Terrible explosion.
--A terrible explosion took place a few days ago in the rocket house, at the Washington (D. C.) Navy-Yard. At the time of the explosion there were four men in the house. Francis C. Brown was burnt to a crisp, and died shortly after the explosion. John P. Ferguson was badly burned, and died. A man named Wm. Marlin was badly burned, but will probably recover. Another man, named Nicholas, was very severely burned, but will, however, recover.The first explosion occurred in a large mortar, suspended from the ceiling, in which there was a quantity of fuse powder, and a large copper ball for crushing the composition when the pot was swung to and fro. This caused a second explosion of a tank of power near by. Fortunately, a barrel of powder, and several boxes of cartridges which were in the room, escaped explosion. The roof of the building was lifted clear from its place, the windows all blown out, and the brick walls cracked in several places. The workmen in the yard were quickly on the spot, and extinguished the fire before it had made much headway. The cause of the explosion is not known, but it is supposed that the ball in the mortar became heated by constant motion, so as to ignite the composition.
