Year: 1865

ton DepOt-Appearan Of th<
City.


Charleston Cor. of the N. Y. Herald.
The city during these confagration


was in an agony of fear. A most horribl,


catastrophe had occurred in the morning
which had terrified all


. The depot of the Northeastern railroad
had been blown up and a large number o.


lives lost. In this building quantity o.


cartridges and kegs of powder had beer
stored b. the rebels, and as they had moi


time to remove it they left it unprotected


n number of men, women and children


had collected to watch the burning of q


quantity of cotton in the railroad yard


which the rebels had fired, and during the


confagration number of boys, while


running about the depot, had discovered


the powder. For the fun of the thing


and without realizing the danger they in


cured they began to take up handfuls OF


loose powder and cartridges and bear them


from the depot to the mass of burning
cotton on which they flung them, and en-
joyed deal Of amusement in watching
the flashes of the powder and the strange
effects on the cotton as it was blown hither
and thither by the explosion of the cart
ridges. Quite number of boys soon be
came engaged in this dangerous pastimc,
and speedily the powder running from
their hands formed a train upon he ground
leading from the fire to the main supplies
of powder in the depot. The result IS
easily conjectured. \ spark ignited the
powder in the train, there was leaping,
running line OF fire along the ground, and
then an explosion that shook the city to
its very foundations from one end to the
other. The building was in a second
volume Of fame and smoke. \ report
rivaling heavens artillery followed, and
then a silence ensued that made every one
tremble and hold his breath. The cause
Of the tremendous explosion soon became
known, and rush was made for the scene
OF the catastrophe. Such Il sight is rarely
witnessed. The building was in ruins,
and from the burning mass arose the ago
nzing cries OF the wounded, to whom little
or no assistance could be rendered by the
paralyzed spectators Many, wounded by
the flying fragments OF the building, were
removed from the additional danger Of the
fire; but those in the depot or Immediately
about it, were irretrievably lost One by
one was reached by the furious flames, the
zing groans that appalled, the stoutest
heart died away and ceased. and charred
remains only were left by the deyouring
element as it moved on to new victims |
who soon passed amid that horrid scene
from life to death. Language cannot ad-
equately describe the terrible nature Of the |
scene. The cries for aid and rescue from
the wounded within, fell upon willing cars,
but nothing could be done to assist them.
or even to alleviate the fatal rangs. The
aames, like a fabled monster, strobe on.
licking up everything iaAamable and en-
veloping its victims in its fiery and deadly |
embrace. Fortunately the sufferings of
the unfortunate creatures were not pro-
longed. The work was done quickly and
soon every voice was silcnced, every moan !
hushed, and every spirit gathered to It's
maker, The horrors of the scene will
never fade from the minds of those who
were so unfortunate as to witness it
Over one hundred and fifty are said to
have been charrcd in the fiery furnace,
and hundred men were wounded more |
or less seriously by the explosion or were
bur2ed by the fire


From the depot the fire spread rapidly,
and, communicating with the adjoining
buildings, threatened destruction at that
part of the town. Four squares: embraced |
in the area bounded by Chapel, Alexander
Charlotte and Washington Streets, were
consumed tefore the conhagration was
subdued. Every thing in the houses was
destroyed with them. Another fire on
Meeting Street, near the courthouse, de-
stroycd five buildings. This was set on
fire by the rebels, with a view of burning
IIibernian Hall and the Mills house. 1t
did not succeed, although it destroyed the
five buildings alluded to. One or two
other fires olso occurred, destroying sever
al buildings each. Any number of small
er conhagrations occurred, burning gov
crnment storchouses, &c. a great deal
of damage was of course done, but the
city was, by great exertion, saved from
total destruction