The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

LIVERPOOL. Nov. 10.
Extract of a Letter from Chester, Nov. 10.

"On Thursday Night last the 5th Inst.
the Inhabitants of this City were thrown
into the utmost Consternation by an instantaneous Shock, supposed at first to have been
occasioned by the Violence of an Earth-
quake, as the Houses in every Quarter of
the Town were shook to their Foundations.
The preceeding Day, a Quantity of Gun-
Powder, upwards of eight Hundred Pounds
Weight, had been deposited in a Warehouse
in Water-Gate-Street, under a Building
known by the Name of Eaton's Room, in
which One Williams, the Master of a Pup-
pet Show, had for some Time past exhibit-
ed his Performances. The Company which
these idle Amusements had drawn together
on the fatal Evening was very great, (may
such another Evening never be known any
where) and in the Midst of their Merryment,
the Powder, by what Accident is not known,
took Fire, and in a Moment most of the
unhappy People were buried under a prodi-
gious Heap of Ruins; some were thrown
into the neighbouring Courts, scorched.
contused, and a few, but very few, had the
good Fortune to escape with a slight Burn,
or a small Scratch.
It is impossible to come at the Knowledge
of the exact Number of those who shared
in this shocking Calamity; the Account on
which we can most depend is, that the Kil-
led, and those since dead, amount to 23;
and those that were much burnt, contusions,
or broken Limbs. to 80, most of which are
likely to recover. Williams himself, his
Wife and three or four of the same Family,
are of the Number of the Dead."