Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-27
TRYING 10 PLACE THE BLAME,
The Inquiry Into the Columbus
Day Explosion.
Pyr0technist Wilson Rather Criti-
cizes the Mayor as an Expert.
Evidence That Goes to Show That Boys
Caused the Explosion-Wilson Put
ON the Stand-He Tells About
the Experiments.

fatal explosion at the Columbus day
celebration was resumed last evening
before Coroner Weldon, in Justice
pieces of exploded mortars was laid on
the judges bench as evidence and for
the inspection of the jury. Very few
spectators were present. Wilson, who
had charge Of the fireworks at the time
of the explosion, was present and testi-
fed. Wilson still remains in the central
police station, preferring to stay there,
states Chief Glass, until the investiga-
tion is finished.
There we're % witnesses examined !;
one witness remains to be examined,
which will conclude the investigation.
Ordinarily, Jurors and witnesses do
not receive pay during their attendance
before coroner's inquest; but Coroner
Weldon stated that, owing to the inn
portance of the case, and the continued
attendance of the jurors, he would en-
deavor to have them paid.
The first witness was Mrs. Mary
Bunker, widow OF Bernard Bunker, who
died from injuries received at the ex-
plosion. She was dressed in deep
mourning, and gave her testimony amid
considerable emotion.
Her evidence was mainly as to the
manner of her husbands death.
E. Castillo testified: Twas present at
the fireworks, and noticed that when
the bombs were fred the crowd rushed
in beyond the ropes, and I did the
same, foolishly; I heard q terrific ex-
plosion, and thought something was
wrong; was abort 20 feet from the
mortar; the boy, Ford, who was killed,
was in front of me; it was very dark,
yet once in awhile there was light
from the rockets; the boy was killed in
Che middle of the crowd.
E. w. Kinzie, clerk OF Justice. Ovens
court, testified that as member of the
Union league, he made arrangements
with Wilson for fireworks at San Juan.
of the efigy, Driving Away Dull Care,
He prepared the bombs, but did not at
tend the fireworks. "The mortar was
placed under lock and key, and do not
think anybody tampered with the
bombs. After the explosion examined
the effigy and found no trace of the NOR
tar, except the iron base. 1t was a two
inch mortar. spoke to Wilson about
the accident, and he said that some one
must have tampered with it, or else the
bomb turned, or shifted, as it was placed
in the mortar"
George Christian, who was acting for
the celebration committee testified: II
asked the committee to exchange
some fre-rockets for small 2.inch bombs,
as considered rockets very danger
sous. When the ship burned, Il noticed
that Wilson had forgotten to fire set
piece, and he replied: Yes, that IS so;
these boys make me crazy : and he went
to fire the battery; then left the
ground, when 1 heard terrific explo-
sion, which almost lifted me from the
ground; Mr.. Wilson spoke to me about
some policemen, and said that he would
also get policeman"
Mr.. S. Gasti, one of the committee
men, testified: I din not tell Wilson
that would see that he was provided
with policemen or the Garibaldi Guards ;
he said that he once before had trouble
with boys, who stole his fire-rockets, and
said that he would have to put upa wire
rope. We paid him S. for putting up
the rope. He first spoke about the po-
lice, because there had been trouble be-
FORE"
Charles Johnson, youth about 16
years OF age, testified: "When Mr.. Will
son asked the boys to leave the grounds
they threw dirt in his face; saw some
boys explode some Roman candles, and
also touch off some gunpowder; Isknow
it was gunpowder, because L have
touched off gunpowder many times and
know how it blazes up; the powder
went up with fash, without explosion !;
I would not know the boy who fred it,
because it was very dark was about
80 feet from the mortar when it explod-
ed; it killed the little boy, Oden, and
also knocked me down; Oden's body fell
across me-.
J. G. johnson, of the Los Angeles iron
works, examined piece Of broken NOR
tar, and gave it as his opinion that it
was good quality of iron; he made
'Home mortars for Wilson obout lS months
ago.
Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson testified to
ter. She said 81 think should know
the boys they were between 13 and 15
years Of age; one of them said he had
pulled fuse partly out of mortar, and
J Yves sorry that he did not pull it entirely
out; was 80 shocked at such a state
ment that was on the point of calling
him back and saying, Perhaps that
caused the death of these people, but
the boys hurried away; they seemed to
be proud Of the act; am not related to
Mr.. Wilson, and never saw him until
this evening at the inquest"
This important evidence created quite
q commotion among the jurors and spec
tators. Coroner Weldon then requested
several small boys who sat in a row on
q bench in the rear of the room, and
who were present for the purpose OF
identification, to stand up. The witness
viewed them rather closely, but failed to
identity either of them as the ones who
spoke 80 indifferently and boastfully
about pulling the fuse partly out OF the
mortar.
This testimony points to the fact that
these boys knew that the mortar had
been tampered with. and at the last mo-
ment thought of pulling out the fuse go
as to avoid an explosion, but stopped
when the fuse was partly pulled out.
Mr., j. RangaD. one of the COM
mittee. testified that he never spoke to
the police; be expected that on such
occasions, where there were thousands
OF people, the police would be present.
81 was present." said the witness, land
do not plane Mr.. Wilson; piece of
mortar cut through the leg OF my panta-
looms, but if it had broken my leg, I
should not have blamed Mr.. Wilson.
W. w. Beach stated that he saw a lot
~ sra ali hova firing off rockets.