings at its
extreme end but no great injury Is reported
having resulted from these missiles One shell struck
the water tank situated within few yards OF Granite
Hall, and passed clear through, making hole, out Of
which the water gushed forming arch Of twenty
feet and having descent of about thirty This added
and original charm to the grandeur OF the whole
scene The flames played nercely around the water
1t came pouring out whie strange TO say the tank itse
remained without further injury Throughout the city
all confusion and alarm The citizens rushed hither
and hither in every direction the military ordered
under arms and paroed the streets; guards placed
on each corner; half dressed and stood In
the thoroughares and at house entrances while terror
was depicted on the countenance Of each citizen The
belief that the arsenal contained a large quantity
OF gunpowder strengthened this terror, and
every moment the terrible explosion expected
TO shake the city TO atoms. Some simple
individuals who far removed from the Of the





back TO the city and laundering at it's gates for ad
mission. There few to be found however, to whom
this assertion looked anything like reasonable Then
some supposed that the citizens and military had got into
alteration but this also seemed 70 be impossiby
as the most cordial fraerna relations had existed be-
tween these parties But little time explained ALL and
somewhat restored the confidence Of the cii





OPERATIONS or THR mnIe-AccDENfs MzDErTs





ensued from the explosion Of the shells From accounts
which cleaned amid the ruins Of the nre would ap
pear that fifteen twenty persons had been either
burned TO death killed outright Reports current
that largo numbers have been buried under the falling
walls but facts had yet tanspred TO substanate the
assertion. is true however that quite number Of
persons have been wounded by pieces OF she'll few
Of these have seen but whose injuries will prove
Of fatal character.


Pieces Of shell found in instances two miles
from the arsenal The streets leading 70 the locality
srewn with fragments Of those dangerous missiles Scve
raj houses and number Of trees bore undoubtcd marks
Of the visitation, while iron rangs and pavements
torn from their repositories and piled in every direction
Hundreds OF people in the Streets and some had
the daring go within short distance Of the re but
several paid dearly for their carccssncss One young
had his arm shattered dangerously, while another
received fracture Of the leg Some others
troubled with scratches and escapes Through
West Broad street, leading to the river the shells fell
thick and fast, and the streets became well sprnkled
with the fragments


Cases known where pieces Of shell entered houses
wounding the inmates On the corner OF Barnard and
Liberty Streets considerable distance from the fire.
the residence OF Mr. W. Bullock was entered by Of
these impoe visitors The shell entered one Of the bed
rooms where part Of the family reposed but serious
injury resulted.


fireman, named John Butler, while on duty in st.
Julien street. struck by fragment OF SHE'LL which
tore open his head in fearful manner. On being
moved to place Of safety no died in short time az
terwards Several heart rcnding incidents OF similar
character might be mentioned but owing to the great
confusion incident upon the affair." IL is impossible for
the present TO give details.


MARROW ESCAPE GENERAL GROVER.


The gallant General Grover, now post commander at
the city Of Savannah had escape from recev-
ing serious injuries. He standing the s,oop OF
his headquarters when heavy piece Of shell whizzed
past his head II could not have been than two
inches from him, and had propeing force OF mean
strength Had the General been standing in different
attitude the probability is that he would have been
stricken dead


cmvALRous ACT.


Close the arsenal the opposite side Of the street.
was a building In which several shells had been placed
On the sidewalk also were number OF the missiles.
The fire raging with fury at this time the flames
threatening moment to reach the other side Of the
street and cause these shells TO explode II s said that
small quantity OF powder also lay stored In this build
ing The great feat 10 be accomplished the removal
of this ordnance Few could be found daring enough to
risk their lives In this act None could tell but that the
next shell from the arsenal would be hurled into their
midst cause the explosion Of all the dangerous
material which they were endcavorng 10 remove.
But brave men found TO do the work, and those
men belonged 10 the Nineteenth corps Of the United
States Army. They under command OF Lieutenant
C.la al vArl anA rantnsp WartAn hapA ~nrA
brought the shells put into into t. and In this
carried away Several citizens In the vicinity,
10 whom appeals made for assistance but they
fused. One excused himself on the ground Of being
affected with rupture; another had arm; third
leg These were somewhat lame excuses but the
gallant act accomplished, Notwithstanding All
honor TO the noble fellows who thus rskcd their
others We're u not for their cxcrtons much
damage would have resulted