davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1893-09-25
DISCLAIMER FROM THE UNION

Andrew Furuseth, secretary of the Coast
Seamen's Union, answering a CALL re-
porter's inquiry as to how ne viewed the
crime. said 1T is most unfortunate so
lar as the union is concerned, for the rea-
son that the union is bound to get the
blame for it irrespective Of the merits of
the case. The public will, am afraid,
take the view that the crime was insti-
gated by the union, because Curtin kept a
n0n-unlon bOarding-house.
II am not in a position TO say that the
crime was not committed by union men. |
know nothing about it; but speaking for
the Coast Seamen's Union / can say that
the atrocity is not the act OF the union !;
that it was not counseled by the union,
and thatit has nothing but the unions
strongest condemnation.
Ever since our organization, eight years
ago. we have counseled our men against
violence and vandalism. Still, every time
the lines of a vessel employing a nou-union
crew are cut it has been the rule to lay the
blame at the doors of the Sailors Union.
But this was unjust Blame ought to go
to the individuals; not to the union as
body.
when the public takes calm, second
thought on last nights awful crime ! do
not think the union will be held to moral
responsibility. The public will take it to
be the individual act of the criminals them
selves" Z"
The morning call., 1893-09-25
THE VALISE.

The dynamite must have been placed
on the sidewalk in front OF Curtin's place
about twenty minutes before the explo-
sion. Mrs. Curtin. who was sleeping up
stairs. said yesterday that few minutes
before II she heard footsteps in front of
the house. which halted under her window
for half a minute and then went away.
She thinks the valise containing dynamite
was then left on the sidewalk.
When the crowd Of men returning from
the theater reached the Curtin house
Johnny Curtin was the first to see the
yalise. He picked it up. yelling "Boys
it's dynamiteW dropped it and started
across the street. Meantime the Others.
drawn by curiosity. went to the valise and
had gathered in sort of sem-cIrcle
around it when the explosion occurred.
This account for the terrible destruction
of life and the horrible mutilation of the
bodies.
Young Curtin said at the hospital yes
terday that he felt himself carried in the
air distance of what seemed to him to be
twenty feet or more, and beyond that he
remembers nothing
The morning call., 1893-09-25

lng. 1t being estimated that over 10000
visited the place during The day.
The interior of the lower story of the
New Fulton House, No. 334. kept by Cur
sin, ls complete wreck. Some OF the sills
OF the house were shattered, not square
yard of plastering is leftEon the walls, all
the furniture and fixtures were reduced to
kindling wood, and the bar glassware is
reduced to fragments. Hartman's saloon.
NO. 332. is scarcely less damaged. AS at
Curtin's, the entire front was blown out.
But. singular to relate, in the midst OF all
this havoc. the mirrors behind the bars in
pOtn saloons were entirely unlnJured,
while everything near them was smashed.
All the glass in the fronts of Nos $50 and
336 was blown out.
Every window pane on the west side of
the Sailors Home, from the basement TO
the roof. was blown out. or. strictly speak
ing. blown in, and about half the windows
on the north side together with sash from
half dozen frames. The superintendent.
Captain Melvin Staples, was sleeping in
the west wing. His room is about 150 feet
from the scene of the explosion. His bed
was moved several inches and it rocked as
il violent earthquake had shaken the
ground beneath the building.
The morning call., 1893-09-25
A SAILORS THREAT.

Among those who were injured by the
explosion was a man named Meyers, who
had room in the vicinity of Curtn's
boarding house. The injury he received
was the forcing of piece of glass into one
of his feet. This man stated to a friend
yesterday that some time ago he was on
board OF a ship bound for England, aud
that he heard one of the crew declare that
he had been boarder in Curtin's house :;
that Curtin got him drunk and shanghaied
him. aud that for this he would get even
with Curtin when he returned to this city.
The manner in which he proposed to get
even with Curtin was not stated. and it is
only the fact that an injury was done to
Curtin that gives rise TO a suspicion that
the man who made the threat may have
returned and put it into execution with
the terrible result. the loss of four human
lives. the serious woundiDg of number of
others and damage to property. What
there may be in Meyers statement will
probably be developed by the police.
The morning call., 1893-09-25
READING FOR GIRLS.
Do Not Have Too Narrow a Range
in Literature.
Phiiadelphia Tim es


