The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-02-10
FARRIER'S DEATH.
Nothing New Developed by
the CorOner's Jury
Thus Far.

Coroner Parslow and his jury continued
the investigation OF the death OF the late
Fi-e Chief Farrier In the Aldermanic
chamber last evening. There were abso-
lutely no new developments, although
more than two hours we're consumed in
the examination Of some half dozen wit
nesses. but as the jury was particularly
anxious to hear the testimony OF Fireman
Mcdonald, who will be able 70 be cut In
few days, the inquest was again adj
journed for one week.
The bent OF questions fred at the wit
nesses by various members Of the jury.
and especially BY Juryman A I. Wltter,
would Imply that the jury Is impressed
with the idea that the explosion wnicn
killed Farrier was that OF gunpowder
rather than that of oil or turpentine. No
evidence, however, was brought out last
evening 10 sustain the theory that gun
powder was kept in any part Of the
cellar.
The testimony Of James Riddlemau. the
Chiefs driver, but repeated the story OF
the Chiefs death already published.
When he went into the cellar be saw the
Chef. Assistant Chief Denmead, Whalen,
Mcdonald and Forster. The fire appeared
to be all out. Denmead told the Chief
be had Just heard that No. 3 Engine had
been smashed at the Barrow street rail-
road crossing. The Chief told his assist
ant he had better go and see about 1t, but
decided Immediately afterward that he
would 90 himself. He saw spark fall
from some boxes into the water below
upon the top Of which hoated oil and tur-
pentine. Instantly there was slight
blaze and a Sizing sound The
Chief said Dust" The flames
were between the men and the Chief.
The men scrambled through one Of the
openings on Payonia avenue side. The
supposition was that the Chief had
started for the cellar way on the Grove
street side. Riddell noticed that the rear
stairway was charred worse than any
other portion of the cellar. but could not
explain it. the explosion could have
been heard half block away.
Fireman Murdock's story was that of
the beginning of the fire aud the finding
of the Chief He saw Whalen grab Nc
Donald just as he was falling back into
the cellar after his head and shoulders
protruded above the opening. He heard
Whalen remark some time afterward
during the search for sparks, my God,
nere's a dead fireman" Townsend said,
~Why, it's Talbert." Whalen looked at
the ring and started up stairs shouting.
The Cnief's deadw Murdock heard one
of the clerks say to the firemen. Look
out, there's oil down there" When the
Chief was found after the explosion his
feet were in the water and his head and
shoulders above. The body was within
five feet Of the Oil tanks.
William 7. Doe, the seventeen year old
boy vino drove Mr.. Boltwood's wagon.
and who first discovered the fire, testified
in substance as follows:-He was coming
up the rear stairs with a basketful OF
lamp chimneys when he saw a slight
blaze over in the southeast corner of the
II nj hsarf hot n
large packing case and the oil barrels
about five feet away from the oil barre Is.
He stamped upon it and tried to put it
out. Failing in this, he rushed 70 the
rear stairway and called Mr.. Bells, the
head clerk. who, besides the telegraph
operator, was the only occupant Of the
store room above. Bells shouted to him.
Gone up out Of there. It's no safe place
for you" He gave the still alarm TO No.
Truck. He had been at work during
the morning removing barrels CT rubbish
from the cellar. He very seldom smoked
cigarettes or cigars, and was sure he had
smoked none in the cellar tnat
never to smoke in the cellar. a
big factory lamp sitting on barrel
lighted the entire cellar while the store
above was open. The barrels and tanks
of turpenuine and oils were near the
southeast corner of the cellar and were
adjacent to a table containing cans OF
varnish. A can OF benZine was near the
burnt stairway. Juryman Witter re-
marked tnat he had noticed in an inyesti-
CATION Of the premises after the fire that
while one of the tanks containing oil was
full that containing turpentine had but
six inches in it. Rimless covers covered
both.
Buffalo Herman Forster helped
Whaleu TO pull Mcdonald out after the
explosion. He heard the sizzing noise
alluded to by Riddle when the spark fell
into the oily water beneath, and with the
rest assembled through the Payonia ave-
nue. opening. The chief was on the other
side of the flames and he thought be
started for either the rear stairway or the
Grove street cellarway. He did not smell
gunpowder.
Police Sergeant Reardon's testimony
was mainly concerning the attempt TO
keep back the crowds. especially after
the announcement that the Chief was
dead. He had heard powder explode be-
fore Didn't think the explosion was that
OF gunpowder, nor did he think 1t could
be heard as far away as Eighth street.
Policeman Cox was up in the second
story when the explosion occurred. Alter
the explosion, the smoke in the stairway
was so dense that he was obliged 10 climb
through the roof semitic aud drop 10 the
roof of the next house. He had been sent
upstairs by Sergeant Reardon to see i
any persons We're asleep there.
The investigation here rested.