Evening journal., 1888-12-27
CHiCAGO'S NEW MYSTERY
Avengers Fall Victims to Their
Own Plot.
ONE DEAD AND ANOTHER DING.

1t Is supposed They Intended to Destroy
an Enemy's Store. but the Explosion
Was Premature, with Painful and shock
ing Results.
CHICAGO, Dec. 2z-A terrific explosion,
followed by another explosion of lesser vic.
lence, a sheet OF flame that burst from two
shattered windows, a man whose clothing
was abiaze rushing blindly into the street
and the half dressed and disfgured body of
a man lying ia q heap Of wreczage, 90 TO
make up the story of a strange tragedy in
Joseph Lupes little grocery store at Ne
2,Sl4 State street.
Barber George w. Johnson, who lives near
the store, was going into his house at 12.55
O'Clock in the morning when he was startled
by violent explosion. AT the same time
flames burst froiu the windows OF Lupes
grocery store. johnson ran across the street
to his shop, and as he did so he saw a man
rusE through the flames with his hands
clasped over his face and fall in the gutter,
where he rolled in the mud until tine fire
which was burning his clothing had been ex.
tinguishcd.
The man did not utter word. He was
borne TO Mercy hospital, where his burns
were pronounced fatal. When the firsmen
came the grocery was wrapped in flames.
Old Frank Lupe lived up stairs with his wife
and eight children. They were passing the
night at Tony Gresels place at No 1891
State street. and, 50 far as anybody knows.
there was not a member Of the family in the
building at the time Of tho explosion.
The iireiaen had just reached the blazing
store when another explosion, not so violent
as the first, scattered firebrands In all direc-
tions Within twenty minutes the fire was
extinguished. Then a search was made in
the building. 1t was found that tho store
itself had been completely wrecked The
rear end had been blown out
While the firemen were tramping around
in the wreckage they found the body Of a
young man lying near the rear door, and in
a spot where the force Of the explosio was
most noticeable. He was barefooted, and
the only clothing he had on was a shirt and
a necktie. His body was frightfully burned.
II is believed that his clothes were torn of
by the explosion.
The first explosion must have occurred In
the rear of the room. Hero Is where tao de
struction was greatest, A kerosene oil barrel
with Its head gone stands against tho wall in
this portion Of the Ddlding. When the I.upes
LETT the pace o. Tuesday night the head Of
the barrei had lot been cut out, and the bar
rel was filed with oil Lying about the bar
rel the tlrcmen found a lot of firecrackers.
bundles of kindling wool, and the ragged
head OF keg which is supposed 70 have CON
tained powder, although tho Lupes say they
did not keep explosives In stock
Tho Lupes, who are Sicilinns, have long
been bothered BY mysterious burgar.es
During the past month frequent ..t,empts
have been made to enter the store Mrs. Lupe
said that they had been disturbed nearly
every night On last Saturday young Luty
Lupe fired a shot at man whom he saw try
ing to force his way into the rear door.
Inspector Shay, of the fire department,
and Police Lieut. Arch think that the I.upes
are the victims of a Sicilian vendetta. The
man who ran from the blazing building with
his clothes ailame is Phillipo Pulalo, also
Sieilian- The name of the man who was
killed outright is not known, but Phllipo, in
his delirium, cried out: Where is my part-
nerla The two men evidently entered the
building 10 destroy it. for the Lupes never
kept any money in the place. Christmas
night was the time chosen for the crirpa ha.
cause the conspirators knew that the old
man, Lupe, and his children would be az the
festivities at Gresels house