Sermon commemorative of the great explosion at the Allegheny arsenal, at Lawrenceville, Penn'a, on September 17th, 1862

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SEEMON"

COMMEMORATIVE OF THE

GREAT EXPLOSION

ALLEGHENY ARSENAL,

AT LAWRENCEVILLE, PENN'A. ON SEPTEMBEH 17TH, 1862.

PSEACBED BT

REV- R. LEA,

PASTOR OF THE LAWRENCEVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,

September SSth, 1863.

PITTSBURGH:

PBINTB© BY W. 8. HAVEN, CORNER OF WOOD AND TtliRD STREET3.

1862.

It has been the wish of many of the hearers of Rev.

R. Lea to have his Sermon on the great disaster at the

Allegheny Arsenal published, to which I have obtained his

consent.

D. W. H. Stofield.

LAWRENCEVItLE, Pa.

Ichns Eopkin'g Univ. Lib.
Gift

SERMON

"Watch, thbrefoke, foe te know bot what uoue yolk Loku doth come."
Matthew 24 : 42.

The uncertainty of human life was never more strikingly
shown in this community than upon the memorable 17th day
of September, 1862. The morning was calm and beautiful,
and until noon nothing unusual occurred at the Allegheny
Arsenal. It was pay day, and the noble Union girls, who had
toiled all the month, were rejoicing over the reception of the
fruit of their labor. The shop had beeii swept, and among
the leavings, some loose powder was scattered over the stony
road winding around the beautiful gi'ounds. A wagon was
passing, when either the iron of the wheel or horse's shoe
struck fire. In an instant a terrific explosion was heard,
shaking the earth, and inflicting injury upon the surrounding
buildings. Amidst a dense column of smoke, and a bright
sheet of flame, were »een fragments of the building, mixed
with portions of the human frame, rising high into the atmos-
phere, and then falling in a horrid shower all around.

Some panic-stricken persons shouted : '' The magazine is on
tire !" Repeated explosions, and the wild confusion, seemed to
confirm the awful report. In this dreadful stage some were
thoughtful and calm — others prayed and wept, while many
rushed, horror-stricken, they knew not whither. A few stop-
ped not until they were miles from the scene of danger. Several
were picked up insensible, and when consciousness returned,
were unable to tell whither they were going or wherefore they
had fled.

But amidst all this dismay and fearful consternation and ap-
prehension of still worse to come, when the magazine should
explode, there were many who entered the gates and climbed
the walls, determined to aid, or die in the attempt.

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The doora of the large building near the entrance to the
park were closed, and the frantic girls, supposing themselves
confined for certain burning, without hope of escape, pushed
and trod upon each other, screaming and leaping from the win-
dows, seeking avenues of escape, or sitting down in dumb des-
pair. Strange that more were not mangled here; as it was,
serious injuries were inflicted, and terror was added to the
scene.

But the central terror was the burning laboratory. Here
one hundred and fifty-six girls were ready to resume their la-
bors, and were, almost without a moment's warning, wrapped
in flames, or violently thrown from the building; a few ran,
or were blown out into the yard, and escaped; some weVe res-
cued by the daring of friends, but the majority met death in-
stantaneously— perhaps hardly kuawing the cause of their
death. The fire was so flerce, the su![)hur so sufl:ocating, that
an instant was sutficient to extinguish all sensibility. Si)mo
were dragged from a mass of ruins who had died in each
other's arms; some were rescued who would recover. A few
escaped without assistance, who will die of their injuries.
Some could merely mention their names, or call for a priest, or
for water, or for prayer, but all upon the ground were naked,
blackened with powder, roasted, somewhat bloody, and with
many the resemblance to the human form was completely lost.
Nothing but masses of flesh and charred bones remaining of
what, such a short time before, was life and beauty. In most
instances the skulls of those taken out dead were fearfully
cracked. The victims lay about upon boards and shutters,
amidst a horror-stricken crowd, the trees above holding frag-
ments of female attire, mournfully waving to and fro over
their former owners. It may be possible that a few were en-
tirely consumed — not a distinguishable relic being left to testify
respecting their untimely end. The building was utterly con-
sumed, and the ashes were carefully raked for every vestige of
its former occupants. The calamity was so sudden, so crush-
ing, so wide-spread in its results, and the horrors so varied,
that the large crowd which assembled seemed overwhchued —
the usual signs of sharp woe giving way to solemn renitirks or
the stillness of stupefaction.

