Wilmington, DE Dupont Powder Mill Exploson, Aug 1857

EXPLOSION AT DUPONT'S POWDER MILLS.

Three Men Killed, and others Seriously Injured.

WILMINGTON, August 23. --- About five o'clock yesterday afternoon a terrible explosion occurred at Dupont's power mills, on the Brandywine. MR. ALEXIS I. DUPONT, assisted by seven workmen, was removing a large and heavy box from a building which had been used since the year 1812 as a powder-house; the box accidentally came in contact with the wall, and fire was produced by the friction.

An explosion immediately followed, burning all hands in a shocking manner. MR. DUPONT leaped into the race, and the others made every effort to extinguish the fire on their clothes, which they succeeded in doing with the assistance of MR. DUPONT.

MR. DUPONT then hastened to see if the press roof had caught fire, and as he approached a terrible explosion took place, shattering the building to atoms. By the flying fragments MR. DUPONT had his right thigh fractured and three of his ribs broken, while one of his lungs was perforated. He was found among the ruins, and when taken up, gave directions to the persons present to hasten and extinguish the flames.

SUNDAY, 5 o'clock P. M. --- MR. DUPONT, ANTHONY DOUGHERTY and EDWARD HURST, the foreman, are dead; LOUIS VACKE is mortally wounded. JOHN McCLAFFERTY and GEORGE FISHER are injured, but not fatally. The rest escaped unhurt.

Philadelphia Press Pennsylvania 1857-08-24
__________________

Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!