Shortly before noon on Friday, June 17, 1864 an explosion ripped through a room in one of the buildings at the U.S. Arsenal (on the grounds of what is now Ft. McNair) where 30 women were at work making cartridges for small arms. The fire that resulted killed seventeen young women outright and four others later died of their wounds.
On Sunday, June 19, 1864 a funeral procession more than a mile in length (with President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton as chief mourners) followed the coffins from the Arsenal to Congressional Cemetery where 16 of the victims were buried (a 17th, Pinkey Scott, in early July). The remains of Melissa Adams, Emma J. Baird, Lizzie Brahler, Kate Branahan, Elizabeth Brannagan, Mary Burroughs, Emily Collins, Susan Harris, Eliza Lacy, Louisa Lloyd, Julia McEwen, Ellen Roche, Pinkey Scott, Mrs. W.E. Tippett and Maggie Yonson lie beneath the monument. The remains of Annie Bache (R92 S180) and Sallie McElfresh (R83 S93) rest in family plots. Smaller processions followed the remains of four victims -- Johannah Connor, Bridget Dunn, Catherine Horan and Catherine Hull -- to Mt. Olivet.
Citizens of Washington contributed $3,000 for the monument which was carved by the Irish sculptor, Lot Flannery, and dedicated one year after the accident.
Evening Star,Friday, June 17, 1864 (2nd edition, 2:30 p.m.)
Frightful Explosion at the Arsenal
A large number of the female employees killed or frightfully wounded. 18 dead bodies taken out of the ruins already.
At 10 minutes of 12 today a terrible catastrophe occurred at the Arsenal which has cast a gloom over the whole community, and rendered sad many a heart that was buoyant a few minutes previous.
While 108 girls were at work in the main laboratory making cartridges for small arms, a quantity of fire works, which had been placed on the outside of the building became ignited, and a piece of fuse flying into one of the rooms in which were seated about 29 young women set the cartridges on fire and caused an instantaneous explosion.
The Evening Star, June 20, 1864
The Funeral of the Victims of the Arsenal
The funeral of the unfortunate victims of the explosion at the Arsenal on Friday last took place from that place yesterday afternoon … The remains … were enclosed in handsome coffins, silver mounted, with three handles on each side, and a plate on the breast, bearing the name of the inmate, when known. The coffins were lined with muslin, and were made in the Arsenal carpenter shop … The coffins were tastefully decked with bouquets and wreaths composed of white lillies and roses and other appropriate flowers. These flowers were the feeling tribute of the fellow employees (female) of the deceased at the arsenal.
Following the hearses:
President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton, and the son of the latter, in a carriage as chief mourners.
On Sunday, June 19, 1864 a funeral procession more than a mile in length (with President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton as chief mourners) followed the coffins from the Arsenal to Congressional Cemetery where 16 of the victims were buried (a 17th, Pinkey Scott, in early July). The remains of Melissa Adams, Emma J. Baird, Lizzie Brahler, Kate Branahan, Elizabeth Brannagan, Mary Burroughs, Emily Collins, Susan Harris, Eliza Lacy, Louisa Lloyd, Julia McEwen, Ellen Roche, Pinkey Scott, Mrs. W.E. Tippett and Maggie Yonson lie beneath the monument. The remains of Annie Bache (R92 S180) and Sallie McElfresh (R83 S93) rest in family plots. Smaller processions followed the remains of four victims -- Johannah Connor, Bridget Dunn, Catherine Horan and Catherine Hull -- to Mt. Olivet.
Citizens of Washington contributed $3,000 for the monument which was carved by the Irish sculptor, Lot Flannery, and dedicated one year after the accident.
Evening Star,Friday, June 17, 1864 (2nd edition, 2:30 p.m.)
Frightful Explosion at the Arsenal
A large number of the female employees killed or frightfully wounded. 18 dead bodies taken out of the ruins already.
At 10 minutes of 12 today a terrible catastrophe occurred at the Arsenal which has cast a gloom over the whole community, and rendered sad many a heart that was buoyant a few minutes previous.
While 108 girls were at work in the main laboratory making cartridges for small arms, a quantity of fire works, which had been placed on the outside of the building became ignited, and a piece of fuse flying into one of the rooms in which were seated about 29 young women set the cartridges on fire and caused an instantaneous explosion.
The Evening Star, June 20, 1864
The Funeral of the Victims of the Arsenal
The funeral of the unfortunate victims of the explosion at the Arsenal on Friday last took place from that place yesterday afternoon … The remains … were enclosed in handsome coffins, silver mounted, with three handles on each side, and a plate on the breast, bearing the name of the inmate, when known. The coffins were lined with muslin, and were made in the Arsenal carpenter shop … The coffins were tastefully decked with bouquets and wreaths composed of white lillies and roses and other appropriate flowers. These flowers were the feeling tribute of the fellow employees (female) of the deceased at the arsenal.
Following the hearses:
President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton, and the son of the latter, in a carriage as chief mourners.
