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 GWPOWDER; MAGAZm 
 
 619 THE SUBJien. 
 
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 WITH BBPosirioita'of tern wmwAim'mAU^D at th«m 
 
 
 
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 On the 2oth August, ] 857, .the City Council resolved to 
 "have One Thousand Copies of the following lleport and tlid 
 Testimony appended to it, printed in Pamphlet form, for dis- 
 tribution among the Ci ti zens. 
 
 The building was erecie<l under authority of an Act passed 
 in 1827, since repealed. 
 
 V BEAJ^IISII MURDOCH, 
 
 Kocorder. 
 
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 OF 
 
 NOVA BCOTIA. 
 
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 :£''BLoaTjj^is/LjiLrrxcnsr. 
 
 BY HIS EXCBLLE1«CY MAJOll OENERAL 
 
 Sir John Gaspard Letfarchant, 
 Knifr/tt Commander of the Orders nj 
 Saint Ferdtiumd, . and of C'harles the 
 'Third of Spain, Li^itenajit- Governor and 
 Commander in Chief , in and aver Her 
 Majesty's Province of /%va- Scotia and its 
 Dependencies., ^'c, ^'g ^'c. ■/ ^■ 
 
 Gaspard LeMarciiant. / ■ 
 
 Knight, 
 
 L. S. 
 
 -. ' Whereas, late last night, or early llhis moniing. the 
 
 City Powder Magazine, in the North siiburl/of the City ofHali- 
 fax, was destroyed by the explosion of the/ Gumwwder stored 
 therein, causing the destruction of human life and great injury 
 to public and private property, and alarm Ao the inhabitants of 
 the city; and whereas, there is reason to Jielieve that the same 
 resulted from the wilful and malicious i 
 sons unknown; I do hereby offer and pr( 
 
 ^ ' FIVE HUNDRED P( 
 
 of some person or per- 
 laim a Reward of 
 
 JNDS, 
 
 Currency, to be paid to any person or Persons (not concerned in 
 the commifision of the crime) who shall cause to be discovered or 
 apprehended and brought to justice line offenders, or any of 
 them, upon conviction. ^ 
 
 And all her Majesty's loyal subjects are hereby enjoined and 
 requested to aid in the premises to the utmost extent of their 
 ability, and to disclose to the nearest magistrate, or to His Wor- 
 ship the Mayor of Halifax, any information they may possess or 
 receive in relation to the subject. 
 
 iven under my hand tod Seal at Arms, at Halifax, this 
 fourteenth day of August, in the Twenty-first year 
 of Her Majesty's Reign, a. d. 1857. 
 By His Excellency's Command, 
 
 • CHARLES TUPPER. 
 
 QOD aAVB THE UUBBN ! 
 
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 ' MAYOR'S OFFICE, 
 HALrtix, N. S., 14th AuauBT, 185T. ' 
 
 , WHBKHAfl, early this morning, the City Gunpowder M»- 
 garine' waa blown up, causing much injury to persona and pro- 
 perty, and the death of at least one individual, I hereby offer a 
 laewardof FIVBHUNDBED POUNDS to any person or 
 persons who will give iliformation whereby the offender or offend- 
 ers may be discovered, and brought to conviction, in case such 
 explosion haa been the result of any criminal act. 
 
 ARCfflBALD SCOTT, 
 Mayor. 
 
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 AT A MEETING OF ALDERMEN, 
 lith August, 1857. 
 
 Whereas a groat disaster happened last night in the explo- 
 sion of the City Magazine : ' 
 
 Wo ]|recommend that Aldermen Jennings, Noble and j^bll/' 
 be a Conunittee to take testimony, on oath; — ^to disooveft if pos- 
 sible, the causes of this calunity. 
 
 And further, -we recommend that His Worship do at once 
 ofier a reward of JS500 for the disoo#ry and conviction of the 
 oflfendera, in case this jmisfortuoe' has been the effect of any 
 criminal acts. 
 
 JOSEPH BELL. 
 ♦ SAMUEL CALDWELL. 
 
 WnUAMMcKAY. 
 W. G. ANDERSON. 
 J. JENNINGS. 
 PETER MORRISCY. 
 JOHN WttJiS. 
 JOHN LONGARD. 
 JOHN. L. BARRY. 
 JAMES COCHRAN. 
 MATTHEW LOWNDS. 
 JEREMIAH CONWAY. \ 
 SAMUEL NOBLE. \ 
 
 JOHN KING. 
 
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 A meeting of Aldermen having been convened by his Won- 
 SHIP THK Mayor, on Friday the fourteenth day of Au^nist in- 
 stant, at 3 P. M., in the Council Roott,, the May6r in the chair- 
 and haymg taken into consideration the explosion and de^tructi' 
 on of the City Magazine from Gunpowder, which had happened 
 between 12 and 1 a. m., of that morning, resolved to recommend 
 tha his ^ pi-ship should offer a reward of £500 for the discovery 
 of the offenders, in case the calamity had been the result of 
 
 cr,me;--andalsofe8olvedthatAldermenJcnnings,BellandNoble, 
 should be a Committee to investigate into the cir^imstances of. 
 this event and report thereon to the City (^kppU; and that the 
 llecordcr should bo re<iuested to give hiaatSLce at the meet- 
 ings of the committee, • \ ' 
 
 ' In consequence of this resolution, the committee named above 
 assembled in the Magistmtcs' room, on Saturday, the 15th Au- 
 gust, instant, and were attended by tly;' Recorder. The Provinci- 
 al Government having in the meantime Engaged the services- of 
 Messrs. J. W. Ritchie and W. A. Johnston, Barristers, on be- 
 half of the Crown, in the absence of the Attorney and Solicitor 
 Generals, to assist m this investigation, those Hon. X5entlemen also ' 
 wore present. • The committee, having b^u oi'ganized by the 
 appointment of Alderman Jennings, as thdrchairwan.-procee.!- 
 od to examine witnesses, unde^ oath-having determine.lthat>uch 
 f,^"^^i'"° g^.g!i!^!J^.^»<^CtPt^ in p rivate ; and dutina t he fit- - 
 
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 teenti), eighteenth, nineteenth, twentieth, twenty-first and twen- 
 ty-fourth days of Ao present month, oarefully , exaqained thirty 
 witnesses, separately : — reducing the deposition of each witness to 
 writing, this portion of the duty being very diligently and sa- 
 tisfifctorily performed by the assistant Clwk of the City, Mr. J. 
 L. Cragg. - X i 
 
 The committee were constantly attended throughout their prop 
 deedings by the Recorder, and the gentlemen on behalf of me 
 (>own at^ndedon several days and gave everjr^jaaistance requi- 
 site. • ,\ . , ' • . , ' _ . 
 
 The Coiiimittee beg leave thereupon to report to the Cit^r 
 
 Council: • ' ^ 
 
 X^ That to the ftestof iiieir judgment, thecalamity mquestion 
 is not attributable to spontaneous combustion, nor to any atmos- 
 pherical causes, and the inference seems inevitable tha^ it has 
 been caused by human agency. - 
 
 2. TJhat While eve^y consideration points to some criminal 
 act orn^glfsct as having produced all the mischief,— your com- . 
 mittee have been unable to discover any, evidence that woifhr 
 point suspicion against any person or persons, as being feulpable 
 • or having in way caused the occurrence. 
 
 8i. That the stone discovered in a field westpf the site of the 
 Magazine, jwitE the coating of powder, and piece of candle wick 
 on it, — anjcTdie portion of candle tallow found adhering to a 
 builcbng south of the site, seem to indicate the prince of 
 pei^ns in or near the Magajine that night, on some evil errand, 
 
 4; Your committee after close inquiry into the. conduct of 
 the late keeper of the Magazine, Mr. Marshall,. believe him to 
 have been very careful and attentive to the safety of the premises, 
 and strictly honest in his dealings therewith;*- and a^ far as the 
 evidence before them extends, they cannot believe that any 
 improper conduct 'oil' his ptgrt has in any way ooAtributed to 
 produ6e the fi^l result, 
 
 5. The oomtaaittee have ascertained that several poor families 
 have suffered severely, both m their persons and in loss Of goods, 
 
 
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 la^ it has 
 
 criminal 
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 ite of the 
 idle wick 
 iring to a 
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 mduct of 
 ve him to 
 premises, 
 far as the 
 that any 
 ibuted to 
 
 hy th©explowon^\ftnd Uioy oamcstly recommend to tlic Council, 
 if possible, to allcyiatCLliie distrpss of those yirho are reduced to 
 jKMitive destitutiom which they apprehend is the case with one' 
 or njore families. \ . , 
 
 ; 6. The committ^ ha\fe to express theiWlympathy with the 
 owners bf buildings in the vicinity of th$ Magazine, to which * 
 the injurjil Ifits bcto ejronsive. r < ^ 
 
 7.' The committee think that public th&nkd are due to th'd 
 Military, and to the officers and men of the Royal Navy, and 
 those of the DockyarcTdepartment ; also to the officers and men 
 of the Fire Department of this City, and to several citizens, for 
 their prompt attendance at the scene of the disaster, and their 
 Eeal^to avert the worst consequences — that would have followed if 
 either or botl^^e ndghbojaring Military Magazines had exploded. 
 