DO not have narrow range of reading.
Keep in touch with current literary and
scientific matters by glancng over the
tables of contents and leading articles of
the best periodicals. Get out into the full
swing of the worlds thoughts by invest-
eating sermons. pamphlets, political ora
tlonS, music scores, art books, Archaeology,
folklore and economics, as well as books
bearing upon the direct academic studies.
Absorb literature as you do the air YOU
breat he-the greatest works in every lam
guage of which you are master. Have
only one care; when by chance you
get hold Of book or part of book
which your instinct tells you is not
pure drop II, and never be ashamed to say
that you have done so. 1t is possible to
nave superb literary training without
ever having read an evil book 1t is won
derful how delicately q healthy, right in
stinct distinguishes in this direction. And
pure taste once formed, it ia impossible
to read anything against which it revolts.
VI course, IN many masterpieces there are
Objectionable passages. This is apt to be
the case In the older writers and ip nearly
all medieval works, but these passin 2
flaws belonging to ruder times and more
outsDoken ways are scarcely noticed
They are different from the poisonous at
mosphere exhaling from some modern
books about which a review tells ore
enough to know that they should be LET
alone. Above ali things discourage in
yourself the habit Of reading carelessLy or
aimlessly.
The morning call., 1893-09-25

paid his dues up to February l, 1898. wine u
he was suspended for non- payment. He
has been dropped from the rolls. He has
been sort of bartender at Doyle's.
While Tyrrel is quarreisome in drink.
those who know him say there is nothing
in his record or his character to stamp him
as vicious man. One sailor who knows
him we'll said: ''Why. Jack wouldn't
harm fly."
James Woods Joined the union in Sep-
tember, 1892, and paid cd 10 February.
1898. when he was dropped. The union
has no record of Tracy. de came here in
May. 1892. in New York ship and went
to the Sailors Home. he was expelled
from that place in October, went to
Doyie's, and has been there ever since.
Captain Melvin Staples, who was hiuted
al by Mrs. Curtin as probable insiigator
of the crime, laughed at the suggestion.
1--WE have no connection whatever with
either side in this quarrel" said be. I'VE
take none but deep-water sailors, and
have no relations of any kind with the
union or the ship-owners. except when
they get one of our men once in a while.
but never anything to arouse hard feel
Ing"
The morning call., 1893-09-25
CURTIN'S STATEMENT.

The only person now living who seems
to know exactly how the accident occurred
is young Curtin, and by a strange fatality
the explosion took place at the only time
it could have cost so many lives.
AS 1t was the four men whose lives have
been sacrificed TO vengeance were huddled
around the powerful explosive. About the
first remark Curtin made when he recov-
cred consciousness was: "McGinness
must have been blown to atoms, because
he was STOPPING right over the valise."
1t is evident that the man who carried
the valise to the house intended to place it
in the hallway just inside the street door.
with the intention of blowing the house TO
fragments. but it happened that the front
doors were closed early on Saturday night.
so he placed the explosive on the sidewalk
against the hall door.
Yesterday afternoon John Curtin made
the following statement to the police,
which was taken down as an aute-mortem
statement in case he should die:
IL left the house about 1880, and then
went to the National Theatsr. l started
for home again and got as far as Main
street. When l went home there as with
me George Holmes, Alex. Mckenzie, Ed
Murphy, Charley Bernard, Brick McGn-
mis-.
When we arrived in the front OF the
house 334 Main street, where l reside, l
noticed small black oilcloth valise and
roll of blankets. The valise looked as if 1t
had been used some. When l saw the
valise l went over and picked itup.
1T seemed very light and remembering
the threats made by sailors l dropped it,
saying. There is dynamite in it l ran
over toward the edge of the sidewalk. the
rest Of the men laughing at me. When
about half way across 1 felt an explosion
and went up In the air.
Il have been told by man named Jack,
that union sailors had it in for me. Jack
had some trouble with my father few
months ago. Jack generally hangs around
the union Office on East street. The roll
of blankets was made up of gray
blanket. it seemed 10 be half blanket"
John CURTIN"
"Witness-CHARLE l.. REYNOLDS"
The morning call., 1893-09-25
TERRENCE TRACY'S STORY.

