Brownsville, Texas was the site of a major catastrophe 160 years ago when a large number of kegs filled with gunpower exploded near Charles Stillman's brick building on the Levee and 12th Street which spread to buildings on Elizabeth St. Henry Miller was in the building adjoining miraculously survived the explosion which blew him through an 18" brick wall but two others did not survive. Charles Stillman was with his family in Connecticut at the time it happened. Below is a detailed account as it was reprinted from American Flag (Brownsvile's newspaper of the time) almost a month after it happened in the Galveston Weekly News November 10, 1857.
from 1885 Sanborn map - approximate site of explosion
A Mr. [Henry] Miller was. standing In the countingroom of the Stillman building, adjoining the burning store, and at the time of the explosion was hurled head first through an 18 inch brick wall. Mr. Miller miraculously survived but two other unfortunate citizens who were blown through the same wall were both killed instantly. "You may ask how I know he went head first," Mr. [William] Neale said. "He must have gone through that way--no other part of him could have withstood the shock, and I know that the quality and soundness of his head had been proven previously. Another proof of his having gone through the wall head first was. that if his head was not broken, the bricks were, and several brickbats were extracted from under his scalp at different times during several weeks after by Dr. Watson, and I got these facts from him." Mr. Neale said that "my friend Henry was the only one in the crowd who could stand It. the others being killed." The actual number of lives lost in the fire, which spread all over the business section, has never been definitely ascertained."
~ quote borrowed from Bloody Era Characterized by Pistol Duels and Devastating Conflagrations Gun Powder Supplies Explode In Terrible Fire of 1857 By Jack H.Rutledge Page 12 Brownsville Herald 27 April 1930
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