 8, The humanity and generous feelings displayed 15y Dr. 
 Domville of the Naval Hospital, and by his assistants in at once 
 receiving the wounded suilerers into their establishment and 
 
 ,u8ing every effort for their relief, are deserving of ^ncere grati- 
 tude oiithepart of this City. J 
 
 9. In order to come at eorrect results in this "case thp com^ 
 mittee have taKen unwearied p^na,^ seeking every witness %ho 
 they Ihought could thrp^ any light on the- afeir ; and have 
 conducted the examinations' privately and quietly ;— in order the 
 better to elicit the truth, and to avoid putting any criminals'bn 
 their guard by too early a disclosure, if such criminals ceuld be 
 discovered, ^hey now deem it best that the whole testimony 
 herewith repprted, should be published without deUy, in order 
 to disabuse the public mind of erroneous impressions ov'the 
 subject. ^ ' *■ i' • 
 
 Magistrates' Room, /. - / 
 
 , Atkpted in Commli|»e, 
 " AugaBt26th, ISsY V 
 
 " > J. JENNINGS, Chaihnan. 
 
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 11 
 
 AFFIDAVITS OF WITNESSES. 
 
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 . ^ Halifax City, ; , 
 
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 Alexander Keith, Junior, of the City of Halifax, in the. 
 County of Halifax, Gentleman, being duly sworn>deposeth and 
 saith : — For the last two months Mr. Marshall has been com- 
 plaining and confined to his bed, when I went for the key of 
 the Powder Magazine, — and sometimes I would give an order 
 for powder, and the man would find Marshallwjjjfcd sometimes he 
 would not find him. If he found him he wlSTget the pow- 
 der, if he did not, I had to hunt tlie.town for him. K was dur- 
 ing the time appointed that I sent for the powder. He has de- 
 Iwered powder to me before and after hours, if the day was 
 i fine. He hiis told me that ho would give up the Magazine iu 
 I October, About twelve or eighteen months ago I found the 
 V Magazine in good order, but lately I have found ft carelessly 
 kept.— have frequently hati to scrape the powder off the floor. 
 Ou last Wednesday morning I went up to the Magazine in com- 
 pany with Mr. Crocket, and two teamstera, to get 55 barrels of 
 gunpowder. Mr. Goodwin was present at the time,— it was 
 about 10 o'clock in the morning. :>>. Crocket and myself were 
 the only persons who went into the MagazineJfci that occasion. 
 Crocket and I rolled the powder out. llutherfOTd and Bomand, 
 the two teamsters, V>acred the waggon, .with the assistance of 
 -^Samuel Goodwin, who lives near by. On this day I saw about 
 one pound of powder on the floor. I scraped it up with a piece 
 of hoop, and throw it umler some of the barrels. I could feel 
 the grains of powder under riiy feet— there w;is no broom to be 
 seen about the place to sweep the floor. I could feel the pow- 
 der under my feet all over the Magazine— have scraped the 
 lewder from the floor with my hand. Crocket locked both dooi-s , 
 on this occasion, and took the key with him. I have gone to 
 tlie Magazine for powder myself, without Mr. Marshall. There 
 ) are some loop holes through the sides of the Magazine. I do 
 y not thiiik^y went straight through the waljs of the buildin<y— 
 tiiey I thiH were in this shape J-. Th^re were shutters inlhe 
 lobby, covered with copper outside — do not know if they were 
 covered-with copper inside— no window sashes — I think they 
 were fastened witlj a bolt— have seen the light through them— 
 have seen the povrder piled up agaiast those shutters the last 
 
 lima^l-MPaain the Mugaaine— tlie tytrtmnee^jy the Bouth ddoFIr 
 
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 12 
 
 Tised — there' is also a door at the north end, but it is seldom 
 used. I am positive that there was powder piled up against the 
 shutters on the left hand side as you go in, on Wednesday last. 
 The floors were of double boards — there was a hole in the floor 
 at the inner door at the south large enough for a man's foot. I 
 think there was a hole at the north door large enough for a 
 man's body to go through — think there was a cellar of 4 or 5 
 feet under the Magazine— powder could bo swept down either of 
 those holes. There was no plaistering on the ceiling — could see 
 no light through the roof. I think there was a lightning rod 
 at the north end. Always take our i)Owder away from the'^Ma- 
 g|azine in teams. With the exception of the holes I have men- 
 tioned, I consider ihe building was in a good state of repair. 
 
 Since Marshall has been sick, I have seen a very slovenly stote 
 of things in the Magazine -kegs of powder lying about in all 
 directions. I think the l^t day Crocket and I was there we 
 moved a keg of powder, the head of which was loose, and the 
 wi-apping keeping the powder in. The key of the Magazine has 
 ot late been kept in Walsh and Crocket's shop. Marshall, the 
 keeper, was of late found there— formerly used to And hi'rti in 
 tile street. Mr. Marshall was very obliging in delivering pow- 
 der, and was very particular in receiving orders for it, andne- 
 vor delivered ^ to me without a written order. The only 
 time I ever gotWy powder from the Magazine without an order 
 was on Wednesday last, when I got S5 barrels from Crocket on 
 ■promise of bringing up the order for it neh day. ' 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this ]5th 
 day of August, A. ]). 18u7, 
 before me. 
 
 ALEX. KEITH. Junr. 
 
 , i^' 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 ILiliflix City, 
 Tu-wit : 
 
 ( 
 
 Samuel Marshall, of the City of TTalifax, in the Conntv 
 of Uiihtax, lH!ing duly sworn depost-th .and saith :— I was keeptjr 
 of tlie (;ity Pow.ler Magazine which expKitledon Thursday night 
 Ixst. There were Imles thmugh the wall.s fur ventilation, atriiight 
 
 
 rJ^ 
 
;i^''«'i«*^j«i<rtii4s?*^^ 
 
 I' 
 
 13 
 
 through the wall about 6 or 8 inches wide and 14 or 16 inches 
 lugh, you could see daylight tlirough them, some of these holes 
 were open and others were stuffed with bagging, and have been 
 soever smce I .became Keeper. On the Western side of the 
 . Ma^zme those holes were about 8 feet from the ground, on 
 ThJl^f ""p t;'^?, l?o^^tI^e building was in a good state of repair/ 
 Ihe roof of building is covered with Slate; frommy observatton 
 ot the building It was sufficient for safety. The building had a 
 lightning rod— I saw it last Sunday morning. The floors of the 
 building were sound, there wpa^ small hatoh at the Scrtith end 
 ot the building near the inner door inside, I do not l^ow what 
 It was made fol-— It was made-not broker^: it was cogred with 
 
 %r^ A f^"^'^ ^"""^ ^^^'■^ ^^'^ °o lio^e in the floor at the 
 j^orth end af the building, have froriuently opened the North 
 door to give light and deliver powder-I deliver from the door 
 most convenient-have always been very cautious in stowing 
 powder. Whenever I found any keg out of order, informed the 
 owners of It, and had it removed-the last time'l was S Jhe 
 
 &''tk w .•'''%°° ^"^^ P^^*^'" lying about, nor no bad 
 kegs. 1 he last time I was in the Magazine I delivered 600 kees 
 powder, an^ swept the Magazine several times with a hair broo^ 
 T d 7nn.T ^ ^^ "^"Sust last On looking at the orders, I fi^d 
 I did not deliver so many as 600 kegs on the day ab^ve alluded 
 1 ^"* i!'%'™°»ber indicated on the or°ders. The powder deliTr- 
 ed on this day was taken away by water. The largest portion of 
 powder generally deliver^ is taken away by land^ Ziron or 
 
 T}"^"V"^T •'I th« Magazine-neW was furnished' vi'h 
 any other kmd of a shovel. About 5 or 6 months since I got a 
 copper hammer and driver for the use of the Magazino-I eo 
 no shovel at that time. I applied for a copper shovel. I uS 
 the iron shovel solely for shovelling snow, having no use for a 
 shovel in the Magazine. Never us°ed the'shovel in the mL! 
 
 ea;hforl?r/^%^/^™; ^ ^''''' ^^ ^» ^ bad sSf 
 health for the ast eight weeks-at times confined to the house 
 
 Never renoi-t^l myself to the Mayor as being sick. DurinTmv 
 sickness 1 authorized Mr. Crockett to deliver powder for" me 
 1 Ll£"''!t M^"" -an, and others, whCtm^M' 
 I war^ck or C^ ^^J «!• City Council wiis not aware that 
 1 was sick, or had appointed any person to act for me The 
 
 SrvlTacnh/r ^" ^'\"-^^ 1-t. On theThole of 
 hisZSrinl f '^'- ^».,^*^*^"«'%. after Mr. Keith got • 
 
 S^, 
 
i*^^^^ 
 
 keys were in Mr. Crockett's shop. Dn Thursday I went to 
 jckett's at ITJ A. M. and left at 1. Hung the keys in the 
 sljop during that time, but they fwere ' iitoiny view. Have only 
 during my sickness left the key^ at Crockett's. Have no idea 
 ]i6w th(B explosion occurred. Nfo peifson ever went to deliver 
 powder from the Magazine excejpt Crinloji and Crocket, and one 
 d4y Pierce Bowes went with Cc^ilon/the Express man to deliver 
 powder, and also Mr. Keith, junr. |I do not remember who the 
 pciwder was for— it was some tim|e ago. Mr. Keith has fre- 
 quently got the keys from me Uij deliver powder ; — said he 
 would bie responsible — left the ordeir with me and took the deli- 
 vety himself. He used to get the ^keys from me to get powder 
 before my sickness. ' It was at the houra I was not bound to go 
 thiit I gave Mr. Keith the keys to get powder. Never let any 
 other person have the keys under similar circumstances. I 
 coujld reach the holes spoken of on the upper side, but not on 
 theilower side. I was home on the night of the explosion— got 
 > hoiAe at half-past eight o'clock. The powder ki|gs are povered 
 with matting — some of them a)re copper hooped and some wood- 
 en hooped. There were 8 kegs of {wwder in the lobby, belong- 
 ing to Mr. Starr, covered with matting — they were not against 
 the window. Never was in tliie cellar. There could not have 
 bjfeen an accumulation of powder in tlie Cellar. At extraordinary 
 l^igh tides the water would flovf into the cellar and w^» it, if 
 liny, away. I thiuk the cellar was a plastered wall, Tlie kegs 
 an the lobby were oft the loft band side, but were not piled up 
 agjiinst the window. The windows in the lobby liad no sitshes — 
 tliey were covered \nth copper inside and out, and faatened with 
 copper bolts. Am positive that the shutters were bolted the larft 
 time I was there. WJicnever I reported to the City Council 
 anything to be done to tlie Magazine, it was done promptly. 
 Never had occasion to have any repairs done inside. I was out 
 of my house after dinner on Thursday -left the key home hang- 
 ing on a nail in the front hall— my coat was over it. The door 
 was fastened with''a catch— it cOuld be opened from inside but 
 not from outside. Nancy lirody is my housekeeper — she haa 
 lived in the family for 23 years. When I went to bed at half- 
 past eight K)'clock, the key was in the hall— I found it in the 
 same place in the morning. Th0 key is still in my possession. 
 When I h^ard the explosion. I brouglit the" k^ys down and 
 showed them to Mr. Hentlev, Capt. Couaigno, andtsorae others. 
 The Magazine is very <lark — neither candles, lamps, or lan- 
 thorns are kept en the premitics. Some time l;wt winter the 
 
 -JjjSlfct;,. 
 