Terrence Tracy was the least commune
cative of the three men. He sat back on
his couch with hard frown on his face
and for some time could not be induced to
talk. After worrying with him for half
an hour he finally told the following story:
"I am an Englishman and have only
been in this country six weeks. L came
from England on the ship Galena by the
way of Cape Horn. have lived ever since
a Doyle's boarding-house. 1t was there l
met Tyrrel and Woods.
81 was with Tyrrell Saturday night, as
he mas told you, and went to bed shortly
after O'Clock. ] do not remember Woods
coming in at all, as | was asleep. never
left my bed from the time l undressed,
about 80. until l got up after the explo-
sion. have not worked much here, so do
not know the union men from non-union.
81 never belonged to a union in my life,
so you see l could not have anything to do
with this thing. When l came here l
brought my clothes in white sack and
they are in there yet. l never saw Tyrrsll
with a gripsack, but l think Wood had
one. but that was in our room wien we
were arrested.
'When I heard the noise rushed down.
stairs without my clothes on, and went as
far as the veranda. No. l id not even
have my pants on, for | know that is
what l went back for. After putting on
my pants [ thought might as we'll dress.
so l did all but put on my stockings.
II was standing in the middle of the
room all dressed when the police came in
The morning call., 1893-09-25

with him, but he said yesterday morning
that he was all right except that he
couldn't see or hear. He has been kept
almost entirely under the influence of
opiatcs.
DIR. Somers says that he is afraid that
septicemia will set in. The force of the
explosion drove great many particles OF
dirt into his skin. 1t is impossible to re-
move all of these, and on that account
blood poisoning is expected. The same
condition OF affairs exists with reference
to young Curtin. Beyond the shock and a
few slight burns he sustained no severe
injuries. and If blood-poisoning does not
set in he will recover. He was semi
unconscious all of yesterday OF account of
the administration of opiates. but last
evening he told DR.. Somers that he felt
fairly we'll
The morning call., 1893-09-25

direct to a saloon at 1O4 Steuart street KEEP
by Mr.. Dochiell. He was feeling slcs,
so l helped scrub out for him.
while l was working Tyrrell and Tracy
came in. They did not stop but d few min
utes. They went out, but l do not know
where they went to. Shortly before S:3C
o'clock nv brother and a fellow named
Dick Williams, but known as Taft. came
in, and we all three went to some saloon
on the corner OF jackson and Kearny
streets We had few drinks there and
Taft invited US to go to the Wigwam
| Theater.
1--WE went and did not leave there until
five minutes past IL O'Clock. We stopped
talking to man at the corner of third and
Market streets for tine. think MS
name was McCaffey. We left him stand
ing there and went down Howard street
toward our home. Taft left US at the
corner of Beale and Main. My brotner
and [ stood talking for few minutes. a nd
then he went away; do not know where
l wen straight home and went to bed.
When got there / found Tracy in bed.
bul he was not asleep. Yes, am sure he
was not asleep. l spoke to him about
something and he answered me.
Il had been in bed about twenty min
utes and had just fallen asleep when the
explosion occurred. dumped up. for l was
frightened and called out to Tracy, Did
YOU hear that TracyP
He said. Yes; what do you think 1t
is?' | told him that guessed it was one
of the powder at Berkeley being
blown up, and that whatever 1t was it had
blown the key out of the door. lit the
lamp and sat down in chair. Then got
up and went to the window. for l heard
voices on the street crying, thought.
'I'racv then got up and put on his pants
and went downstairs. l put my pants on
and went down too. In the hall met Mrs.
Doyle coming in from The porch. She was
crying and grabbed me by the arm and
said, oh, my God, Curtin's house is blown
up This was the first j knew OF it. l
went out on the veranda, and. after ionk-
ing around went back upstairs to dress.
AFTER 1 had finished dressing went
down to the street again. and after staying
there for some few minutes came back to
the house and Mrs. Doyle gave all the boys
a drink OF whisky. After that | went
back 10 the street again and talked to lot
OF people | know. Their names are Mnr-
dock Mcdonald, John Mcdonald and some
others that l have forgotten now.
''Mr. Park was there also, and he told
me that lie had just left the boys few
minutes before they were killed. We all
went back TO the house again, and the
police came up and arrested me-"
In reply to question as to whether or
not Tyrrell or Tracy had a gripsack,
Woods said: 81 think they both had, but |
would not be sure. Tracy had some kind
of sack that he put his clothes in, and l
know that Tyrrell, when he alked OF GO
ing away few days ago, had either a
sack or bag under his bed. which he
pulled out and said it was to put his
clothes in.
Il had nothing to do with that job last
night and l do not know who had l
know that Tracy and Tyrrell would not do
il, and l don't think it was done by union
men,"
The morning call., 1893-09-25
Governor Markham to Offer a
Heavy Reward for the
Discovery of the
MiSCreantS.
THE POLICE ARE BAFFLED.
Emphatic Disclaimer by the Sea-
mems Union of Any Com
plicity in the
Outrage.

