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Explosions
Shocking Explosion
Richmond (Vir) September 15
It is our duty to place before our readers an event which must shock
every heart that can fell for the woes of others. Near 3 o'clock
P.M. on Wednesday last, this city was shaken by three distinct and
tremendous convulsions: the houses shook as if under the operation of
an earthquake; the windows rattled, and the furniture was thrown into
considerable agitation. Crowds rushed into the streets - some
conceived it to be an earthquake - some the fall of large buildings -
and orders as first supposed it to be the discharge of artillery, a seu
de joie, on account of the departure of the tent and knapsack wagons
for our citizens of the west. But the shocks were unaccompanied
by those loud and distinct explosions which artillery rings in the
ear. Some voices cried out it was the Powder mills; the same
exclamation new became general and the curls of smoke, which began
majestically to rise to teh clouds in that direction, soon gave too
much "body and shape" to this alarming presentiment. It was too
true. The powder mills occupied by Messrs. Page, Brown and Burr
of this city about 2 miles to the east from the centre of of this place
with other buildings appropriate to the manufactory, was found blown to
atams. What a dreadful spectacle was presented to the view! The mangled
remains of fifteen unfortunate beings emplyed in the buildings were
stewn almost in every direction - legs broken, sculled fractures,
carcases almost cut in two; arms torn off were scattered about in
horrible profusion. One corpse was thrown a hundred yards into
the trunk of a tree - an arm and hand driven three or four hundred
yards from the scene of woe. Almost every lineament of every fact
lost; and the white and the negro almost defied distinction but
by the greater or less degree of crisp of his hair - seven of the
former and five of the latter have perished -the former were artists
and carpenters.
Source: The Centinel, Gettysburg, Pa, September 30 1812 - Transcribed
by N. Piper |
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