■» 
 
 * 
 
 " -"-^ 
 
 ^fmr. 
 
 t^ii'irwillMNHifalNetn 
 
 \ 
 
 "ni"* ^jT'Sf .*«.Maga™e ™, a«citatally left Open one oven- 
 
 S-i^.t"l':.rflrx°'ite'"'°™^"r"^^^ 
 
 «P and closed the dwr -d,. JL ° «ven,ng_t, went 
 
 . committee of lldSen, tdT ^''tjfe''' }'''"' 
 blame. I do ant fhinl- if ^ ki r acquitted of any 
 
 MagudneSmX eSt thtjSS'" «" ?"° «■' 
 dows Tho-ii ia, 1^' except tbey -wrenched open the win- 
 
 weTe in nn« ,? fe *'''® ^'* **» «*«b shutter-iuie jAfitt^rt 
 
 U-clotoo^e Itti; W^^lTjr' "•■" P-»' 
 
 / ' , ' 
 
 hig 
 SAMUEL X MARSHALL. 
 Sw)^n to at Halifax, this 15th ) "^^' 
 
 day of August, A. D. 1857, > 
 
 — being first read over. ) ' j 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. ^ , . 
 
 ^ 
 
 Halifkx City, 
 To-wit: 
 
 ( 
 
 ?w....«ntry. Did not, ^ .„, Ijg. ^ l gS ^^ g'Sj^^^l; 
 
 4.1. 
 
■ ^pmi'mmm^mmtr^mtifm'mf^i'imiimm ^ ^ n mttm^Klmf 
 
 ' -> ^ ^-->mo» ^ ■ ■ ' ■ ■>***y M»» r i» i»i|B»» W 
 
 .r-- 
 
 
 A^ 
 
 \ 
 
 ™ » «,nte,, «.d do n«N«.ow «.y thing ot tfo o«« of . the 
 explopion. 
 
 \ . -Tr 
 
 PATRlCK'iW CULLEN. 
 rk. 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax this 15th J 
 day of August, A. D. 1867> > 
 before me, ' 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 ^^ -./' 
 
 ti 
 
 1 
 
 Halifax City, 
 to wit: 
 
 and recovered myself m » lew "PT^'T:* ™« the MiUtJoy or 
 when I heard the ooinpond ^iXJ^r^^ timo,Xt7wa8 
 
 ^^r^;:^!^ -The «3& tS out 'the Guard, 
 the City -Maffjme. ^^^^^ .^d found the MiUtery 
 and went round Ae W"^^'^^^^ ^^d having heard cries 
 Maitazine damaged in "^le end antf rooi , ana i»vi^6 
 
 orders wert to go r^<^m^ tl»«Borth. without me seeing 
 
 proaohtlie^2.^SSSH 
 
 them— ooma not approacn oecwwn umj «*^ _. , 
 
 --•l^fei^^J 
 
M' 
 
 ■ V. 
 jause of the 
 
 ULLEN. 
 
 ':/ 
 
 ►uHty of Hali- 
 j sworn, depo- 
 ^tgosine on ube 
 J o'clock, and 
 ) minutes. past 
 ly rounds, and 
 -turned to Ae 
 about. I fell, 
 overed myself, 
 the MilitMy or 
 imo, that it was 
 out Ae Guard, 
 a^d the Military 
 n\tg heard cries 
 oae. I had not- 
 explosion. My 
 ersons could a]^ 
 ihout me seeing 
 es without being 
 m Dock Yard to 
 ■was on dtttjr-- 
 \ ohimney in uie 
 
 17 
 
 direction of the Railwji^ station^but saj^ none falling near where 
 1 was on duty. >« i *r ^ 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, thia 15th 1 
 - day of August, A. D. 1857, " 
 before me, — being; first read 
 
 bis 
 
 FRANCIS X DOLAN. 
 mai'k. 
 
 over. 
 
 J 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 Halifax City, 
 To-wit : 
 
 XT ..jf^'^^c'S ^^cKay, of the City of Halifax, in the Couflty 
 of Halifax, Cooper, having been duly gworn, 
 
 Biiith :— That this morning about 10 1 o'clock, ^ ^„^ ^ 
 
 tlie Guard House in the Naval Hospital Yard, near to the water 
 side. I waa shewing Mr. Laehy, thecontracttir for vegetables 
 the marks on the north end of the Guard Housb caused by stones 
 fjom the explosion of the Magazine on Friday mprning. At about 
 8 or 9 feet above the ground, on' the shingles] of the gable end 
 of the building, we observed grease stickink apparently in 
 our judgment, being tallow from a candle, lit. Laehy scraped 
 It off with a piece of board which had been split off by the ex- 
 plosion. We found a splinter in the grease when taken down 
 but am not certain if it was there before the slcraping. I pro^ 
 duce the piece of grease then obtained, also the! -splinter. 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this ; 
 I5th day of August, A. D. > 
 1857. \ 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 F. McKAY. 
 
 a 
 
 V 
 
 , *-u/W 
 
 ^4«5^' 
 
■si"5si>'';''''*>'^'' ■ '' ''w?^*^?'**^. "^ ■ 
 
 18 
 
 Halifax City, f 
 ~ rit: S 
 
 Samuel Godwin, of 'the 
 
 '^'"'s«nuel Godi^in, of 'the City °f ^^j^^A ,<^^^^^^^^ 
 being duly sworn, deposeth and saith :-I lived alxiut 300 yards 
 
 sr?ir^3rM:;^;too^ r;&^ 
 
 CSenSy about there smok^g. About tba t-V l««y^ 
 I found the dL of the Magazine open. ; When I^^J^^ the 
 door open, I watched it for two hours, an^ went for W; Bnt- 
 tT who'eame over with me, and weshut'tho door-jiWn^ 
 
 dusk at the time-it waa open all the '^^^f^^^";, J^J^i^iS 
 sel the keep* there that day It waj the ^^^h ^oor I ^^de 
 
 f2;:^^nij^i:r^^:^^^n ^ ^S 
 
 buuS I believe that a person (^uld gfetinto the mtenor of 
 the bdlding through the air hole I have mentioned, and the 
 iole in th! floor It the^uth door, by^removmg some of ^e 
 \Z stones at the air hole. I never tried l^^J^^^g^^ 
 ver saw any man or boy try to get through the hole ^Jf'^^ 
 iave^Ie^^ts and do^ go thro-agh ^« ^ole-ju^ested the^^^ 
 pair of the bole to Mr. Marshall, the keeper, about 4or 5 weeks 
 Z. I think on the day the laat powder was ^»PM ^^o^^^ 
 ofg weeks aso, heard Mr. Marshall was sick-c^led upon him- 
 toldS toTve me the key, and I would attend to Uxe business 
 
 tr^Z Ank he said h\would -^^^^f^dtaes^; 
 aflked me to attend to the business for him. y^_r'®°"rTJ' 
 ksttstteS^to deliver 50 kegs of I-y^er ^^ the Ma^^^^^ 
 Mr Sutherland, the contractor. I think there was V"»2r 
 ^d Sr at the east side of the building in the porch. The 
 
 Set i do not know*tibe names of the teamstew who took 
 
 Ir^wkeraway. There is another hole on the ^m^^rn 
 
 ^X Wdatio% Wed, with perfigated^OQPPer , about 8 mchw 
 
 A^ 
 
 ■•fe 
 
 
 
Carpenter, 
 ; 300 yards ' 
 d much at- 
 own safety 
 
 as I found 
 le last year 
 
 found the 
 :r. Brit- 
 
 think I 'W 
 jor I Vludo 
 . I was in 
 livering 50 
 5 loweE part 
 ; could have 
 
 3 the joists, 
 side of the 
 
 e interior of 
 jd, and the 
 some of the 
 brough— ne- 
 I refer to — 
 ested the re- 
 
 4 or 5 "weeks 
 ,ped, about 6 
 i upon him — 
 
 the business 
 lid not He 
 I Wednesday 
 
 Magazine to 
 -as a j window 
 
 porch. The 
 dne was lined 
 th boards,— 
 at. It was 
 isfied that the 
 . Keithlocked 
 Jc his name is 
 ters who took 
 eastern side in 
 ibout 8 inch^ 
 
