Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-08-27


found beneath the press frame that he d
been lifted out of the debris few mill
utes before. II was the body of a man
about % years old There was porous
plaster on the breast.
At $50 o'clock the next body was
taken out. 1t was that of young man
who looked to be about 81 years old.
His face was burned beyond recogni-
ton, but most of his clothes were in
relatively fair shape. In the right-hand
pocket of his trousers was copy of the
Golden Weekly, together with some clip
pings. He was probably one Of the en-
ployes in the press room.
Half an hour later another pine box
was carried out of the ruins and laid
beside the previous two on the sidewalk
near the city hearse. When the lid was
removed there was disclosed the fright
fully charred remains of young man.
The body was burned and mutilsted
beyond possible recognition. Both
hands and one foot were missing.
Nearly every vestige of his clothing was
gone and what little remained was of
little or no use towards Identification.
He was apparently about "a years OF
age.
The three boxes were then placed in
the dead wagon and taken to the
morgue.
A general alarm has been sent out for
Louis Resented, proprietor of the paint
store, 70 Park Place, his brother stating
that since the disaster he has been miss
ing. 1t is supposed his mind was
affected by the horrible scenes he wit
messed when the crash came.
District Attorney Nicoll is already
considering the question of indicting
the person or persons responsible for
the Park Place disaster. After long
consultation with his chief assistant, ex-
Judge Cunning S. Bedford, he placed
the case in the hands of Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Townsend.
THEORIES AsTo CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
City Chamberlain Grain, whose
mother owned the wrecked building, ar
rived at his office to-day. When ques-
toned as to the condition of the build
ing he said II know nothing person.
ally about it. The building, have al.
ways understood, was well constructed
and never was condemned, nor was il
considered unsafe. 1t was always used
for the purposes for which it was used
at the time of the fire. As to the claim
that the stock of material and the heavy
presses on the upper floors caused the
building to collapse, why any one who
looks at the facts calmly and dipassion.
ately will admit that such was not the
case.
Those who were near say that they
saw a portion of the sidewalk upheayet
and heard the sound of an explosion
My opinion, from all have been able tt
learn, is that the cause of the acciden
was a fire, followed by an explosion
The building was insured for $4,000
and was worth just about that sum.
never knew that it was considered extra
hazardous"
A man who has been engaged for 81
years in placing printing machinery il
position said to-day that the presses o
Ellis 81 Mcdonald and Leibler 81 Maa!
were so placed that the vibrations raj
with the beams and rafters and that the
S-inch resting place was insufficient tx
support the enormous weight that wa
on it. On the third floor alone, he said
nearly 40 tons Of machinery stood.
Up to 1915 a. m. no more bodies hat
been reached. Owing to The wretchet
management of the work Of excava
ton hardly any progress was made from
8 to II o'clock.
STORY OF ONE WHO WAS THERE.
In Peterson's restaurant on the frs
floor of the wrecked building 60 person
were sitting at the tables or otherwis
engaged when the terrible accident oc
Cured. Of this number only three per
sons are known to have escaped. On,
of them, John Scherfer, a waiter, VIII,
happened to be in the doorway at tn
time, told the story of his thrilling ex
perience to New York Times reporte
as follows:
~ had just gone" he said, "to tn
milk can which stood in the doorway t,
get bowl of milk for guest. The res
tauMnt was full at the time, every sea
being occupied, and five or six person
standing in front of the desk waiting TO
a chance to sit down. Mr.. Peterson
who waited on the tables generally
when his father was present to tend til
cash drawer, was behind the counter
Fritz, dinner waiter-not one of tn
regular monthly waiters-was cuttinj
meat at the meat table in the back en-,
of the restaurant, and julius Peterson,
namesake, but not relative of the pro
prietor, was taking something out of tn
dumb waiter. George Frischen wa
Just behind me in the doorway.
Suddenly heard loud report, Xix
the firing of a big cannon little wa.
off, and the bowl was blown out of m,
hand | turned and looked an instan
into the restaurant, but it was file,
with dust and vapor and smoke so tina
could see nothing. But could hea
the people screaming and calling out il
great fright. Then | jumped towar
Greenwich street. Fear was behind m
and fright was in my legs. jumps
further than had ever done before
ten feet, guess. There was a womal
wheeling baby carriage along and
man in the truck that stood next dool
saw nobody else, but was suddenl
grabbed by the left arm by Georg
Frischen, | believe, and was throw
upon the sidewalk. just then, while
was down, was struck on the back i
two or three places by falling bricks.
Cun just leuicluDer tudV otIuBBleu u
on my feet, and then all recollection lei
me until l found myself in Greenwic
street, with some persons leaning owe
me. / must have tainted.
"All this happened within an instan
II can't have been more than half
minute. I am sure the only one VIII
got out of the restaurant besides me wa
George Frischen. There wasn't tim
for anybody inside the door to get ou
before the walls fell. When l came t
in Greenwich street, went around I
Chambers Street Hospital and thought
would half my back examined, but til
pain had gone when l got there, and s
| went back to the crowd who wer
Watching the nlacn | lost my Goa