When the fire was utterly subdued, the noise, the turmoil of
the scene was over, then came the terrible, orderly process of
identification and burial. A hand was identified outside the
grounds by a ring upon the finger, a leg by a shoe upon the
foot ; but in neither case was the former owner of the frag-
ments found. A parent would bend over some blackened
corpse, examining minutely form, hair, any relic of dress, and
then drop down silently if nothing was discovered, or shriek
wildly if something certainly proved that these changed bodies
were really the remains of their loved ones. Parts of two days
these affecting scenes were constantly witnessed, but after all
the efforts of deeply interested friends and spectators, about
forty were unrecognized. There they laj', subject to the
minutest scrutiu}^, yet neither sister nor mother could tell which
of these they had watched over from infancy, and had so lately
parted from, with the farewell kiss, for the day, they supposed ;
but alas ! it was a final adieu. The immense throng of people
was a distinctive feature of the scene. Cars and all kinds of
vehicles, loaded to their utmost capacity, and the sidewalks,
crowded with passers to and fro, led by every imaginable im-
pulse, irresistibly drawn to the gates within which such a
fearful tragedy had been acted. The crowd was immense on
Wednesday and Thursday, and for days continued lessening
gradually, as though unwilling or unable altogether to escape
at once from the terrible fascination of the place.

The Government provided plain black cofiins for the un-
distinguished remains. The Allegheny Cemetery donated a
lot suitable for the interment. The bodies were gradually re-
moved to their place of repose, and about three o'clock on the
18th, the mighty mass of human beings moved, accompanying
the last body from the Arsenal to the grave. The mayors of
both cities were there ; the council and clergy of Lawrence-
ville ; a number of carriages, and a countless multitude of all
ages and classes walked in mournful order to the place.

It was a large, deep pit — unlike, in its vastness, any other
grave ; planks were laid across it, and from these, coffin after
coffin was lowered to men below, who placed thirty-nine coffins
side by side, filled by those whom no one could recognize, but
whom the whole community adopted and honored as sisters

and brethren who fell at the post of duty. After the last
coffin had been lowered, the friends of the deceased were in-
vited to the front rank, upon the margin of the grave, opposite
the officiating clergy. Bro. Millar, of the Methodist Church,
offered a prayer; Dr. Gracey read a portion of the book of
Job ; Rev. Andrews, pastor of the U. Presbyterian Church,
prayed ; Rev. Lea, pastor of tbe L. Presbyterian Church, made
an address, and Rev. Edmonds, of the Episcopal Church, pro-
nounced the benediction. Blather Gibbs, of the Catholic
Church, signified his intention of being present, but was officia-
ting at the same time over the remains of other victims in St.
Mary's Cemetery, immediately adjoining. The dust was com-
mitted to dust until the morning of the resurrection, and a
committee has been appointed to procure funds to erect a suit-
able monument to their memory.

Among these unrecognized remains were some dear to their
own churches for their piety and virtues. They will be missed
from the house of God. Three were members of this church
— two by baptism and one by profession. Mr. David Gilleland
lately came among us — a man of warm, modest piety, who
loved the house of God — who was almost always at the prayer
meeting, and who loved to be a spectator, even when not
teaching in the Sunday School. He will never lead our sing-
ing again, but we trust that ere now his voice has been heard
among those who sing around the Throne. Agnes Davidson
told me, the last time I saw her, that she was for the Union
— and that she would no longer be a secessionist from the gov-
ernment of God, and would testify her love to Jesus and the
Church at our next communion. Mary Davidson, a younger
sister, left her home that morning, singing a beautiful hymn.
Both were dutiful at home ; both were loved at the Sabbath
School, and both would probably have soon been fellow com-
municants. We hope all three are now with the blessed.

There are other things which are not so painful to look
upon. This dark cloud has a silver lining.

1. Heroic courage was displayed. Men dashed into the
midst of the burning to save, as dauntless as ever soldiers
stormed a battery. The walls were scaled, burning fragments
scattered, shrieking victims carried out, with bravery never

surpassed, showing that peace and mercy have their heroes,
without drum and fife, without the word of command or the
presence of an insulting foe. One poor girl, who barely es-
caped with life, could hardly be prevented from rushing back
to find her companion, and when hindered, wended her way
slowly home, wailing, even upon a bed of pain, that her
friend was lost.

2. The firemen of the cities were out with their engines,
with a promptness truly praiseworthy. Fearing not the prox-
imity of the magazine, regardless of the repeated explosions
of the shells and cartridges, they poured their streams upon
the burning mass as steadily as on a parade, or a common
conflagration.

