Morning journal and courier., 1885-08-18
YOUNG PRELLERsS LAST MOANS. The Noises Heard in she Room Ad.

YOUNG PRELLER's LAST MOANs. The Noises Heard In the Room Ad-
 joining.
 NEW YORK, Aug. 17.-W. K. Ross of No. 97 Chambers street. who occupied the room in the Southern Hotel adjoining the one in which Preller's murdered body was found, was to-day called upon by United Press reporter and asked as to his opinion of Maxwell's story that Prel1er is alive and that the body found was one procured with the idea of defrauding the insurance company. Mir. Ross said: ''It does not seem possible, but have really stopped theorizing on the subject. All know about the case is what told at the time the murder was first dis covered. I heard 1abored breathing coming from the room as if some one was ill and suffering, and believing this to be the cause did not make further inquiries. Since I made known the fact that heard these sounds my statements have been greatly e1- aggerated and have been taken to task by some of the papers for not testifying. One hears so many noises and sounds in hotel that it becomes natural not to pay attention to them. In this instance it seemed so clearly case of ordinary illness and suffering that I did not think for an instant that it was my business to interfere. I was in my room nearly all the afternoon writing and I heard the labored breathing and a kind of low moaning. There was also a sound of running water The noise disturbed me great deal. The sounds continued I should say about three hours. left the room at o'clock and at that time did not notice them so plainly. When returned half hour or so later I heard nothing. was busy packing up. left St. Louis that evening""
 Maxwell Identified.
 ST. LOUIS, Aug 17,-Maxwe1 was to-day positively identified by the pool room keeper of the Southern Hotel as the man who played pool with Preller the day previous to the murder, also by the trunk dealer of whom he bought the trunk in which the body of his victim was packed, and by the druggist of whom he bought the chloroform. Max we'll was photographed to-day. He has re- tained John I. Martin, of this city, as his counsel.
 Crushed Under a Falling Roof.
 LAPERE, Mich, Aug. 1.-The roof of the grand stand of the LaPere county fair col lapsed at noon to-day. Fifteen men were in- jured. W. H. Wood was the most seriously hurt. Others were severely injured both in ternally and externally.
 GUNP0wBER ON THE DECK. A Steamers Boiler Blown Up and
 Several of Her Passengers In-
 jured.
 PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 1.-The boiler of the steamer Daniel M. Fetton, owned by the Pennsylvania company, exploded this morn ing just after she had left her dock on her trip to Wilmington. It shook the boat from stem to stern and when the smoke cleared away it was found that the entire forward part of the vessel above the water line had been badly damaged and 8 number of pas sengers injured, some of them it is believed fatally. The pilot house and upper deck were lifted and fell to the lower deck. The bow presented 8 scene of wreck. Tugs went at once to the injured vessel and removed the injured, who so far as known are as fol- lows John G. McDunn, Chester, legs badly smashed; Silas Reed, Philadelphia, badly shocked and bruised; Bessie Bradley, Phila- delphia, ankle dislocated; Samuel Cooper, Philadelphia, injured about head and body; John Stevenson, Camden, shocked; George Cockayre, Philadelphia, thigh cut; George Eiven, injured about limbs and body; J. B. Chester, deck hand, badly cut.
 The steamer was immediately lowed down the river and, it is said, will be taken to Wilmington for repairs. The cause of the explosion is as yet uncertain. The passen- gers and many of those who saw it from the shore insist that gunpowder or 8 similar plosive was ignited on the forward deck, and oro1v Tuh yva, limo fha pier declared that they distinctly noticed the odor of gunpowder. There has been con- siderable rivalry between the Felton and oth- CT boats running to Wilmington and reports have gained ground that some malicious per son placed an explosive on the deck This is mere rumor, however.
 There were more than five hundred people on the boat-men, women and children when the explosion occurred. The wrecked upper works took fire and frightful panic ensued. This was speedily checked by the coolness of a number of men who drove the women and children aft and prevented many frantic women from leaping overheard. Be- sides those seriously hurt 8 large number were almost quite seriously stunned by the shock. An incident of the disaster was the presence of some Sisters of Charity, who seemed in no way excited or affected by the terrific upheayal. They passed quietly among the shrieking pas sengers searching out the wounded, and one of the Sisters was seen to make bandages out of her clothing. The promptness with which assistance came from all sides, from passing steamers and from the shore, allayed the panic and prevented the fire from spreading. The passengers were taken ashore and the steamer was lowed down stream. She is not injured below the water line, and beyond the tearing away of her works forward is injured. It is said that the cost of repairing her will not exceed $500.
 There now seems but little doubt about the explosion being due to dynamite or gunpow- der, though no one seems to know how it was taken on board. Witnesses say that at the moment of the explosion everything be- came enveloped in darkness and the boat rocked as if in a heavy storm.
 FIGHTING FOR HER FURNITURE. Woman While Resisting the Re.