The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-07-19
DLVWN ~ hIVMVI
Bruce Ramage, a Merchant, Fa.
tally Injured
And his Store Room Torn Into
Kindllng Wood
By the Explosion of three Dyna,
mite Cartridges,
Deposited Beneath it with MUIR
derOus Intent.
A Shocking Tragedy at the Union
Coal Works.
Ramage's Late Partner Under Ar
rest for the Deed.
Bad Testimony Brought out at the
COrOner's Inquest,
Which Indicates that it was q
Deliberate Murder.
Bad Testimony Brought out at the
COrOner's Inquest,
Which Indicates that 1t was o
Deliberate Murder.
The Injured Man Lives Foul
Hours in Awful Agony.

Union Coal Works, on the Ohio side Of the
river, opposite Moupdsville, by which
Bruce Ramage, a merchant who kept the
one store in the village, lost his life, and
the building in which his store was located
was literally demolished and the frag'
ments burned to ashes.
About half past two o'clock the resi-
dents OF the little mining town were
startled by a loud report, and the conClu'
sion was at once Jumped atthat there had
been an accident at the coal shaft. The
inhabitants hurriedly arose and rushed
half clothed from their houses, Then II
was seen that the village store, which was
in u large, one-story wooden structure, not
far from the coal works, was in flames.
THREE EXPLOSIONS.
Those OF the villagers who were earliest
near the burning building had not yet
reached it when at brief intervals two
other explosions followed the first, scatter.
ing the burning tlmbers Of the building
and shaking the earth.
Before these explosions n or two
neighbors who were running toward the
building saw that tho proprietor, Mr., Ram.
age, who slept in the store, had managed
to made his way to the door, and breaking
u pane OF, glass out, had placed his face
against the opening In a vain and in.
~stinCtive effort to reach the open air. The
succeeding explosions made 1t an easy job
to reach his charred and diafigured body,
in which life fingered in spite Of the hor.
rible shock, and Ramage was removed to
q place OF safety,
He suffered horrible agony, His face
was blackened, and his eyeballs burned in
their sockets. From head to foot he was
literally cooked, there being scarcely q
place on his body as large as q dollar
where the skin was not scOrChGd.
He lived in q semi.ConsCious condition
for about four hours, death ending his SUI.
ferings shortly before Z o'clock in the
morning.
CAUSE OF THE WRECK.
The shattered building was a mass OF
flames before people realized the situation.
The blaze was prevented from spreading
to surrounding buildings, however, by
hard work. Examination OF the premises
after the flames subsidized sufficiently 10 al
low showed that tho explosives which had
wrought the terrible work had been placed
beneath the building.
The store was a light frame structure Of
one large room, and was built up on posts
at some height from the ground OF one
end. II was in the open space thus left
that some person, evidently with devilish
design, had placed three dynamite cart
ridges, such as are used In blasting coal in
the mine, and they were discharged by
means OF fuse. The 6endish' calculation
OF the author OF the wreck had been too
sure. The first explosion partially de.
stIoyed the house aud set It on fire, and
the succeeding ones completed the de-
struction.
II MURDERED MAN.
Ramage has been sleeping in his store
since he came to the place about ak
months ago. He left a family-a wife and
six children, who are said to be lily pro.
vided for-Rt his former home in Wash
ington county, Pa, between West Alex.
ander snd Claysville. He was about 40
years Of age and quite well liked at the
coal works. He went into business when
he came there with Henry Campbell,
who cam from the neighborhood Of st.
Clairsville about the same time. They
continued in business, keeping a general
store, from that time until In June
about three weeks agO-when they dis
solved partnership, Campbell leaving the
firm reluctantly and Ranage continuing
the bushes. Campballs family lived
with him near the store. II Is the com.
mon understanding among the neighbors
that the reason for the dissolution was
Campbell's lack Of capital.
The separation caused bad blood, Camp.
bell getting very angry when forced to
retire from the business, and, II Is said,
making threats against Ramage.
TIE coRoNER's INQUEST.
As soon as the excitement created among
the neighbors had somewhat subsidized,
word was sent to Bsllaire for County
Coroner Criswell to come down and hold
an inquest. Being otherwise engaged, the
Coroner deputized Peter o. Criswsll, also
Of Bellalre, to 90 down and act In his
place. The Deputy Coroner arrived on
the spot late In the forenoon, and at once
set about impaneling o jury.
At 2 o'clock r. N. the taking Of testimony
was commenced, q stenOgrapher from
MoundSyille recording the evidence In
short hand. A large number OF witnesses
was examined, the facts brought out being
.6nNa0lia11 tt az dttyun aInya
William Dawson, o miner, was the frat
man to arrive at the burning storc after
the first explosion. lie testified when on
the witness stand to seeing Ramage with
his face 10 the broken window, and he also
said that as he approached the store, be.
fore the second OF third explosion had oc.
Cured, he saw q large man resembling In
the dim light Henry Campbell, Ramage's
former partner, run away from the vicinity.
This evidence created a sengation. SuB.
picion had already boon aroused In the
minds OF the inhabitants oil tho little vii.
lage that Campbell was In Hone way re-
BponBibleU for the explosion, and this con-
ilrnied, and seemed TO Justify, this Bus.
picion,
Another witness gave evidence which
still more clearly convinced those who
heard II that Campbell was the guilty
pPrty, and that the threats he had been
known 10 make had been carried out.
ARRESTED OK SUSPICION.
Frederick HsntAtta testified that about
. O'Clock Saturday night he met Henry
Campbell asked him II he had
any money Hentatta replied no, that he
had lust fifteen cents, Campbell said he
was sorry, for he wanted to buy out THAT
. ola down there" and that he meant
10 kill the -,
In view Of this and The testimony Of
Dawson, with the cottoboralive evidences
which was brought out Ia abundance,
Coroner Ofisgell deemed Il bic
10 place Campbell under arrest, aud
he accordingly issued an order 10 that
slIect and appointed several special con.
who Of once took Campbell into
,uStody, Ho was guarded a. the place BY