3. Physicians were there, unfe^d, uncalled, with the appli-
ances of skill, to save or alleviate suffering. Clergymen were
there, amidst smoke and fire, to point the dying to the Lamb
of God.

4. "Women were there, with lint and bandage, with oil and
wine, with ready hands to soothe and words to encourage.

All classes were there, to sympathize, to do anything,
mastering their own feelings as they attempted to console the
suft'erers. 0 ! it was grand to see the heart of this com-
munity stirred to its inmost depths. The cloud had a silver
lining ; the sable pall was fringed with gold. Upon the
deep back ground of this woe was painted a picture of hero-
ism and love upon which angels might gaze with admiration.

"Ye know not what hour your Lord may come." Who
could have known in the morning that the day would end so
sadly ? How could those dear girls know that by the grinding
of a wheel or the dropping of a shell, such dire calamity would
be instantly brought upon themselves. The opening of a bale
of strange merchandise let out the "great plague" of London:
the careless management of a little fire in a small yard started
the "great fire" of Pittsburgh. We are so linked together;
our lives or deaths depend so much upon others, over whom
we have no control, that we should be always ready. A care-
lessly prepared prescription, a drunken captain or conductor,
may work harm. Who could foretell what the firing of the
first gun at Fort Sumter would bring about? It brought about

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remotely, the catastrophe of Wednesday. And who can tell
what more it may bring?

Not only are we ignorant of the coming of these events, the
causes of which we think we can see, but who does not know
that plagues and cholera are brought upon us when the most
scientific cannot tell what change the atmosphere has under-
gone, or whether it be in the atmosphere at all.

The late Dr. Addison said " that man never made such a
fool of himself as when he undertook to tell the cause of a
thing." A thinking man may perhaps see the link which pre-
cedes an event, and faith may know that it is the Lord that
" Cometh," as the first cause. But there may be millions of
uncccn links and influences afiecting and connecting the re-
sult with God, so that we cannot tell when or how the Lord
Cometh.

But there is something better than the knowledge of future
events, i. e., for a man to be prepared to meet all events, how-
soever or whensoever they may happen. A true Christian
only is prepared for fire or flood, battle or consumption. He
may be surprised and terrified when it comes, but no matter,
above him unseen angels wait to bear him away. A smiling
Saviour says. Well done ! God watches his sleeping dust
through all its changes ; his resurrection is sure ; his eternal
life certain. Oh ! be Christians, and w^hen the earth, being on
fire, is dissolving, and the elements are melting with fervent
heat, you may rejoice and look upward. To the Christian, it
matters little whether a fearful explosion or Elijah's car of fire
bears him to glory.

In conversing with so many dying persons in so short a space
of time, their final words would naturally leave a deep im-
pression. One as soon as rescued, exclaimed, "Tell me truly,
will I die?" You will. "Then cover me and take me out
of the crowd." Several cried frantically, " Send for a priest."
One declared that her only hope was in the Mother of God.
Another said, "I die, but Jesus died for me; I am safe." One
from a distant town cried almost unceasingly, " God have
mercy on my poor wicked soul." One murmured indistinctly,
what sounded like "Glory! glory! " "My poor mother!" "My
poor children !" were exclamations upon the lips of many. One

"had done no harm, and hoped that her siiiFering would atone
for. her sins." A mother said, "I have worked for a living for
my children, but, sir, if I live I will set them a better example.
I will take them to your church. I have them baptized, but I
should have done my duty better. God spare me to my chil-
dren." These remarks show the feelings of persons of differ-
ent creeds. When near to eternity, we must in deep agony
lean upon something, either upon the Almighty Grod, through
Jesus Christ our Lord, or upon a poor reed. One poor girl
who escaped with fearful injury, seemed to forget herself en-
tirely, and exclaimed continually to herself, or others, " My
poor companion! she perished in the flames: I tried to save
her, but could not," In the very midst of the awful scene,
an intelligent physician said, "I heard glorious news just as 1
left the city, but can hardly tell it here ; M'Clellan has defeated
the rebels in Maryland, and will, without doubt, kill or capture
them all." Patriotism for a moment lit the countenances of
the bystanders with joy; but the smile was like a sudden gleam
of sunshine across ruins. There was the terror from whieh
such tidings as this could not divert the mind. Another phy-
sician exclaimed, "I was all along the Chickahominy during
the battles, but was not affected as I am here — so unexpected
— so terrible — and the sufferers, poor girls — the impossibility
of even relieving them," pointing to some dozen blackened, .
quivering remains. Those who saw the sight can never for-
get it.