Shortly before noon on Friday, June 17, 1864 an explosion ripped through a room in one of the buildings at the U.S. Arsenal (on the grounds of what is now Ft. McNair) where 30 women were at work making cartridges for small arms. The fire that resulted killed seventeen young women outright and four others later died of their wounds.
On Sunday, June 19, 1864 a funeral procession more than a mile in length (with President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton as chief mourners) followed the coffins from the Arsenal to Congressional Cemetery where 16 of the victims were buried (a 17th, Pinkey Scott, in early July). The remains of Melissa Adams, Emma J. Baird, Lizzie Brahler, Kate Branahan, Elizabeth Brannagan, Mary Burroughs, Emily Collins, Susan Harris, Eliza Lacy, Louisa Lloyd, Julia McEwen, Ellen Roche, Pinkey Scott, Mrs. W.E. Tippett and Maggie Yonson lie beneath the monument. The remains of Annie Bache (R92 S180) and Sallie McElfresh (R83 S93) rest in family plots. Smaller processions followed the remains of four victims -- Johannah Connor, Bridget Dunn, Catherine Horan and Catherine Hull -- to Mt. Olivet.
Citizens of Washington contributed $3,000 for the monument which was carved by the Irish sculptor, Lot Flannery, and dedicated one year after the accident.
Evening Star,Friday, June 17, 1864 (2nd edition, 2:30 p.m.)
Frightful Explosion at the Arsenal
A large number of the female employees killed or frightfully wounded. 18 dead bodies taken out of the ruins already.
At 10 minutes of 12 today a terrible catastrophe occurred at the Arsenal which has cast a gloom over the whole community, and rendered sad many a heart that was buoyant a few minutes previous.
While 108 girls were at work in the main laboratory making cartridges for small arms, a quantity of fire works, which had been placed on the outside of the building became ignited, and a piece of fuse flying into one of the rooms in which were seated about 29 young women set the cartridges on fire and caused an instantaneous explosion.
The Evening Star, June 20, 1864
The Funeral of the Victims of the Arsenal
The funeral of the unfortunate victims of the explosion at the Arsenal on Friday last took place from that place yesterday afternoon … The remains … were enclosed in handsome coffins, silver mounted, with three handles on each side, and a plate on the breast, bearing the name of the inmate, when known. The coffins were lined with muslin, and were made in the Arsenal carpenter shop … The coffins were tastefully decked with bouquets and wreaths composed of white lillies and roses and other appropriate flowers. These flowers were the feeling tribute of the fellow employees (female) of the deceased at the arsenal.
Following the hearses:
President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton, and the son of the latter, in a carriage as chief mourners.
On Sunday, June 19, 1864 a funeral procession more than a mile in length (with President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton as chief mourners) followed the coffins from the Arsenal to Congressional Cemetery where 16 of the victims were buried (a 17th, Pinkey Scott, in early July). The remains of Melissa Adams, Emma J. Baird, Lizzie Brahler, Kate Branahan, Elizabeth Brannagan, Mary Burroughs, Emily Collins, Susan Harris, Eliza Lacy, Louisa Lloyd, Julia McEwen, Ellen Roche, Pinkey Scott, Mrs. W.E. Tippett and Maggie Yonson lie beneath the monument. The remains of Annie Bache (R92 S180) and Sallie McElfresh (R83 S93) rest in family plots. Smaller processions followed the remains of four victims -- Johannah Connor, Bridget Dunn, Catherine Horan and Catherine Hull -- to Mt. Olivet.
Citizens of Washington contributed $3,000 for the monument which was carved by the Irish sculptor, Lot Flannery, and dedicated one year after the accident.
Evening Star,Friday, June 17, 1864 (2nd edition, 2:30 p.m.)
Frightful Explosion at the Arsenal
A large number of the female employees killed or frightfully wounded. 18 dead bodies taken out of the ruins already.
At 10 minutes of 12 today a terrible catastrophe occurred at the Arsenal which has cast a gloom over the whole community, and rendered sad many a heart that was buoyant a few minutes previous.
While 108 girls were at work in the main laboratory making cartridges for small arms, a quantity of fire works, which had been placed on the outside of the building became ignited, and a piece of fuse flying into one of the rooms in which were seated about 29 young women set the cartridges on fire and caused an instantaneous explosion.
The Evening Star, June 20, 1864
The Funeral of the Victims of the Arsenal
The funeral of the unfortunate victims of the explosion at the Arsenal on Friday last took place from that place yesterday afternoon … The remains … were enclosed in handsome coffins, silver mounted, with three handles on each side, and a plate on the breast, bearing the name of the inmate, when known. The coffins were lined with muslin, and were made in the Arsenal carpenter shop … The coffins were tastefully decked with bouquets and wreaths composed of white lillies and roses and other appropriate flowers. These flowers were the feeling tribute of the fellow employees (female) of the deceased at the arsenal.
Following the hearses:
President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton, and the son of the latter, in a carriage as chief mourners.
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