The fatal explosion of yesterday morn
ing which wrecked the Curtin sailors
boarding ouse on Main street. near Har-
risoD. was the general subject of painful
interest throughout the day.
Down on the water front it formed
almost the sole topic. The fearful sud-
denness, the tiendish malice attributed to
| the perpetrators and the heartrendng loss
of life that ensued made the subject one
of profound human interest. From the
fact that the wrecked house was chiefly
occupied by non-union sailors it had even
been rumOred that the explosion was an
organized movement.
But, as matter of fact. the dasardly
attack upon life and property remains a
mystery. The Seamen's Union. through
nantly denies the implied charge that the
union was in any way connected with il.
The police are completely at loss.
| Chief Crowley has telegraphed Governor
Markham advising him to offer Substan-
tial reward for information leading to con-
viction of the guilty party or parties. To
assure that it is not the department that is
| intended to profit by the reward the Chief
particularly requests the Introduction of
provisO in the proclamation precludng the
police from becoming the bene efeihry.
The list of the dead through the explo-
sion has been increased 10 four. two more
victims saccumbiug Yesterday 10 their
cruel injuries. A fifth may possibly be
added to the death roll.
One OF the wounded victims was so far
recovered as to be able TO make graphic
Abatement of all he knew OF the affair.
Clews. suspicious. Indirect charges and
direct disclaimers are complicating the in
vestigation, which is being carried on
steadily.
The arrested men have been subjected
to a rigid examination, but the results are
being withheld in the interests of justice
Many W lid stories in circulation are dis
trusted by the police, but the general sense
is that any hour may witness revelation
Of those who plotted and carried out the
awful crime.
The victims of the explosion who have
already passed away are: George Holmes,
William Mckenzie, Edward Murphy,
Edward McGinnis,
The morning call., 1893-09-25
JAMES WOODS STORY.

The three men, James Woods, John
Tyrrell and Terrence Tracy. now under
arrest on suspicion of participation in the
dynamite outrage, spent yesterday in the
tanks. Woods is off by himself, while
Tyrrell and Tracy occupy the cell in which
DR.. West has spent mis- hours since his IN
generation. All three men are very nerv-
Gus. and when asked any question regard
ing the crime answer in trembling voices.
When asked for a statement regarding
his connection with the case last night
Woods said:
Il am sailor. and have belonged TO the
Sailors Union for almost one year i
boarded at Doyle's clearinghouse until ]
was arrested last night. Saturday night /
lefe Doyle's shortly after supper and went
The morning call., 1893-09-25
PERSONAL NOTES.

T. P. Gray. Portland contractor. is al
the Grand
Mrs. o. ". Childs of Los Angeles is al
the Palace.
c. NJ. James, a Baltimore banker. is al
the Palace.
R. Fl. Painter. a Denver mining man, is
at the Palace.
Henry Mclean. Victoria banker. is at
the California.
James P. Ryan, Detroit lumberman, is
at the Baldwin.
Lieutenant Harry T.. Ford. U. S. N, is
at the Baldwin.
j. NJ. Wallace. San Bernardino mining
man. is al the Lick
Judge Edward 5. Haight of New Orleans
is at the California.
L. B. WOOdman. Woodland hotel pro-
prietOr, is at the Baldwin.
Harvey E. Cory, a Rochester manu-
facturer, is at the Baldwin.
George c. jackson. a member of the
Chicago Board of Trade, is at the Caifor-
MIA
The morning call., 1893-09-25

Police officers were actively engaged all
yesterday searching for clews that would
lead to the Identification of the man or
men who perpetrated the fendish outrage.
but uD to midnight nothing of definite
nature had turned mp.
That the outrage is due to the strained
relations that have been existing for some
time back between union and non-uniop
men Is the universal belief. Curtin's is a
non-union clearinghouse. and Doyle's, a
few doors further north. is resort oi
union sailors.
lhere is strong suspicion In police
circles that some of the guests in DOYLE:
clearinghouse could tell just who the
iends were
AS an evidence that the police have SC
far been baffied in their efforts to trace the
guilty parties, Chief Crowley last evening
sent dispatch to Governor Markham ask.
Ing him to offer reward for information
leading to the arrest and conviction Of the
parties implicated.
Ii Is thought that il the reward Is made
sufficiently large there will be a strong
chance of the law being vindicated, but il
not the chances are that the fiends will gS
unpunished. The latter result would bf
generally depored. as such an evidence OF
anarchy, if not crushed down by a power
full and firm hand, would be dangerous tt
welfare of the community and standins
menace to Law and order.
1t is doubtful if the three men, TyrrelI.
Tracy and Woods, arrested on suspicion
can be held. There is apparently nothing
sn far to fix the responsibility of the crime
upon them except the threats made b,
them to Mrs. Curtin. Tyrrell was taken t,
the Chiefs Office yesterday afternoon ant
subjected to rigorous examination, a,
The morning call., 1893-09-25
THE TWO SURVIVORS.

