466 EXPLOSION OF THE FULTON. 
going into the magazine to procure powder to fire the even- 
ing gun. He was charged by one of the officers, previously to 
his going below, to be careful ; and soon after, the explosion 
took place. We understand that he was a man between fifty 
and sixty years of age, and had just been appointed to that 
office ; the old gunner. having been discharged the day before. 
He was desired by Lieutenant Brackenridge to be cautious 
with the light, and to place it in the location invariably pro- 
vided for it on such occasions, viz. behind a reflecting glass in 
the partition, through which the rays of light are thrown. It 
is supposed he had been careless in this particular, and that 
having carried the candle into the magazine, some of its sparks 
were communicated to the powder ; but as he is among the 
dead, nothing certain on this point can ever be known. Lieut. 
Mull states that the necessary precautions had been taken for 
opening the magazine, and a sentinel placed at the hatch be- 
fore he left the deck, and that, after being in the ward-room 
some twenty minutes, the explosion took place. 
At the time of the explosion the officers were dining in the 
ward-room. The lady of Lieut. Brackenridge, and the son 
of Lieut. Piatt, a lad about nine years old, were guests, and 
one account says both were slightly wounded. Another ac- 
count says, Lieut. Mull, who was sitting next to the son of 
Lieut. Piatt, with great presence of mind caught hold of him 
and placed him in one of the port-holes, by which means he 
escaped uninjured. Lieut. Piatt had returned only yesterday 
morning, having been absent one month on leave. Com. 
Chauncey, with the commander of the frigate, Capt. Newton, 
left her only a few minutes before the explosion — the former 
having been on board on a visit of inspection. 
The escape of Midshipman Eckford seems to have been 
almost miraculous. When Com. Chauncey (who was one of 
the first to reach the vessel) got on board, the first object he 
saw was young Eckford hanging by one of his legs between 
the gun deck, whither he had been forced by the explosion. 
A jack screw was immediately procured, by means of which 
the deck was raised and he was extricated from his perilous 
situation. 
The room in which the officers were dining was situated 
about midships. The whole company at the table were forced 
by the concussion against the transom, with such violence as 
to break their limbs, and otherwise cut and bruise them in a 
shocking manner. 
The magazine was situated in the bows of the vessel. This 