 ■i^^^i^'ftiu 
 
 ':.'%:i(i*!»ii^»g;-,j3 
 
 XW^, 
 
 W 
 
 square. There is 9 long 
 the foliation in the wall- 
 
 »,rrow hole on the eastern side above 
 the lining of the walls would pre- 
 
 vent tb^e light from being seetn through it. Mrs. Godwin told 
 m^ that one of my children toM her that a woman on the wharf 
 Bai4 to him, " My boy you wilrnqt sleep in your bed to night." 
 The boy waa throwing stones at the time — oae stone went near 
 the woman. My boy is 9 years old. Tufts and Wheston were 
 in company with my boy. Wheston knows th^ woma» — I think • 
 her name is Walsh. I know nothing of a boat being 
 seen, that night approaching or leaving the shore, I know 
 nothing Qf any powder being delivered on Thursday. I was 
 about my place moat of that day. I think if any had been de- 
 livered i WQuld have seen it, as I have paid particular attention 
 to it since Mr- Marshall has been sick. Mr. Marshall told me 
 about four, weeks since, in my shop, that Mr. Keith had taken 
 500 kegs of powder out of the Magazine inftead of 800 kegs. 
 There is nothing I know of myself, nor have I heard Anything 
 that would lead me to imagine how the explosion took plaee. 
 Saw no broom about the Magazine — naver heard or felt ppwder 
 crack utjder my feet. The hole I spoke of has been split o<it — 
 it was partially coVered with a board, not nailed. I think itVas 
 Mr. Crocket who t(k)k the key on Wetlnesday last. Since Mar- 
 shall's sickness, have seen Mr. Keith come there for powder 
 without Crockett or Marshall with him. I think I have seen 
 Conlon taking powder out of tlie Magazine alone, during Mr. 
 Marshall's sickness also. I have never seen any light through 
 any crevice or apertui-e when inside of the Magazine. 
 
 SAMUEL J. GODWIN. 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this 18th ) 
 day of August, A. D. 1857, > 
 before me, S 
 
 J. .JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 Halifax City, ( 
 
 to wit : \ 
 
 * 
 
 Joseph Conlon, of the city of Halifax, in the county of Hali- 
 lifax, Express paan, who being duly sworn, depos^ and paith — 
 The last time I was at the Magazine I think was tne^Gth or 7th 
 of this^ month. At that time Mr. Marshall refused to go with 
 me, and Mr. Crockett went with me. I went for some powder 
 
 ;k)c 
 
 LiiKuFimi^'J 
 
 0^^ 
 
20 I 
 
 for Mr. Albro — knew where the. powder .was in the Magazine, 
 and also the lots of other parties ;-3^p[ver Went to the Magazine 
 alone — Marshall or Crockett, or Pierce Bowes, went with me. 
 Marshall was very particular about opening the Magazine in 
 damp weather, or allowing persons to go in with nails in their 
 shoes. Never saw an;^ quantity of powder on the floor — have 
 felt powder grains under tny feet. I provideid myself with a 
 pair of boots ►with copper nails. Have taken powder out Of the 
 north door — never saw a hole in the floor there. There is a 
 step up into the Magazine at the south door from the porch. 
 There was a hole like a hatchway as you went into the Maga- 
 zine — it was partially covered over with a board — I do not know 
 fo* what purpose it was there. There was, during the winter, 
 cobper hooped barrels in the porch— did not know whether there 
 wa9 any powder i% the porch at the time of the explosion. I 
 I think there were port holes on the eastern side of the build- 
 ing, 2 or 3 — Do not remember any holes at the western side of 
 the building — sddom phssed that side. Those holesi saw I do 
 not think that -ft small boy could get through — they appeared to 
 be in repair — did iiot aj>pe?ir to be broken. From my own ob- 
 servation, or from any remarks beard from any one else, I can 
 
 form no idea of the cause of the explosion. The.key of the 
 
 second door was kept inside hung up on a nail. There is a key- 
 hole to the outside south door'. Never observed any light- thro' 
 the holes I have mentioned. Do not remember whether the 
 Magazine, was» lined with boards or not. 
 
 JOSEPH CONLON. 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this 18'th / 
 day of August, A. D. 1857. \ 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P 
 
 City of Halifax, 
 'i'o-wit : 
 
 James Britton, of the citjAf Halifax, in the county <)f 
 
 Ha|iJli,fax,' yeoQian, maketh oath and saitb : — I have been living 
 
 j/ 
 
 ■i*.. 
 
 <'>:llA' 
 
 &a dM- j< /-s 
 
 
 
':■"«•> ■""*«'?'vti85i; 
 
 "1 
 
 in the Magazine Cottage for 3 y^Jl^^ave charge of the Milil 
 
 ul^TT V' "^•^";^*° «° ^^^"^ '^^ Government 
 Xf ' • 1^'' V'^l'"'"''^ '""^ •^'^'«" t« «P«*k to persona 
 
 t^ Chv Malt Station for smoking pipes in the vicinity of 
 the City Magazine on a Sunday morning; they returned next 
 djyW abused ^e and the Guard. Froif that 5me I Zan^g! 
 ed to mterfere no more with the City Magazine. I think thev 
 were two ra, w^y navvies the men I sent down. Lan^int pow^ 
 der on the wharf one day, I spoke to the keeper of the SI 
 
 TT' 1° Z^l'\ l"^'^^^" ^^'-^ handling tWpowder ; ^^^60! ! 
 ed, that he did th? best with the materials ho lad to ;orki^fth 
 
 vlt^h^U "^T *« ™3^.«»P«>;i«r office.^ I think it was last 
 year this happened. D,.l "n jt think the labourers h^d the pro- 
 per kmd of boo^a on to go into a mag,«ine. * That wa«' t JonTy 
 day I wa« ins.d^^ the Magazine-have l,eon at thedoor sinc^ 
 juw grams of powder on the floor-^not a great quantity Ifo 
 handling powder, jmrticularly if you roll the barrelsf some 
 grains wm come out of the barrels. "^ On one occasion Mr S 
 win ,?..lled my attention to the north door being open. I w^t 
 with him-took the key out of the door, and put a stick aJins 
 the door, and asked the corporal of the GuaJto place a s?n ry 
 on the door until I went for the keeper. I wont down and 
 could not find Mr. Marshall-left the^ key with Mr Rndlay 
 who, I understood, was one of Mr. Marshall's securities a7d 
 
 Tttas'^iSr'ft' T ^ ^"^^"' ^'^^ '^'"^ lockTtSe LJ!? 
 It was a httle after dark, about a year ago this month. I have 
 no idea.how tha exp bsion took pl/oe, eiSer from my own know- . 
 ledge or from atiything that has come to my kndwagc. I have 
 
 5ZC' P="-^'r'''''j[«".S«*ay mornings, had Won to , 
 dnve boys away from the vicinity of the Magazine. Boys have ^ 
 had fires on the beach near the Uarf, and fhave put them out 
 fea^v no lightning tl,atnight-w.vs sitting on hiy dJor step until 
 halt-past eleven o'c ock. The air holc^iu the City Mf^zlne 
 
 • wS\r -t' ''r "^'''. ^'^ ^^'''"«-«^c of them 4reT«S 
 wth bagging from thb „isi,le : ou one occasion I put my haS 
 
 .1 M " lJ 'T (rr ""' ""''"■''«• '^"'^ *"«lt the bagging. I lit 
 to Mr. Marshall, keeper, on ,he subject. Thel^ol^ appS 
 to be m a good «tate of repair, and nine of them large enS 
 for a man or a boy to get through. The holes I speak of were 
 on the eastern sidc-I know nothing of tlie holes offe wesTem 
 sde I have always fdt alarmed that some accident would ha^^ 
 pen from ti«) number of dfunkon persons from the ne i ghbori| ; 
 
 >' 
 
 ~w 
 
 "f^ 
 4 
 
 
*2 
 
 -Aousm loitering about the City Magazioe, with pipes, and smo- 
 king. " 
 
 JAMES BRITTON. 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this 18th ) 
 day of August, A. D. 186-7, > 
 before me, » ' 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 .1 V 
 
 A 
 
 City of Halifax, ) 
 
 To-wit: V ■' ' ' 
 
 'john Ross, of the city of ^^^^^ »!» the county^of Halifax, 
 yeoman, |naketh oath and saittf:— On Sunday afternoon was 
 walking through Mr. Veith's field, and looking at the way the 
 V stones from the Magazine had ploughed up the ground, my at- 
 tention was directed tb a stone more deeply bedded than the 
 rest. At the edge of the hole where the stone entered, I found 
 a piece of candle-wick, with powder on it, and a small piece of 
 slate stone attached to it. The stone in the ground had also 
 powder on it. The candle-wick was about two inqhes long— the 
 {^. place Where it was found is about 300 yards from wherethe 
 ^ Magazine stood, in a westwardly direction. I called the atten- 
 tion of Sergt. Bishop, of the Engineers, to the fact, and he took 
 possession of the candle-wick. Subsequently the st 
 ken away by Mr. Shifras. Thi^tone appeared to, 
 straigl^t down, and buried itself 8 or 10 inches int0|' 
 
 'his 
 JOHN X ROC'S, 
 mark; ■ 
 
 .tnHalifax, this ISth^ 
 
 ii|yt,'A.D5^1857, 1 
 l^being first read [ 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 EtvM^i'mB" '> 
 
 
and amo- 
 
 f Halifax, 
 •noon was 
 e way the 
 id, my at- 
 than the 
 i, I found 
 1 piece of 
 . ha4 also 
 long — the 
 where^he 
 the att/en- 
 he t/pok 
 
 asrfi^K 
 
 mrm 
 
 Ilk 
 
 \mr' 
 
