Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-23

earlier in the day, although he condi-
tion is still regarded as critical.
Among the others seriously wounded
there were no unfavorable reports re-
ceived. They are doing as we'll as can
be expected, and receiving all possible
attention.
STORY OF THE EXPLOSION.
There were quite a number OF new
developments in the story Of the explo-
sion, yesterday. Mr.. Wilson, who is
still confined in cell at the city Jail,
was very much overcome by the terrible
result OF his work, but still insisted that
the bombs he fred did not burst. He
still told the same story Of the events
leading up to the explosion that he did
Friday night. But his statement has
proved to be faulty in some particulars.
There il not much difference OF opinion
as to the main facts. Mr.. Wilson and
his assistant had reserved large space
about their bombs and apparatus for
firing the same, including the missing
cigar box containing powder. A wire
closure to keep the crowd out, and it
spectators until towards the close of the
eAAlDltlOn. 1hOAO W0u bblll bAO ldl kO
set piece of the ship Santa Maria to be
touched off, when in the darkness, the
crowd closed in on the empty enclosure.
A large number of boys were in the
front, and skylarking about as boys will
do. They crowded about the bombs
and rockets, and some of them took
Roman candles from the box.
Mr.. Wilson became very much ex-
cited and tried to force the crowd back,
even hitting some of the foremost. The
band got mixed up in the confusion and
could not play, and the Garibaldi guards
had not turned out as expected to assist
in preserving order. Mr.. Wilson finally
gave up the attempt to keep the boys
away, and told his assistant that they
would hurry up and get through with
what remained.
From this point the statements OF Mr..
Wilson are not borne out by eye-wit-
nesses. He says that the bombs he
touched off did not burst, and that there
was only one explosion, that of the
mortar handled by Hermann Cammert.
But eye-witnesses who we're close to him
say that there were two explosions, only
a second or two apart, and that one of
them came from mortar that Mr.. Will
son himself fred, the pipe bursting.
This statement is borne out by the
discovery of the shattered tops of two
mortars. Mr.. Wilson said that they
were parts Of the same mortar. But they
are not. The pieces were brought to
Chief Glass, and a careful examination
of them elbows that they are the tops of
two separate mortars. In one of them
the explosion was downwards, and in
the other upwards, the pot-metal stuff
being twisted IN surprising manner.
THE STORY TOLD BY THE BOYS.
But the most unfortunate feature for
Mr.. Wilson comes to light from the
statements made to HERALD reporter
yesterday afternoon by two boys.
7. Mercadante and Morris Hill, who,
with other boys who corroborate them,
were standing within few feet of Mr..
Wilson, Mercadante resting his hand ON
Gilbert Christian, who was struck down
in front of him. These boys say that
Mr.. Wilson had been very much excited
by the crowd coming into the enclosure,
and that finally he made ready to fire
off the bombs, the crowd being all about |
him, saying that he would fire them,
but that he would not be
for any accident
that might happen. He sig
nailed to Hermann Cammert with his
torch, and then fred bomb himself.
Immediately there were two terrific ex-
plosions, and the dead and dying were
stretched upon the ground.
There is colored man named Charles
Sumner, who lives on San Pedro street,
who says that he saw boy pouring
powder into the mortars. II this state
ment can be verified, it will account for
the terrific nature of the bursting
of the mortars. But the colored
man does not know the name OF
the boy, and it is doubtful ii he could
identify him, as he says he saw him
only for an instant in the uncertain
light that prevailed.
THE INQUEST.
The scenes around the undertaking
parlors Of Orr & Sutch, on Spring street,
during the day almost beggared descrip-
tion. There was such an immense
crowd outside the office on the side
walks, and such pressure of people
who desired to see the dead, that two
police officers were finally detailed to
stand at the doors and keep the press
ing throngs out, and occasionally clear
the sidewalks.
During the time that spectators were
allowed to file into the morgue hum
dreds of people took advantage of the
opportunity. The bodies were upon
slabs, and spoke mutely, but horribly of
the disaster.
BY the time 2 o'clock, the hour set for
the inquest, had arrived, the crowds
had increased to such an extent that it
was impossible to pass along the west
side of Spring street. Coroner Weldon
decided that he would begin the investi-
cation, but would not attempt to reach
more than Identification of the remains
during the afternoon.
The following jury was empaneled
promptly at2 o'clock:
7. j. Glider, 757 West Sixteenth
street; J.. st. John, same residence; @.
Vonderkuhlen, 725 East First street; E.
III. Flanders, University; John Marsh,
l043 South Olive street; r. M. s. Smith,
station R; H. B. B. Montgomery. 258
East Twenty-ninth street; 9. E. ].
White, 146 North Hope street; j. F.
Ames, 1926 lockwood street; ]. d.
Chaplain, 633 Rosas street; J. Silver,
3l9 Amelia street; George Robson, 226
Wilmington street.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE DEAD.
The first witness called was Albert
Ford, who resides at 1877 East First
street and is patrolman for Kearney
& Insley's patrol. He identified the
BODY of Francis Daniel Ford as that of