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varying from 1000 to 1500 yards from the place of the explosion.
A portion of the keel of one of the vessels is due only to be discovered by divers on the bottom at the site of the former Wharf, and some of it was found at the bottom, nor any of the store rooms found entered. I am inclined to agree with those who think that the whole of the powder on board both vessels did actually explode.
If so, I have since ascertained that ninety-six tons of powder exploded, an enormous quantity, and I am not aware of any explosion on a similar scale having occurred in recent years.
7. The loss of life occasioned by the destruction of this vessel and of a few native boats which were actually alongside of them, or in their immediate neighborhood, is supposed to have been about thirty, and of the latter six bodies, all Chinese, were recovered, drowned in three. Neighbors were drowned by the upsetting of their boats.
8. The "Loophyss. AVAS" was anchored at the time of the explosion about 23 feet, and she was drawing nearly 20 feet. Hence the mud at the bottom was greatly disturbed that 200 minutes after the explosion, seven fathoms of water, accompanied by a dense mass of smoke and fragments ejected, were observed.