 / 
 
 28 
 
 City of Halifax, 
 
 Lo-wit 
 
 ' l^^yBenry Bishop, of the city of Halifax, in the 
 (jrHalil^, sergeant of the.Royal Engineers,' being duly 
 |w<|lj|),^|i|^eth and saith: — I stop at the new Barracks — am. 
 pspector of .Works. On SundajMifternoon, ^r. Veith's man 
 me to ipay quarters and said ho had found something in connec- 
 tion \\ritji the blowing up of the Magazine. He said it was can- 
 dle-wick. - When I came to the spot, found the candle-wick 
 attached to the stone. Took sergeant-maj^r 0*^Donnell, late of 
 76th Itcgt., and Mr. Veith, with me, and took possession of the 
 candle-wick and stonor The stone is about I foot nf&e inches 
 long, in a wedged shape — burieS below the surface some 4 or 6 
 inches. There was about l-16tli" of {in inch of gunpowder all 
 bver the stone. 1 think there was no portion of the candle-wick 
 burned. There was a small piece of slaty stone attached to the 
 candle- wifek-r-it waa about three inches long the candle-wick. 
 I took possession of the stone and candfe-wickjand had them 
 conveyed to the Ordnance oifice, now in charge of Mr. Pringle. 
 About a twelvemonth since, on passing the City Magazine, about 
 4 or ,6 o'clock in (he aflemoon, i found the north dooi' open. I 
 again saw tl^e door open the same evening at about 7 o'clock, 
 and on the following morning a1^i>^)out 5 o'clock, when I was 
 going down to bathe. I did not report the fact to the keeper — 
 did not know him — made no report to any one. 
 
 WM. 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this 18th 
 I d^jof August* A.D. 1857, 
 
 BISHOP* 
 Segeant R. ^. 
 
 J. JElfNINGS, J. P. 
 
 City of Hali&x, 
 To-wit : 
 
 Daniel Crockett, of the city of Halifax, in the county of 
 Halifax, shopkeeper, maketh oath and saith : — ^The last time I 
 was in the Magazine was on the 12th August, instant — thd first 
 time I believe was the 6th August I was there, twiceon'the 
 reques t o f Mr. Marshall, thekeepMr.^ The_ 
 
 
 •# 
 
 hmti. 
 
 ff^. 
 
 IWi'"^ 
 
\. 
 
 <3 
 
 't 
 
 ^r 
 
•"It" 
 
 ■« f . '"5.TS«1^i 
 
 ,-^^4^.. 
 
 » •■'• ' 24 
 
 first delivery on the 6th was to Conlon, the Express man — the 
 second on that day was to Bessonett & Brown, about 10 kegs I 
 think. Ifoand the doors were secure on that occasion— I left 
 them secure. On the 12th August I delivered to Mr. Alexan- 
 der Keith, junr., 55 barrels, and a team took them away. Mr. 
 Keijth had an order for 20 barrels, and said he had an order for 
 %OfmoTe, which 40 kegs he got, and the teams went away, and 
 I locked the inner door, and remained in the lobby with Mr. 
 Keith. Mr. Godwin was sitting at the door. Mr. Keitli pro- 
 posed that he should have 15 kegs more, to give a load to the 
 waggons, which, after some hesitation, I consented to let him 
 have, he promising to bring the order for the same immediately. , 
 This was the last time I was in the Magazine. The north door 
 was not open that day. I locked the inner door, hung the key 
 up, and locked the outer door, and took the keys to my shop, 
 and himg the keys up on a nail — it was then about 11 o'clock. 
 Mr. Marshall took the keys from my shop about 2 o'clock that 
 day. Have no idea how the explosion occurred. On the fol- 
 lowing day, Thursday, Mr. Marshall was leaving my shop about 
 1 o'clock, and observed to a person at the door that it was a 
 holiday for him, as he had delivered no powder that day, nor 
 would he do so, as the time had expired. The casks in the Ma^ 
 gazine were all orderly arranged— each person's powder was 
 pite<| separately. I took no particular notice of waste of pow- 
 der the first time I visited the Magazine — the last 1 observed 
 that the floor had bee<( recently swept. On the last occasion I 
 was at the' Magazine, Mr. Keith, in turning a keg that was in 
 his way, some of the powder came out on the floor ; ho began to 
 renK>ve it with his boot; deponent remonstrated with "him ; Mr. 
 Kcmi then got a piece of wooden hoop, and scraped it out of his 
 way. Deponent, to satisfy himself where the powder cameirom,. 
 turned the keg down, and found that the powder came from it, 
 the head being in a defective state. It has been about 8 weeks 
 since Marshall first left the keys in my shop. The key of the 
 Magazine was of copper — an ordinary shaped key. Before I 
 left the Magazine, I scraped up the powder that was on the floor 
 with my hand, and put it under the keg firom which it came out 
 of I never opened the north door. The south door opens in. 
 There is a small hatchway as you go into the Magazine, inside ' 
 ^ the lobby — ^it was partially oovered with a board There was a 
 pale door ioiide the inner do<nr leading to the main chamber of 
 \^^.:\. the Magazine, and betw«en those tvo doors is the hatchway I 
 
 gpeak ol j^e pale^ door is fastened witfi a oopper bolt— ^iot 
 
 M 
 
 *^' 
 
 
 
<t- 
 
 25 
 
 locked. I never observed any opening in the floor but one. 
 The last time I was in the Magazine there were 10 or 12 kegs 
 of powder in the lobby, but not pil©i up against the window on 
 the east side of the lobbv. There was a small door at the west^ 
 ern end of the lobby— have seen the light over it-=-it is covered 
 with copper — the lock was a copper morticed one — ^the key only 
 required to be turned once in, it. Mr. Marshall told me if I had 
 occasion to open the north door, that the key required two turns, 
 and to be sure to lock it twice. 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this 18th ) 
 day of August, A. D. 1857, f 
 before me, ^ 
 
 DANIEL CROCKET. 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 Halifax City, > ^J^ , ,. 
 
 To-wit: } S ■;- 
 
 " Pierce Bowes, of the City of Halifax, in the county of 
 
 Halifax, Shopkeeper, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith : — I 
 was at the City Powder Magazine twice — the first time was about 
 three weeks ago, to deliver 4 kegs of powder to H. H. Puller— the 
 next time, about two days after, I went 1» deliver some powder 
 to Bla«k, Brothers & Co., 5 kegs. It was with Conlon the Ex- 
 press man I went up both times. I unlocked the outer door, 
 wid Conlon the inner door the first time^neitiier time did I see 
 any powder on the floor to speak of. Both times, after delivery 
 of the powder, I put my knee to the door to be sure that it was 
 fast — did not open the north door of the Magazine either time 
 I was there, and also locked both the gates — there was some 
 kegs of powder in the porch. I do not know how many thw 
 were on the left hand side going in. Marshall was sick at this 
 time. There was a small hatch about a foot square inside the 
 second door. From my own knowledge, nor from anything I 
 have heard, I have any idea how the explosion took place. I did 
 not observe any holes in the Magazine large enough for a man 
 or a boy to go through. I did not see a^ lights though any 
 orevi ce a in the building — no light but what fiftr"? fr*^ the door. 
 
 '^- 
 
 '^<' 
 
 
 51* J 
 
 tev'< 
 
 »'. 
 
 iW 
 
 \'^}.J 
 
^¥: ■„ 
 
 26 
 
 There waa not as much powder on the Magazine floor as would 
 cover a penny piece, and I think it was kept in an orderly and 
 careful state. "^ 
 
 o . TT,.. ,. PIERCE] BOWES. 
 
 Sworn to at Hahfax, thailSth i 
 
 day of August, A. D. 1867, V 
 
 before me, ) 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 / 
 
 Committee Room, 
 
 HaUfax, 19th Aug, 1857. 
 
 SlK— 
 
 As chairman of the committee appointed by the City 
 Council to investigate the cause of theJBity Powder Magazine 
 explosion, I respectfully request the stone and piece of candle 
 wick which were found in Mr. Vieth's field, bearing marks of 
 Guimowder, and therefore supposed to have been driventhither 
 by the explosion of the Powder Magazine, may be sent to the Po- 
 ijoe Office for the inspection of the City Magistrates, under 
 charge of some person who may afterwards, if necessary, iden- 
 tify those objects as the same which have been placed in your 
 charge ; and as Serjeant Bishop has already testified on this mat- 
 ter. It would be best to employ him in bnnging those things to 
 the Police, so as to secure flieir identification. 
 
 I am. Sir, 
 
 Very truly yours, &c. 
 
 J. JENNINGS, 
 
 Aldermali and Chairman 
 
 i> T, T» „ . Committee. 
 
 A. Bh f rinolb, Esquire, 
 
 Storekeeper War Department - 
 
 Halifia City, ; 
 towit: ^ 
 
 f u v?**^^ Connors, of the City of Halifax, in the oounly 
 of iuhftz, yeoman, being duly sworn, deposeth and saitib : — ^I 
 
 lived 
 the M 
 end 1» 
 hadtc 
 dow, I 
 also a 
 boat 1 
 heard 
 what '. 
 do not 
 A tdwan 
 
 • short 
 4 %elf, t 
 such £ 
 about 
 throw! 
 house, 
 seen o 
 place. 
 
 Sworn 
 befc 
 
 Hali& 
 To- 
 
 Halifa 
 saith:- 
 Theati 
 thenoi 
 
 it. 
 
 % 
 
 'W' 
 
 t.«:*^ 
 
^ 
 
 as would 
 lerly and 
 
 WES. 
 
 . 1857. 
 
 the City 
 ifagazine 
 >f candle 
 marks of 
 Qthither 
 >thePo- 
 s, under 
 ry, iden- 
 . in your 
 bhismat- 
 Jiings to 
 
 JfGS, 
 
 hairman 
 
 tee. 
 
