Page 137 - Reading Mercury

fortunately a strong gale from the land preserved the shipping in the harbour from
destruction while the Scipio passed along, and that prevented greater misfortunes.
About eight o’clock in the evening the Scipio was four Italian miles from the port,
when the great explosion took place in the store room, containing 300 barrels of
gunpowder. The column of fire rose to the height of near 300 fathoms; a large smoke
ensued, which appeared intersected with flames, and, during several minutes the
whole horizon seemed to be on fire.
The explosion was so great that it resembled the effect of the most dreadful shock of
an earthquake, and an immense number of window panes in the city burst. After the
explosion of the store-room, the water rushed into the body of the hulk which began
to sink.
About two o‘clock in the morning no farther signs of fire appeared on the surface of
the sea.
In the morning, a piece of the ship was still seen out of the water, full of coals and
covered with dead corpses.
It is shocking to remark, that by a fire which lasted only a few hours, a ship was
blown up, reckoned to be worth one million of piastres, besides two hundred men of
the crew, including M. de Goy, the Captain, who would not quit her.
This dreadful accident is said to have been caused by a barrel of brandy being set on
fire by a light which was burning near it.
To the above loss we must add that to a great quantity of live stock, and all kinds of
provisions destined for Toulon.

1794
th
Mon 6 Jan
R. Creaker of the Ship Inn, Wokingham, gratefully returns his sincere thanks to his
friends, and the public, for their past favors, and hopes for a continuance of the same;
and begs to inform them that his STAGE WAGGON sets out from Wokingham every
Tuesday morning at six o’clock, to the Belle Savage, Ludgate-Hill, and returns from
thence every Wednesday morning at 12 o’clock. For the convenience of gentlemen
residing at Binfield, Warfield, &c. goods are taken in at Mr. Stannaway’s, the
Shoulder of Mutton, and at the Stag and Hounds, and Jock of Newbury, at Binfield;
Mr. Stark’s, at the Bull at Bracknell; and Mr. Bronsvelt’s, Sunninghill.
He pledges himself by strict attention and assiduity to merit the patronage of his
friends and the public.
Calls at the White Horse Cellar, and Black Bear, Piccadilly, both going in and
coming out of London
Will not be accountable for money, plate, watches, jewels or writings unless entered
and paid for accordingly.

rd
Mon 3 March
WOKINGHAM, BERKS
On Monday, March 3 1794, will commence selling of, considerably under prime cost,
the entire STOCK in TRADE of Mr. George Chase. Linen and Woollen Draper,
Haberdasher, Mercer, Hosier, &c. under a commission of bankruptcy for the benefit
of creditors; consisting of the very best Irish linens, muslins, sheetings, table linen,
housewife linen, dowlas, dimities, printed linen, and calicoes; superfine broad cloths,
second cloths, elastic velverets, thicksets, fustians, lustrings, modes, sarsenets,
Persians, sewing silks, threads, tapes, baises, flannels; silk, cotton, and worsted hose,
&c, &c.

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