"A Terrible Explosion" Mobile May 1865

 Another account of the May, 1865 ordnance explosion in Mobile, Alabama, one of the "military accidents" that plagued the collapsing Confederacy . . .

           A Terrible Explosion.
          Special to the Macon Telegraph.

MOBILE, May 25 -A terrible and exceedingly disastrous
A gun powder explosion occurred in Mobile yesterday. A magazine which contained about thirty tons of powder, was blown up with fearful result. A number of persons who were fully half a mile distant from the spot when the disaster occurred were knocked down and injured by the concussion. The total loss in killed is estimated to have been one thousand, but the aggregate has not been definitely ascertained.The loss of property was very great, and embraced the principal business portion of the city. Seven steamboats were also burned. The cause of the terrible accident, and further particulars have not yet been developed.

- Edgefield Advertiser. (Edgefield, S.C.) June 06, 1865

Unexploded Ordnance

ANOTHER AWFUL WARNING-THREE MEN KILLED AND TWO WOUNDED BY THE EXPLOSION OF AN OLD TORPEDO.

-On yesterday-afternoon. a large torpedo having lodged on the John's Island beach, it was regarded as a valuable prize by the poverty-stricken inhabitants, and a great crowd gathered round,while six, all freedmen, engaged in the fool-hardy attempt to unload the destructive contrivance. They had been engaged in the hazardous enterprise about fifteen minutes, when suddenly there was a tremendous explosion, and the crowd of bystanders were covered with sand, and enveloped with a stifling smoke. As soon as the first shock of the explosion was over, and the smoke had cleared off, it was found that Pompey Legare, the principal workman, had been blown literally to atoms, his head, arms and legs being all severed from his body. Jack Hamilton and Robert Cunningham were killed and frightfully mangled, and William and Joe Rivers were severely wounded. The sixth man, as if by a miracle, escaped unhurt. That none of the surrounding crowd were killed or even injured is passing strange, and can only be accounted for on the supposition, that the force of the explosion was upward

Charleston Mercury, 21st.

 -Edgefield Advertiser(Edgefield, S.C.) May 29, 1867

"Blown to atoms"

Horrible Explosion and Loss of Life in Danville-

A Raid on the Commissary Department.

From a gentleman of intelligence, who has reached this city on foot from Danville we have some interesting particulars of events that occurred there after the surrender of Gen Lee's army. When this event became known in the town and surrounding country, a crowd of citizens of all classes, ages and colors, and a large number of soldiers, collected around the buildings in which were stored immense quantities of commissary stores, and after a short deliberation, made a general rush upon the establishments. The parties in charge of the stores at first attempted to resist the mob but were quickly forced to desist and seek their own safety in flight. The individuals of the mob scattered throughout every part of the buildings, each one plundering according to his or her fancy. In one of the buildings, it appears, there was a large quantity of arms and gunpowder in kegs and percussion caps. The soldiers and country people swarmed around the powder eager to secure it for fowling purposes. While they were thus engaged, by some means fire was communicated to the powder, and in an instant the building and its contents, including over fifty persons, were blown to atoms. This horrible tragedy for a time put a check upon the plundering, which, however, was soon recommenced, but with some what more circumspection.

 -Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) April 26, 1865