OF the six men who returned to Curtin's
boarding-house but two have survived
young John Curtin and Charles Bernard.
The physicians at the hospital are not
very sanguine as TO the recovery of either.
Bernard sustained by far the worse in
juries. Both of his ear drums collapsed
and he is unable to hear. His eyes had to
be cut out of their sockets, so that he is en-
tirely blind. Besides these injuries it is
believed that he is hurt internally. The
physicians have no way OF communicating
The morning call., 1893-09-25
CALLING FOR A REWARD.

Last night Chief Crowley sent the fol-
lowing message to Governor Markham
asking that be offer reward for the an
Drehension of the criminals:
Sept. "a. 1898.
H. FL. Markham, Governor of California
SGcrdnlento: l respectfully request that Won
offer suitable reward for any information
that may lead TO the arrest and conviction OF
any person or persons who were engaged
in the dynamite outrage in this citv
this morning, which resulted in the
death of Alex Mckenzie, Edward Murphy. Ed
ward McGinnis and the fatal injury OF Charles
Bernard. [ have three men under arrest.
Should they prove the ones this reward Will not
apply. nor shall it apply to the police
T. CROWLEY, Chief of Police.
The enormity of the crime has caused
much talk in and out of the police station
regarding a reward. The prevailing opin-
ion is that if the men who are now under
arrest are not the guilty parties they at
least have some knowledge of who did the
deed, and through them the actual perpe-
TRAITOR is to be discovered,
The morning call., 1893-09-25
Cyclists Outing.

Eleven members of the California
Cycling Club rode from this city to
San Jose and back yesterday They
set out at 6:20 A. NJ. had dinner
at San Jose, thirteen being present. and
as result trouble followed. President
Windps tire broke and E. A. DOUGLASS,
another member, was run down by q
drunken equestrian.
Douglass machine was shattered, and
he and Windt came home bv rail. The
other members of the club arrived at s 80
O'Clock
The morning call., 1893-09-25

ing when she visited tie Chiefs Office, and
is evidently taking the doctors trouble
very much to heart.
DR.. West talked readily on all matters
which did not pertain to his case, but his
attorney seemed to have succeeded in i'm
pressing him with the fact that he must
not talk about that
Il talk too much. they say" he answered
in reply to an inquiry about what would be
his defense.
"But will say this, that | never told
any one the trunk was destroyed. / did
not tell Miss GIlmour's father that, nor did
say so to Plymire. l told them that the
trunk had been stolen away in my absence,
and did not know who had taken it"
The doctor was very positive about this
but in making the denial he admitted that
he knew Plymire. and that he had had
conversation with him about the dsap-
pearance of Miss Gilmour.
When he was interrogated about the
picture of the friend whom she called
Jack" he said he had never seen the pic
ture. and did not know whether il was in
the trunk or not.
"LittIe Jack'' Talks.
Los ANGELES, Sept. N.-"Little Jack"
has been discovered in Los Angeles in the
person of }. c. McGrury, a young man a
little over 20 years of age who was for
merly a brakeman in the employ of the
Southern Pacific.
He Claims he first met Miss Glmour in
June, 1892. in the San Joaquin division,
when she flirted with him and afterward
wrote inviting him to go to San Francisco
He went, and, as he says, at her invitation
remained with her. They met again in
March of this year, which he says was the
last time be saw her.
he declares that she never charged him
with being the cause of her trouble and
that he knew nothing about it until he read
OF the case in papers. He says he is
willing to 20 to San Francisco and do all
be can to help clear up the mystery.
The morning call., 1893-09-25
A SCENE OF HORROR.

':.The scene of the explosion shortly
after it occurred" said a gentleman yes
terday, "was most thrilling one. | notice
that on account of the lateness of the
hour none OF the printed accounts touched
on this aspect of the terrible event The
reporters were too busy gathering the ma