New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-22
THE BURNED HOTEL.

TIE SEARCH IN THE ASHES AT LOCUST GROVE At
AN END-EX-MAYOR GUNTHER's ACCOUNT OF
THE FIRE-sTORY OF TIE BOYS WHO WERE IN
TIE OIL-RoOM.
The work of searching the ruins at Locust
Grove was stopped yesterday, every inch Of ground
within the walls OF the buildings having been carefully
examined. Waterman, however, still guards
the spot permitting nothing to be removed. Ex-
Mayor Gunther said TO TRIDUSE reporter
last evening that the expectations that much Jew
ery and money would be recovered have proved vain.
The shapeess Jumps that found IN such prouson,
and thought to Of great value have been assayed and
show that most of the valuable iewery that many
of the guests claimed lost OF the cheap sort
roll of charred banknotes and about 50 In gold coin
have been obtained recently, however.
The inquest concerning the death Of the four Victims
william schuchardt, Joseph W. Pierce, Louisa Crane
and Catherine Rafter was held last evening at New
Utrecht in T. Lott Barrels grocery store.
Ex-Mayor c. G. Gmther, the owner OF the hotel was
tbe first witness examined. He testified as follows
" on the evening OF August 10 was sitting with my
family on the rear piazza OF the hotel The ogoOm was
under the pavilion and l could sec the door About
7:I5 p. NJ three men enter the door win iight
md not the and do not remember Wbh sort
Of a light they had, but In few moments TWO ot them
ga me running out with their clothes on IRE called to
them to roll IN the grass. but they ran 10 the wafer
The floor immediately began 10 ouiR, anI as tLe
wind was from the southeast helped the hre which
drew through all sides very rapidly IN zen minutes
the whole building was on re ana by II cIoch IL was
lat There were about lfty persons men, women ana
Itdreu ON the premises. gave the alarm, telling all
to gather up their property ana get out as last as posi-
,rr acGuaintcd with Catherine Rafter, but had not
known Louisa Crane very long, met Cath
crne I'm tho entry, where sne was gag
eng with the smoke, ana told her 10
hurry ont she ran into the kitchen and that was the
iast saw OF her After the fire boy whom under
stood To be a hOOt-Dack on steamboat Drought me
tvn g1lus which had belonged TO schucbardt, saying
that schuchardt bad told MN some reno" nau Se c
place OF IRE" believe the fire was CAUSED Dy Tue up
setting Of barrel Of Kerosene near amp ueiIu 10
explosion. There not great quantity OF on ID ho
rnm Gasoline has not been used on the premises Tor
over year 10 my knowledge btoIc 'n"I t'IHc 1t -'
been M u,e for eleven years. - ,co
Frederick o. Ketcham, who resides nc No, 4uo
Degrawst Brook yu, testified that be h4d SOFA zero
ser To Mr. Walker the proprietor OF the Locust Grove
p,viIfnu T. tT.rts g. WikIu. Of No D Cedar-,t, New
York. being sworn. said that he had SOFA walker
tvruty-gaIl Gag OF beuZue, oi 7b' nrr-test
Jacob Coustiuc and James Marion, the uoNs VINO were
q, badly butued testified that they were employed At
Bath Park about mile from Locust Grove. On tL'
evening OF the fire they Mere sent % MI MaLhS 10
rnN live gallons OF OIL" Mr.. Walker sent Scuucud"l
IN ne oil rom 10 get II for them, win llJuncuohs not
IN take light or II ne DID, 10 be very careful Schu,
chardt took light ANA COustuo noticed tht ne asttu
strangely In pouring the on IRON 'ng r ,c' w.
was supplied with bit OF gaN-ppe da ="
f,Ilcet into the pals which the boys Drought
Le spilled a great deal on tue moor III
stauty sheet Of flame covered the noo anu SCI uie 10
nfcEIv and tLe blys followed. COusnc punglhE INTO
Inc water and Marion rolling IN the sand TO eXngush
thell blazing clothing tn boys sdla lhat lut e'ol
WAS that OF burning kerosene ana not -isoilic OF "D
,iU. and bntb uosiuyrIy stated that the IRE dld nor
criiuatr near lie lamp but schucbardt, VINO was
nbout Zen feet from The lamp. From NM thty -"iu tc
d.mes sy,cu toward the lamp, winch was near u'c
yi i,r, rendered a verdict in conformity with The
sl iusfs saving that tine fire resulted from Tue lsu-
ZION Of OIL in a manner 10 the jury unknown.