 , 2t 
 
 lived in.one of the houses that was damaged by the explosion of 
 the Mamine. Sleeping room op stairs— window in Uie gable 
 end looking south — went to bed at 10 o'clock that night, but 
 had to get up about 12 o'clock, and sat on a box near the win- 
 dow, Smoking my pipe — had a light burning rn the room — and 
 also a clock. While sitting on the box at the window, I' saw a 
 boat leavmg the shore wit£ a light in it — I saw the light and 
 heard the sound of oars rowing — could not see the boat — ^Aat is 
 what I mean by seeing the boat. It was a bright clear light — 
 do not think it was a torch light — saw it moving — it was going 
 towards Dartmouth, in a northerly course from the foot of Mr. 
 jKaye's field, which is directly below where I lived, iand but a 
 jhort distance north of the City Magazine. I thought to my- 
 self, that it was a strange thing to see a boat in that situation at 
 such an hour. A few minutes after I had seen the boat I was 
 about going into bed again, when the explosion took place — 
 throwing me down — breaking my furniture and damaging my 
 house. From my own knowledge, nor from any thing I have 
 seen or heard, can I have any idea of how the explosion took 
 place. 
 
 his 
 
 '^ff- 
 
 PATRICK X CONNORS, 
 mark. 
 
 Sworn to at Hali&x, this 19th 
 day of August, A. D. 1857, 
 
 before me, being first read over. 
 
 • 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 county 
 ith:— I 
 
 Halifiix City, ( 
 To-wit : \ 
 
 John Campbell, of the City of Halifax, anB county of 
 Halifax, Police Constable, being duly sworn, deposeth and 
 saith : — On the evening of the explosion I was on duty at the 
 Theatre, outside — about 9J o'clock I saw a flash of lightning to 
 the nort hw ard — it was flash lig htni ng— I obfle|:Y e<l si milar flashes 
 
 \ 
 
 kit , ^1. 1*11.. A., Lia 
 
mwx- 
 
 28 \ 
 ^ some four or five between that time and lOJ o'clockll 
 
 hff rf ;<• "^^^^•^^^g ^f come to my own knowledge, nor have I 
 
 how the explosion took place. 
 
 Sworn to at Hali&x, this Iflth 
 dayof August, A. D. 1857, 
 before n:ie. 
 
 JOHN Campbell. 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. p. 
 
 Hali&x City, > 
 To-wit: . ( 
 
 Halifax^sSJ'w ' '5 *?' ^'*^"^ ^"f'^' ^° ^^e County of 
 Halifax, Spinster bemg duly sworn, deposeth and saith :_I was 
 in the v,c,„ ty of the Magazine the dJTprevious to the exnTo 
 Bion of the Magazine-I wenr for the vi^ofC^lhlt 
 waa several little children there, bathin^g aC^me o^letvs 
 were thiowmg stones-I do not think they were throwing sto^^' 
 at nie, but one of them struck me on the head-I SiTto 
 
 SThf"''.?'*^^^^^^ "^ *^« Constables, and Kim 
 taken that n,ghl>-^w no mai^ about there at the time No 
 thmg I have heard or know would lead me to the conclusion of 
 how die accident occurred. I live in Mr. Brownrhouse near 
 
 tl S'^l^^P'^^- ^ ^«°* '^to Mr. Maher'8 hour i'n the 
 
 neighbourhood, after coming out of the water. Mrkdier'a 
 
 ^house was destroyed by ^he explosion. ^"^ ^ 
 
 , , HONORA X WALSH, 
 mark. 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this ] 
 19th day of August, A. D. ( 
 1857, before me,— bekg ( 
 "first read over. J . 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. - 
 
 y 
 
 
;jT7fs*j*«?!B«-"-' 
 
 in the 
 
 29 
 
 City of /Halifax, 
 To-Wit: 
 
 TTaUfe. V '^ ^^^^-^ °^?*, Citjof HaK&t, in theOmnly of 
 ThvS • I^r""' ^«^ng duly sworn, deposeth and saith:— 
 i™ 1 /^ J* "^^ immediately wpt of the Magazine, that was 
 completely destroyed-went to b^ about lO^^o^k on th^' 
 f^^^^S^^^'^^^^'on-nothing that has occurred previous or 
 since the expl(^ion, or have I heard any thing that would lead * 
 me to the conclusion of how the accident occuSi. 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this 19th 1 
 day of August, A. D. 1857, ( 
 before me,— being firs$ read i 
 
 J 
 
 his 
 
 PATRICK Xi STOKES 
 mark. 
 
 over. 
 
 J. jen:^ings, J. p. 
 
 City of Halifax, 
 To-wit : 
 
 TTniT mT ^^Ag7' ?f *e city of HalifiK, in the county of 
 ilalitax, lailor, bemg duly sworn, deposeth and saith —I 
 was at my buildmg on the wharf below the Magazine, on" the 
 mormng before the Magazine explosion. IthiTl L ther^ 
 from 11 o'clock until 1 o'clock. *^I passed the MagaZe-S 
 
 rJhfnl ?f ' "P^""' "^^ "^l «PP«^ce of taking>)wderout. 
 I thmk if any person was there taking powder while I was 
 
 W fh^M ^'^' f«e{\them. My buildilig was about 30 S? 
 
 S^h^^*^-''^ ^'"^•^^°«' ^^^« *»>« Mayor and Colone 
 Stodhard a written notice on Thursday, the 18th intent 
 of my intention of erecting a steam engine on my pSS' 
 near the Ma^.^ine On one occasion, abott twelve moJSs S 
 Lyle was landing 600 barrels of powder on my wharf, I went 
 up to the Magazine, and on entering I saw some powd;r oX 
 floor, perhaps a wme glass full. I^called MarshS's atteS 
 
 wn,i7 .*'T'^'^ .^"^^"^ ^* "P ^'^ ^^ foot, and said he 
 yoa^AggiJ broom n njls He e p it up. Tho. loo s e po i der^ a^^ 
 
 -^ 
 
 '^V5. 
 
 i.VtBlt*.^^Jl.A^ LtAiH^i-i 
 
'■»^ '' 4M«i ^' j;^^4j3fc-A 
 
 80 
 
 U 
 
 of was not in that part of the Magazine where they were bring- 
 ing in the powder. I rqxMted the fiujt to the Mayor. As far 
 as I could judge I notfced no marks of disrepair in the exterior 
 of the buildmg. I believe the keeper was a very inefficient man 
 and ^uite incompetent to perform the duties of keeper of the 
 Magazine. I was oj^e of the persons who recommended Mr. 
 Godwin for the situation of keeper last October, in competition 
 wiUi the present keeper, as Godwin was a sober man, and livSd 
 in the vicinity of the Magazine. I have no idea from my own 
 knowledge, or fit>m/any thing I have heard, how the explosion 
 took place. 
 
 f 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, "this 20th 
 . day of August, A. D. 1867, 
 before me, 
 
 W. A. McAGY. 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 t*- 
 
 City of Halifax, > 
 To-wit: ; i , 
 
 Patri(4k'Crockwell, of the city of Halifax, in the county 
 of Halifex, yeoman, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith :— On 
 Thursday night last I slept under a tree near the Horticultural 
 Gardens —that was the night of the explosion. I heard the 
 noise, and thought it was too early for the gun. In the early 
 Mrt of the evening I was in the neighborhood of the South 
 Barracks-Hiuring the day I was about Fresh Water. In the 
 morning alter daylieht, I went up New Town, near the slaugh- 
 ter house. I passea the explosion during the day, and went as 
 far as the colored settlement, and came back again the same day 
 into town. To the best/)f my belief I slept in the bush in tlie 
 grove above the Railway Depot. From Sa|»rtay morning until 
 Tuesd^ I do not know^where I slept, I was so stupified for the 
 want of sleep, and possibly from the effects of liquor. Think I 
 saw Patrick Stokes on Sunday, near the depot, in the grove. On 
 Tues(Vy morning I was in the bush near the 8-mile house. I 
 was at the 8-mile house in the morning — ^got a glass of rum and 
 something to eat, and went into the bush again. Saw a man in 
 a waggon— 'we were talking about the explosion— did not tell 
 
 fi. 
 
 ..tfi. 
 

 „r 
 
 31 
 
 ^7 person tl^t I was hiding in tlie wood,r4 co\iseqnence of th. 
 expl^^n, and did not tell them to sav/l was Sot thj^\^ 
 
 „?«!' r %. , ^'^^ ™*" I went into the w^xJsacain I 
 was ^ere when Police Constables Am andmSSa^ 
 they brought me to the city. I have no knovE Yhow L 
 accident occun^ed, and am perfectly imio(StTS^ LvZ^ 
 ^ know nothing at all about tie Ltter but whS I^TsSx 
 
 . / / his 7 ^ ■ 
 
 /PATRICK « CROCkWEL£. 
 
 mark. 
 
 Sworn to at Halifex, this 20th 
 day of August, A.i). 1857, 
 before me, — being first read 
 
 / 
 
 over. 
 
