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Story
October 6, 1846
Richmond Palladium
Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana
What is this article about?
In Norfolk, a colored man caused a whisky hogshead to explode by lowering a candle into it, igniting residual gas. The blast startled locals near Market Square but caused no damage.
Clipping
OCR Quality
96%
Excellent
Full Text
SINGULAR EXPLOSION.--The population in the vicinity of Market square were, about 2 o'clock yesterday, startled by a noise resembling that which proceeds from the ascent of a rocket, followed immediately by a loud detonation like that of an explosion of gunpowder. The cause of this apparent phenomenon (for some thought at first it was a meteor.) was a whisky hogshead! A colored man who had drawn off the liquor, heard something rattle in the empty cask, and to ascertain what it was, he lowered a candle through the bung-hole, when the gas remaining from the spirit ignited and the explosion followed, blowing out the heads of the cask; but doing no damage.--Norfolk Herald.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Extraordinary Event
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Whisky Explosion
Gas Ignition
Cask Accident
Norfolk Incident
What entities or persons were involved?
Colored Man
Where did it happen?
Vicinity Of Market Square, Norfolk
Story Details
Key Persons
Colored Man
Location
Vicinity Of Market Square, Norfolk
Event Date
Yesterday About 2 O'clock
Story Details
A colored man investigating a rattle in an empty whisky hogshead lowered a candle through the bung-hole, igniting residual gas and causing an explosion that blew out the cask heads but did no damage, startling locals who mistook it for a rocket or meteor.