The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-04-06
Friehtful Tragedy.


q fearful tragedy occurred in the Office o.
the Messrs. Jewett, 1872 Front street
white lead manufacturers, where bomb
shell exploded, instantly killing George
W. Jewett, of Port Richmond, Staten
Island, the head of the firm and the son
of John Jewett. Orville D. Jewett, 9
relative and also member of the firm,
had his left hand shattered, and suffered
internal injuries. He was taken to the
Chambers street hospital. Joseph
A. Dean, of Orange, N. j. had his knee
pan fractured and suffered internal in
iuries. Both Mr.. Dean and o. d.
Jewett refuse to make any statement OF
the particulars of the terrible affair.
Pistols and large dagger were found
among the trio. The explosion occurred
in the Office on the second floor. The
windows are blown out; the SCOT is two
inches deep on the floor and the office
furniture is powdered to bits. The
pieces of the bombshell are in the room,
and the pistols and dagger are at the
police station. The body of Jewett lies
in his private Office fronting on Burling
Slip. The corpse and carpet are bathed
in gore. His face was all blackened
with SCOT and his hands were coal black.
The coroner Is investigating the case.
Portions of the conlcle shell or hand
grenade were found imbeded in the walls
and ceiling of the room, and two revol-
vers and large knife were found on the
floor. A scabbard and belt correspond
ing to one of the revolvers were found
on the person of o. d. Jewett. Three
clerks and son of Mr.. Dean were in the
adjoining room at the time of the explo-
sion, and were positive in their ascer-
tions that the shell had never been in the
place. After the war, four shells, picked
up on the battle field, were sent to the
members of the firm, who had them
emptied into the East river. Clark says
the shell must have been brought to the
office this morning by one OF the injured
men. The theory of the police is this:
George w. and Orville d. Jewett, be-
came involved in dispute, and that the
shell must have been used as weapon.
This theory is strengthened by the dis
covery of revolver and knife in the
room where one of the revolvers was
found. Its barrel was warm and one OF
the chambers was empty, with
an exploded cap on it, Every
effort was made to find out the
cause of it, but beyond the fact that
shell had exploded nothing could be
learned, as Mr.. Dean, when asked tor in
formation both by the police and report
ers, merely answered, Don't ask me-"
The explosion caused great excitement
and sympathy, and the open space in
Burling Slip was soon crowded with
people. A section Of police were soon
on the scene, and regular tire-line was
established, no one being permitted to
pass it who did not belong to the former
or who was not called there by legitimate
business.
Rumors of disagreement between The
partners were circulated, and one person
who claimed to be intimately connected
with the firm, told Commercial re-
porter that the business matters had not
been going on lately as harmonlously y as
they might have done.
One theory advanced as to the cause of
the explosion is, that theshell was thrown
into the crate with coal, and another that
it was percussion shell and exploded
while being carelessly handled. Orvllle
D. Jewett served in the army during the
war, and it is stated that the shell was
kept by him in the Office as relic of the
struggle, and others who profess to be
familiar with the Office deny the exist
ence there of any such dangerous mentor.
Dean was able to be driven TO his resi-
dence at Waverly Place, but Orville d.
Jewett, who resides at Orange, n. D.,
was taken to the hospital, where, late IN
the afternoon, he was though to be dying.
A friend of the firm chsracterizcs as
"cruel" the rumor that the disaster was
the result in some direct way of disa-
greements among its members. 5. +.
Rawson, of "a Wall street, stated that his
firm was the legal advisers OF .. ID.
Jewett and knew all of the facts, and
that the rumor is without the slightest
foundation. 1t had been decided on
January lst that o. D. Jewett should re-
tire from business, and final adjustment
of the matter was to have been made at
Rawson's office to-day. There was no
feeling but that of good will among ali
the parties. The firm was composed of
George w. Jewett, who was killed, j. A.
Dean, slightly wounded, .. d. Jewett
badly wounded, and Charles A, Jones,
not injured.