 I JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 CifyofHalifiix, 
 To-wit : 
 
 H«liv !^ • K^""' f.*^^ ""^y °f Halifax, in the county of 
 Hali&x esquire, being duly sworn, deposeth M saith-Ir am 
 a member of the committee of City P^neX The'PowZ 
 
 Sru '':Js'\ 1 that <^tS:^^itcoS St 
 
 could be stowed. I entered the Magarine the two Io« 
 north and s^th were open. I found ttSJr ih a ^ sSS 
 
 to the mode of keeping the Magazine, and sugKestedSmTLT 
 Sr fSl" T P'^« o^«^«^g«. lest ihe^SSd^y'sT; 
 wC^^ / ^^ ^° P^'^^®'' <>° *e floor, Hi the floi per- 
 
 S^ i^™r.;«. I ^ted it again in May last, in compTr ^5i 
 the committee. Mr. Lyle was again lading powder 1 went 
 Tw Magaimie again, and sa^^thing I f oSdjSnt ouTt 
 the keeper as bemg wrong-suggested getting somV «mwr Tr 
 composition tools for theltfafflS, whfoh wSe gt. X .JL 
 
 
 
 
^,C»iSi.HlMi!^',if^^>; 
 
 STWjnr-- 
 
 V. 
 
 82 
 
 amined the exterior of the building, and found a small piece of 
 ccbper off the shuttQr, and a small piece of copper on the ridge- 
 pole broken, which we reported to the chairman. If I had seen 
 aiivthing in the exterior appearance of the building that requi- 
 red repair, I would, have thought it part , of my duty to have it 
 rectified or repaired immediately. I do not know from my own 
 kiwwledge, nor have I heard any thing that would lead me to 
 conclude how the explosion took place. 
 
 \ 1 
 
 JAMES COCHRAN. 
 
 Sworn 
 
 to at Halifax, this 20th 
 day of August, A.D. 1857, 
 before me. 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 r% 
 
 ^*- 
 
 City of Halifax, ; 
 To-wit: S 
 
 XT VI. ^**^®^ Lownds, of the city of Halifax, in the county of 
 HabfiiX, esquire, bemg duly sworn, deposeth aQd saith :— I am 
 a member of the committee of City Property. The Powder 
 Magazme is in charge of that committee. Early in May last* or 
 the latter part of April, I officially visited the Magazine, toge- 
 ther with some others of the committee. The keeper was pre- ' 
 sent, and receiving powder from a vessel at the Magazine wharf 
 I went into the Aficazine at that time, and found it in an orderly 
 state. If there had been any powder on the floor I would not 
 have gone in. There were no holes in the floor that I saw. On 
 the occasion I speak of. I went round the building— saw there 
 were loop-holes, some 16 or 18 inches high,' 4 or6 inches wide 
 —saw nothing m the walls that would lead me to think they 
 wanted repair. It was fqr that purpose the CQmmittee went up 
 to the Magazme. When the committee reported that the whari 
 WM out of repair ttf the City Council, they, the City Council 
 ordered^the committee to have it immediately repaired, which 
 they did at & cost of ninety-five pounds odd. When it was re- 
 ported to the Council that the adze and driver used in the Ma- 
 gazine were not of the description which were considered safe 
 the Council ordered the committee to get copper or compositi6n 
 oues, which they did, such as are used in the Govetnment Ma^ 
 
 ■ I 
 

 83 
 
 Kme. 
 
 Orders yere ajao givto to Marshall for a copper shovel. 
 
 Je loop holes I have spoken hS went through the walls of the 
 hdilding, underneath the floor k the building, on the western 
 ffi" : ^^1- ? ^^ ''°^®'" theVfloor through the loop-holes- 
 Did not see heht through any jW of the Magazjne but the 
 djor— Saw no bagging in the Wholes— Did not think the tjde 
 
 ime into the cellar of the MagaziAe-it might possibly go in at 
 £y Id ■ ^ ^Depressions l^re that the calamity waa the 
 
 M. LOWNDS. 
 
 ^wom to at Halifaix, this 20th ) 
 day of August, A. D. 1857, ) 
 before me, \ 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 Halifax City, l 
 To-wit: . i 
 
 L TT , J'"^"" ^*'^*^' °^ *^® ^^*y <>f Halifax, in the county 
 T "*J'5«^' esquire, being duly sworn, deposeih and saith -—In 
 Jespect to the repairs of the Magazine buildings I stat^ that when 
 inythmg was reported to me as chairman of the committee of 
 JVity I'roi^rty, wanting repair, I immediately had it done. I 
 have had frequent occasions tc) visit the Magazine officially, and 
 have brought master tradesmeb with me to>int them oS the 
 repairs and improvements necessary to be made— Did not notice 
 any disjepair m the walls. I believe there were no hdes in the 
 
 S. • i** rMj?"" ^l ^^''^^ ««* **»«>^gl»^ There were air 
 holes in the building I think about 18 incles by 2 or 8 inch^' 
 The walls could not have been in a state of disrepair, or I ^uld 
 
 finL?."" ?'T'.'^ ^ ^^""^ *° *^« ^'^^^^^^ fo"- the purpose of 
 finding out what wte required to be done. Thek^peV^Mr 
 Maraha 1, always mamfested great anxiety to have the Wlding 
 m safe keeping: aiid several months ag^, I think last winter 
 Ti\ Jf® *°°'^ '.° "^' *°*^ h«l copper ones immediately sudI 
 tt}^ * ' committee of City PropS^ty, who also direct^ him 
 S f.l'^PP«';9h«^«l- I>'^i"g the Cerent year, the committee 
 ot Orjr Property represented to the Oi?uncil that the wharf at 
 
 Jhl • ^"^f- """* T ""^ .^'P*^ ; *« <^0'«^«" forthwith gave 
 them instructions to have it immediately repaired, which they 
 did at an expense of over ninety-five pounds. It L an ~^'-^-~ 
 
 f-K 
 
 I f. 
 
 'ft- 
 
 -\ . 
 
 
'''^ i m m <i *f- .^ 'm^^ 
 
 34 
 
 tWv 
 
 6,<."* 
 
 impresBion on my mind that the explosion of the Magazine was 
 the work of an incendiary. 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this 20th 
 dftyof August, A. D. 1857, 
 ..b|Bfore me, 
 
 WILLJAM MACKAY. 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 City of Halifax, ; ' 
 
 To-wit ; \ 
 
 . Samuel Tufts, of the city of Halifax, in the county of 
 Halifax, carpenter, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith :— The 
 day previous to the explosion of the Magazine I was working in 
 Mr. McAgy's store, a short distance from the Magazine, and 
 worked there until 7 o'clock on that evening. I sav a woman 
 of middle ag near the place where I was workinft-f«he had 
 been batliinge Passing the place where I was Iwking, I 
 heard her say, " By God jrou will not rest in your bed to- 
 night, without I get satisfaction"— Did not know who she was 
 addressing herself to. My impression was that she was going 
 to the Police. Shortly afterwards my son/tdld me Ihait he saw 
 a boy throw a stone and struck the womah on the head«--Did 
 not hear the woman say anything else., I do not know from my 
 own knowledge, nor from anything I have heard, how the explo- 
 sion took place. 
 
 SAMUEL TUFTS. 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this 20ih i 
 , day of August, A. D. 1857, [ 
 before me, ^ ^ 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 
 Halifax City, ; , 
 To wit: \ 
 
 . _ -Robert G. Eraser, of the City of Halifax, in the County 
 of Halifax, Chemist and Druggist, being duly sworn, deposeth 
 and saith : — I have turned my attention to Chemistry. Ther^ 
 is no case recorded that has met my notice of spontaneous ex- 
 
 /■ 
 
 .^im 
 

 tmg, I 
 
 "*v: 
 
 86 
 
 plosion of Gunpowder. Phosphorus is a chief ingrUent in 
 matches now in use. Pure Phosphorus is in a state of com- 
 bustion whe^ the heat of the atmosphere Bpproaches 90 or 
 \ thereabouts. In mixing Phosphorus for matches it is usually 
 ^ «o°»bmed with, gum, by mere mechaniail mixture or process-- 
 do not think It probable that a Phosphorus match would igm'te 
 ^ithout friction If th? heat waa at 90 tjie slightest friction 
 Tould Ignite a Phosphorus match. The imperfect preparation 
 of matches exposing any portion of the Phosphorus uncom- 
 bed. W0UJ4 necessarily lead to its combustion -in case of heat. 
 It \a rat or mouse ^vcre to disturb a Phospliorus match, the 
 8 latest motion might pos^bly ignite it. Did not observe the 
 state of the atmosphere on Ihe night of the explosion. I do not 
 Deli^e that heat lightning would cause a misfortune like the 
 explbsion of the Magazine. I have never turned my attention 
 to th* study :f shooting stars. I have no idea how the Maga- • 
 zine ekplode'd— nnlessf'it were by design. In case of the fall of 
 a caskjof ivpowder from the tier on the floor, coming in contact 
 witn sUarp sand, or any flinty snbstance, it is possible that com- 
 bifetion\may ensue. . "* 
 
 Sworn to\at Halifex, this 20th ; 
 day of Uugust, A. D. 1857, } 
 before me, \ 
 
 ROBT. G. FRASER. 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 CityofHalilfax, 
 To-wit : 
 
 f IT ,./®*er Laughlan, of the city of Halifax,' in the county 
 ot Maiilax mterchant, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith :— 
 About half-prist seven o'clock on the night of the^ explosion, 
 standing at mkr door m company with Mr. Cochran, saw somel 
 thing like a ricket or shooting star in the direction of the Pro- 
 vince Buildmi. Spoke to Mr. Cochran about it at the time— 
 ^e did not see It J there were no stars to be seen in the sky at 
 y»e tune. About an hour after, I saw something similar over 
 /erusalem wwohouae ; there were no stars visibleihen in the sky. 
 » mentioned th? circumstance to Mr. Wilson,Dartmoutfa,who told 
 
 
 ■ -t 
 
 
\ 36 
 
 .» \ -. 
 
 me) lie had si^n something ainiilar. I think the shooting stars I 
 have alluded to. may have beca the cause of the explosion. 
 