Ever since the fatal day, persons have visited the Arsenal,
either to inquire about the whole occurrence, or in the faint
hope of learning something of their lost ones. Sometimes
deeply afiecting scenes are witnessed. The guard, as in duty
bound, parades backward and forward at the gate, but at the
approach of a female in black he stands still. True, it is not
his business, as a soldier — but he is a man. There he stands
in military aray, his bayonet glittering in the sun. lie will
answer that women dozens of questions. He will stand as
long as she questions. If he moves away when she ceases, he
will stop again and again, at her slightest beck. Duty! Jle
instinctively feels that it is his duty to tell her all he can.
whether ordered or not. In a car, one day, sat a woman in

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deep mourning, her presence quieted loud discussion ; no ons
knew her — she was evidently poor, but all felt that she wae
entitled to respect. The bell rang — the car stopped. Another
woman in black entered ; with a wild shriek they rushed into
each other's arms ; they spoke not, but all knew that they were
bereaved mothers — going to the Arsenal. One took out a
large daguerreotype. " There is my once happy group, all are
Durned but that one." Every hand was extended for it in turn.
One lady wept more than either of the suiierers, though she
knew neither of them. The conductor looked into, the driver
looked back upon the scene — so feelingly every one asked the
ages of the martyrs. God bless a community which can so
sympathize with sorrow. Said a father: "Ask the superinten-
dent of the Sunday School, if money will be taken in lieu of
the books they received ? I wish to retain them. Every thing
which they last touched is sacred — we must keep it till we join
them in heaven." " What hymn,'' asked the mother," did you
sing last Sunday, it so pleased my girls. They promised to
bring their books home next Sunday and show it me. Tiut

poor things — they little thought" here she tilled up.

But here is the Hymn 677 :

•' High in yonder realms of light,
Dwell the raptured saints above ;
Far beyond our feeble sight,
Happy in Immanuel's love.

Pilgrims in this vale of tears,
Once they knew, like us below.
Gloomy doubts, distressing fears,
Torturing pain, and heavy woe.

Oft the big unbidden tear,
Stealing down the furrowed cheek.
Told, in eloquence sincere,
Tales of woe they could not speak.

But these days of weeping o'er,
Past this scene of toil and pain.
They shall feel distress no more.
Never, never, weep again.

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Mid the chorus of the skies,
Mid the angelic choirs above,
Hark ! their songs melodious rise,
Songs of praise to Jesus' love.

Happy spirits! ye are fled,
Where no grief can entrance find ;
Lulled to rest the aching head,
Soothed the anguish of the mind.

All is tranquil, and serene,
Calm and undisturbed repose ;
There no cloud can intervene,
There no angry tempest blows.

Every tear is wiped away,
Sighs no more shall heave the breast ;
Night is lost in endless day,
Sorrow in eternal rest."

This bymn will be sung to the praise of God at the close of
the services, its selection being a tribute to the memory of
David Gilleland, Agnes and Mary Davidson— who all united
with us in singing it the Sabbath before they were called to
the choir above. *

As soon as the community recovered somewhat from the
stunning blow, arose the questions, How did it happen ? Is
any one to blame? Might it have been prevented? The efforts
to answer these questions were unparalleled in the history of
this region. Public meetings and private investigations— dis-
cussions by the press — a coroner's jury, with amazing perse-
verance and research — all combined, calling for light. From
the fact that no one shrank from investigation, w^e most cer-
tainly believe that no one willfully committed the deed. But the
road before the building was stony. Powder was hauled in
great quantities in wagons. Even powder barrels may be
leaky. The shop was swept out — ^^sometimes loose powder
among the dust. Familiarity breeds contempt of danger. All
these are facts. So it is also true, that visitors have been long
excluded from the shops — that the laboratory was guarded
by stringent rules. Respecting the living — agents and em-
ployees— we say not one word, except that from the highest to

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the lowest, we believe every one of them utterly incapable of
doing the deed purposely. The rigi'd examination will discover
what amount of carelessness, or want of forethought, there ex-
isted, and determine the innocence or culpability of those in
charge.

" Watch, therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord
doth come." So live, that whether your call shall come sud-
denly or find you waiting, you may hear the welcome plaudit,
♦'"Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of
thy Lord."

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