St. Paul daily globe., 1891-12-06
THREE STILL LINCER.
No Increase Yet to the Num-
ber of Wall Accident
Victims,
But Three Lives Hang in the
Balance at the Hos
pitals.
Six Jurors View the Remains
and Scene and Ad-
joufn.
A Searching Investigation
Will Fix Terrible Re-
sponsibility.

From early morn until the shades of
night fell over the city yesterday. thou
sands of persons wended their way to
the scene of the awful catastrophe on
Third street, by which eight men were
hurried to eternity, and a like number
stretched pain racked upon hospital
cots
The police, however, would not allow
the curiosity seekers to approach the
fatal ruins on any side, ropes being
slung in all directions and vigilant po-
lice officers posted, so that no further
loss of life might occur. The
crowds, however. co ntented itself with
gazing from behind the safety lines at
the blackened and shattered walls,
which rose like specters grim and gaunt
over the ruins. The crowds were COM
posed of all classes of society, and.
judging from the remarks made on all
sides. it would seem that public senti-
ment is aroused and will not be satisfied
until the most rigid investigation is
made as to the causes of the accident
and information secured as TO
the negligence of responsible parties,
should such negligence have existed.
The first step in the official investiga-
tiOn took place yesterday morning,
when Coroner Quinn empanelled jury
to hear evidence OF the causes which
led to the death of the eight unfortunate
men. The following gentlemen were
selected to serve on the jury: Col. A.
Allen, Charles +. Pusch, Thomas Mar
tin, S. B. WOolworth, G. ]. Mccarthy
and Charles PaSSavant. At 10:30 the
jury visited the mOrgue and viewed the
bodies, and then, accompanied by DR..
Quinn, proceeded to the scene of the
accident. The jGry made a careful
inspection of the walls but their
stern faces gave no indication of
their thoughts, though they looked
like men who would not hesitate in
their duty. no matter what the conSe-
Quences might be. After receiving in
structiOns TO assemble tomorrow at in
the afternoon in the municipal court,
where the inquest will be held. the
jury dispersed.
1t was believed on Friday evening
that john WOltinger, who was reported
missing by his wife, and who was work
ing in the ruins at the time the wall
fell, was buried in the ruins. Yester-
day morning a small gang of men were
at work clearing the debris, and con-
tinued until after the dinner hour,
when information was received that
the missing man had been located
at St. JOSeph'S hospital. 1t
seeE:s that before the patrol wagons ar
rived at the ruins, WOltinger, who was
badly injured, was put into all express
wagon and taken to the st. JoSeph's
hospital by DR.. CrOssOn. Drs. Robert
and Charles Wheaton. and Dir. John
Rogers were telepbOned for, and oper-
ated on the injured man, who had sus-
tanned a compound fracture of the lower
right leg and also severe lacerated face
wounds. The broken limb was
wired and placed in plaster
of paris, and Wolfnger was
reported last evening to be resting
easily and will recover unless blood
poisoning or gangrene should set in.
The members of st. Matthew's society,"
of which Wolfnger is member, will
take care of him and his family while
he is in the hospital.
OF the five men at the city hospital
Frank st. Pierre and Frank Teschler
are in most precarious condition, while
George Morrison is perhaps III almost as
bad condition as the other unfortunate
men. While DR.. Ancker and his aides
are hopeful, yet they stated last even
ing that change might occur at any
minute. The two other men at the hos
pital. Seemutter and Mauer, are pro-
crossing favora5ly, and will perhaps be
able TO leave the institution in week.
mained at the mOrgue were taken bv
the undertakerS to the grief-strcken
homes of their families, and arrange
ments for the funerals Will be made
today. Peter Larson and John Adam
ski will be Inferred this afternoon, and
Contractor Wilcox will be buried tomor-
row under the auspices of the Knights of
Pythias, 10 which the deceased belonged.
Farwell, OZmun q Kirk will defray the
funeral expenses of Peter Larson.
Many of the men who were killed be-
lOnged to benefit societies, and their
families will thus be provided for.
Should, however, assistance be required,
there will be no difficulty in raising a
fund large enough to provide for the
widows and orphans, and the police and
fire departments have volunteered to
give an exhibition tug of war in the
Market house, provided committee is
appointed to take charge of the arrange
ments for selling tickets.
Building Inspector Johnston yeSter-
day inspected the walls, and said that
he ''had no reason to change his previ-
Gus opinion He would not say
whether he had ordered the walls to be
torn down which are still standing, but
it is known positively that on Friday
evening he had served notice on ID. c.
Shepherd, the owner, to have the walls
torn down. Mr.. Shepherd was with Mr..
Johnston when he inspected the walls
yesterday, and the two gentlemen held
quite heated discussion in the pres
ence of the reporters, Mr.. Shepherd
saying the walls were perfectly safe,
and it would be outrageous to have
them torn down.
Lauer Bros. denied yesterday that
they had the contract for removing the
debris, though one of the firm was in
charge of the work. 1t is understood
that claims for damages will be filed |
against Jacob Lauer, contractor Will |
kin aud ID. e. Shepard by the legal rep
resentatives of the men killed and in |
jured.