 " ' ,••-*:■ "^ his 
 
 PETER X LAUGHLAN. 
 ■ . ' ' \ . mark. 
 
 Swoi-n to at Hali&x, this 2l8t ] 
 
 dayof August, A.:^. 1867, I ' ' 
 
 before me, — being first read [ . . 
 
 over. " J ' 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 City of Halifax, > 
 , To-wit: \ 
 
 flenry Peters, of the city of Halifax, in the county of 
 Halifax, gentleman, being duly swor^i, deposeth' and saith : — On 
 two or three occasions have seen a stranger going to the Maga- 
 zine — saw the key in his hand — I am told his name is Crockett. 
 Wednesday before the explosion was the last time 1 saw powder 
 leaving the Magazine. I was under the imj^ession that I saw 
 the Magazine open on^ Thursday, but on reflection I find that it 
 was Wednesday I saw the powder leaving and not on Thursday. 
 From my own knowledge, or from anything I have heard before 
 or since the explosion, 1 can form no conclusion how the cala- 
 mity took place. 
 
 HENRY PETERS. 
 
 Sworn to at Hali&x, this 21st ) ^ 
 dayi>f August, A. D. 1857, [ 
 before me, } 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 Halifiix City, I 
 
 To-wit:— S . 
 
 Thomas lUng, of the city of Halifax, in the county of Ha- 
 li&z,- esq,, being dttly sworn, deposeth and saith : — I am a mem- 
 ber of the committee of City Pi^party. I visited the M<^;azine 
 in reference to the Magazine wfauf some time in May last At 
 that time trent nnuid me Magazine, and went tim tmx)ngh it*-" 
 ^otmd it iii a good stat&^oon clean, and evervthing regular. 
 'iHbej were tuing hi powder at the tiibe — both wMrtwero op6n. 
 
 
 y-'-JSfflfc'" , 
 
 .A^" 
 
8T 
 
 ■X'tX 
 
 ng stars I 
 ion. 
 
 ooanty of 
 ith :— On 
 he Maga- 
 Crockett. 
 w powder 
 lat I saw 
 nd that it 
 Chursday. 
 ird before 
 the cala- 
 
 CERS. 
 
 iy of Ha- 
 ul amem- 
 
 e 
 
 last At 
 jtigh it— 
 I r^Iar. 
 rtire op6n. 
 
 The powder waa piloi away snug. The men were carrying in 
 the powder on handbarrows. I thought that their boots were 
 not of the proper description to be used for such a purpose. 
 The exterior walls appeared to be in ^ood Order. The only ob- 
 jection I had was the buildings near it on the wharf, belonging 
 to private parties, and I thought them dangerous. I observed 
 some holeis througli the foundation wall underneath th^^ floor — 
 they had perforated plates of metal a short distance in the holes. 
 Th«e was more than one of those holes. The stowage of -the 
 powder was quite satisfactory to me, and also the general Aja- 
 pearance'' of the way in which the Magazine was kept. I did 
 not see a grain of powder on the floor— if I had seen any I . 
 should have ordered the doors to be closed and a stoppage put to 
 the work. From my own knowledge, or from any thma that 
 has come to my knowledge, I do not know how the cuamity 
 occurred, but believe it to have originated by design. 
 
 THOMAS RING.* 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this 24th 
 day of August, A. D. 1857 
 
 before me. 
 
 :i 
 
 J. JJPNNINGS, J. P. 
 
 City of Hali&x, ) 
 
 To-wit: S .^ 
 
 William Cocken. of the City of Halifex, in the County 
 ^of Halifax, Master Mariner, being duly swwn, deposeth and 
 saith : — About a quarter of an hour,Jifter the explosion, I call- 
 ed on Mr: Marshall, who, lives opposite me— he appeared to be in 
 great trouble— did not ask him for the keys of the Magazine- 
 did not see them. Nothing that has come to mv knowledge be- 
 fore or since the Magazine explosion would lead me to conclude 
 how the accident tO<i placfr— observed a great many shooting 
 stars in the early part of that evening. ^^ 
 
 WILLIAM COCKEN. 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this 24th i 
 day of August, 1857, before > 
 
 * J. JBNNINGSj J. P. 
 
 me. 
 
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 38 
 
 Halifax City, 
 To-wit: 
 
 Ann Brodj, of the cily of Halifax, in the countyof Ha- 
 iatVSS '1^'°^ 'i"^/ '''''^''' ^«P«seth and saith :-0n the 
 SAl '? r°° f ,**^* Magazine, Mr. Marshall brought the 
 keys home between 12 and 1 o'clock, and laid them Sn the 
 fcr .T'^Y/^^^^^P^d there until the explosion took pla^' 
 bhortly after the explosion two or three persons came into ihe 
 
 t'ln'dT^wr^r ^^ ^,^^tl«y^ I ti^en went to the drS 
 ser and took the keys up and showed them to Mr. Bentley, say- 
 
 h^L k^r'.f'^K M ^'^? '^ ?' Magazine." I know t&;m i 
 M.tt to^ t^Magazme-have known them ever since Mr. 
 Marshall became the keeper. Have been 22 years in Mr MaJl 
 
 tft^rl^-- Z^'^'^' f '^' ^^^'^' ^«r« never outTf 
 the house at night-Never knew of them being taken out of the 
 
 wZ^ M^P.T'^ ^"^ ^'- ^*"'^^"' t)ut%n one cicLon 
 wlfen Mr. Marshall was sick-I think it was to Mr. Keith S 
 
 Tnl^htttrthT;. M^"" ^^""T "^y P'^'^^^ ^^^'^ retiring 
 at night to see that the Magazme keys were in their place, anS 
 
 I never missed them on any occasion. I know noSiing wr- 
 
 sonally, neither -have I hear/ anything either before oSe^be 
 
 aSr 1 ^' ^"^'^^ ^^'^^ ^°^1^^«^ ^' to U^e concliL^on 
 as to how the accident occurred. ""v^iuojuu 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this ] 
 24th d&y of August, A. D. 
 1857, before mo, — being 
 first read over. 
 
 her 
 ANN XI BRODY. 
 mark. 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 ■( 
 
 Ci^ of Halifax, 
 To-wit : 
 
 of TT«l,-i?^^^ ^^*^^,! °^ *^^ ""^y <^f H«lifaX' ^ the county 
 of Hah&x, maatoaker, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith Z 
 Wae in my yard-saw the explosion, and went to tMb «^^^ of 
 
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 • 39 
 
 disaster, I remained a few minutes there, and thought I would 
 go and see after Mr. Marshall, Went to his house— found him 
 much agitated, and tried to pacify him. Was showed one or 
 more keys by the housekeeper, who told me that l^r^ were the 
 keys of the Magazine — One was a very large key, ^L have not, 
 from anything that ha& come to my knowledge either before or 
 after the explosion, been able to come to any conclusion as to 
 how. the accident took place. 
 
 WILLIAM BENTLY. 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this ■24 th J 
 day of August, A. D^ 1857, > 
 before me, . ' ) ' /^^ 
 
 J. JENNINGS, J. P. 
 
 1^ ' 
 
 ■-4 
 
 Ilalifax City, / x 
 To-wit : \ 
 
 Andrew Mackinlay, of the city of Halifax, in the coun- 
 ty of Halifax, esquire, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith : — 
 I know of no instance in my reading of Gunpowder alone explo- 
 ding spontaneously. There is a class of substances subject to 
 spontaneous ^mbustion ; — for example, oil of turpentine, char- 
 coal, oiled rags of woollen or cotton, &c. Phosphorus willignite 
 spontaneously at a temperature of 150. If phosphorus matches 
 were accidentally dropped in any part of the^Magazine, it would 
 be very dangerous. Both electricity and dryness would have a 
 tendency to facilitate the ignition of matches composed of phos- 
 phorus. Ordinary sheet lightning is not likely to set anything 
 on fire on the earth. The meteors I saw about that time would 
 not probably do any damage ; they generally shoot from east to 
 west, and passing at a height too great a distance from the 
 earth, I can form no idea of the probable cause of the explo- 
 sion. 
 
 ANDREW MACKINLAY. 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this 24th 
 day of August, A. D. 1857, 
 before me. 
 
 XJEIJININGS,J.K 
 
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PJ_^ 
 
 N%S^.*- 
 
 
 iOity of Halifax, 
 
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 w pai|^fira«kot, ojr.the city of H»lifia, in the county 
 .d J^iw^^^inan, b^ing duly sworn, deposeth and saiUi:^- 
 Pn the bight (^ the explosion of |the Powder Magazine I waa ia 
 li aiwl boat belonging to Mr. John McNab, alone—Waa coming 
 from Black Point, Dartmouth, towards Canard's wharf, and was 
 abreaat of the FW-sh^, and to the eastward of her, when the 
 fiploaion took p&oe. ' It was a darkish night, andi perfectly 
 «IJm. Jrom the time I left the iBlack Point until the explo^ 
 si^p took place, I did not see or hear any. bjaat leaving the llt^ 
 Wfk shore. If there had been a boat l[&ving the western shore 
 with a light in her, I think I would have seen her. Part of the 
 time Black Point shut out the Magazine from my view. I had 
 no light in my boat, and was rowing. It took me 1 j hours to 
 cross from Black Point to Cutwrd's wharf. From wiything I 
 know or have heard, I can comet,to no conclusion as to the cnuse 
 of the disaster. , 
 
 hi% 
 
 REDMOND k BRACKET. 
 
 mark. 
 
 Sworn to at Halifax, this 24th 1 
 day ofAngust, A. 1>. 1857, ( 
 Jbefore me,— being ^rst read [ 1 • 
 
 over. J \ 
 
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