The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-08

L
was aroused and alarmed by the report
which sounded as loud as the blowing up OF
a whole powder-house.
The big building shook from cellar to
roof and fairly trembled Cd its foundations.
The sound of the crashing timbers and
glass added to the confusion within the
hotel. So frightened were the occupants of
the house that it was several minutes before
the exact location of the explosion was
found. Dozens of frightened guests and
attaches of the place ran pell-mell through
the halls in all directions. Finally smoke
was seen issuing from Room 90
The corridor leading to the room was
strewn with broken glass, as the force Of
the explosion had shattered the skYlight,
and several windows facing the corridor
had been blown into the street The door
of the room occupied by the suicide had
article within was wrecked in similar
manner.
A SICKENING SIGHT.
Upon entering the room the spectators
were confronted with horrible, sickenlng
sight. Through the smoke from car
fridge of giant powder which had caused
such terrible havoc, were viewed the frag-
ments of CAROLS body. Portions of flesh
were scattered all over the room and mixed
UP with the debris of the wreck. The walls
of the room were shattered and spattered
with blood. Portions Of the suicides head,
chest and upper eXtremltles lay scattered
around the room, while the mangled trunk
and lower eXtremities were found upon
sofa across the room from tue bed. The
head was torn TO fragments and part of 1t
were carried out into Pacific street through
a window that had been blown out by the
force of the explosion.
A large Colts revolver with one chamber
empty vas found in the middle of the room
between the bed and the sofa. From APP
pearances Carroll had made careful prepard-
tons. He had removed his outer garments
and then placed the bundle containing at
least six sticks OF cartridges OF giant
powder on the bed. Then he must have
lighted fuse attached to one of the ear
tridges with a view of igniting the whole
bunch simultaneously. This part of the
programme miscarried, for only one of the
cartridges exploded and the others were
found strewn about and twisted into all
conceivable shapes.
PROBABLY SHOT HIMSELF.
After lie had fred the fuse it is probable
that ne shot himself with the pistol and
then threw himself upon the bed with
his chest upon the cartridges. Many
theories were advanced as to how he conf
mitted the deed, but this seems the most
plausible.
A lew minutes before the explosion the
dead wagon had left the Morgue for a Cor
oner'S case out at North Beach. When
within half block OF the hotel the ex-
plosion occurred, and Deputy Bridgewood
and Messenger Allen shaped their course
in that direction. When informed of what
chad occurred they carried a receiver" to
the room and gathered up the fragments of
the mangled remains A crowd of specta-
t0as assisted them and small portions were
carried in from Pacific street In few
minutes all that remained of the suicide
was in the coffin and on the way to the
Morgue.
CAUSE OF SUICIDE.
In searching the room Deputy Coroner
BridgewoOd found the coat worn by Carroll.
and in an inside pocket was found the ap-
pended letter in an envelope addressed TO
the Coroner:
SAN FRANCISCO. September 7. 1891.
To the Coroner Of the city and County IF San
FrGnctSco-SIR; My name is Frederic Louis
Emil Janan Carroll, native OF Holland, aged Al
years.
/ have sent an order TO DR.. Mclean. 603 Mer-
cbaut street. for my body for dissect!ng pur-
poses.
Anything which you find on my body you will
please deliver to f. Groom, an aged Hoander, to
whom / have given an order for that purpose.
Yours truly, f. l.. L. j. CARROLL.
The letter was written in good business
hand and is produced just as it was penned.
When visited by a CALL reporter DIR.
Carroll, but lie had so many patients he
could not remember CAROLS case.
LIFE NOT WORTH LIVING.
few minutes before the explosion a
messenger delivered to him the following
letter:
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept, Z 1891.
Dr. Robert A. Mclean ESq.-SIR: This morn
ing have concluded 10 finish my existence on
this earth. as life is not worth living.
By the Time you get this hope TO be gone and
as | am bodily deformed on account or hip dis
ease l suppose my carcass viii be favorable
object for dissectIng purposes.
II you feel so inclined you may call at The
MOrgue ana give my body 10 the students Of the
Medical Department OF the University OF Call
fornia. Yours, very truly,
f. L. L. J. CARROLL.
Asked il lie would take advantage of
CAROLS gift and dissect the body, DR.. Nc
From what I've heard the remains have
been thoroughly dissected by the giant
powder"
HAD KNOWN HIM IN LIFE.
During the afternoon many persons called
at the Morgue to give the Coroner informa-
ton in reference 10 the deceased. One said
that Carroll had been a cook, while another
volunteered the information that he had last
worked on fruit farms near Fresno. He
told several persons recently that he in
tended to commit suicide in such manner
as to create a sensation. Noattention, how
ever, was paid to his threats.
Henry j. GarIitseD, of 512 Pacific street,
stated that he had been acquainted with
Carroll, and saw him last alive Sunday. In
the morning Carroll called at his house. and
they went together to saloon on Lombard
street. Then Carroll met friend, and, after
ordering drinks, he turned to his cOmpan-
ions and said: Pm glad | had chance to
drink with you both, and you willnever see
me after tomorrow.
In speaking of the suicide Garrison said {:
"Caroli has threatened to commit suicide
hundreds of times, but / never paid any at
tention to what he said, and when he re-
peated the same remarks yesterday
laughed at him. He was cook by profess
sion. but for the last few years has man.
aged to live by begging L did not know
where he lived. He never said anything to