The morning call., 1893-10-04
killed by the Curtin clearinghouse ex-
plosion on Main street on September "a

killed by the Curtin boaring house ex-
plosion on Main street on September "a
was resumed yesterday.
Julian Snnntag. in the e,ploy of the
Giant Powder Company. lonsolidated)
testified as to the nature Of te explosive
qualities of dynamite. He ha5 not visited
the scene of he explosion. andknew moth
ing of the affair except kn0wlfSe gained
from the newspapers. Coronr Hughes
detailed to him the damage 10 pesons and
property. and asked the witness what, i
his opinion, caused the explosio. Sonn-
tag answered: Dynamite, explood by an
electric battery" he then entehd upon
composition of dynamite, its e4,losiva
power as comrared with gunpowar and
the manner of exploding it, names: by
fuse, by electricity and by conclusion
Explaining his belief that the dyDmite
was exploded by electric battery, SoIatag
said the odor of burning fuse, which vas
made of cotton with q covering OF ar,
could hardly have escaped the notice Of
young Curtin when he picked up he
valise, particularly as Curtin had "G-
Mantle scare" on him. The valise mig {
have been closed so tight as to hold Pc
fectly the smoke, but this was hardly
pro obable, and the fuse would have burned
the same as it does under water. In the
opinion 0f the witness. the explosion coulC
not have been made by lifting the vallse
and setting 1t down gently, as Curtin did
SO it must have been caused by fuse or elec
tricity, and he held to the latter theory
There were many forms of "time" bat
terry which any exert electrician coulC
construct to do the work. 1t requires 35(
degrees Of heat to explode dynamite
Judging by the damage inflicted. witnes;
was of the opinion that ten to twelve
pounds of dynamite had been used.
nf al
foreman of canning company, testified
that be was in Golden Gate Park Friday
morning, September %. with his family
Leaving the park at the McAlister-stree
entrance. and waiting for car, he noticed
two men-one seated and trying to hide
his face, the other Standing in the arch
way looking up and down the street as j.
said to the man sitting down: "There ht
is now; let's skip" Witness noticed {
tall man coming from the park and eros:
McAlliste street diagOnally. He seemed
to have something stuffed beneath hi!
coat. The other two rose and followed
overtakiDg the tall man, and the thres
disappeared from view around the corner
Between and 8 O'Clock the same after
noon Terry was standing at the corner ol
Market and Montgomery streets, in from
of the Crocker building. and noticed two
of the men whom he had seen at the parE
walking down the north side of Market
The tall man carried black valise about
eighteen inches long and fourteen inche,
deep. Witness saw "One-eyed" Tyrrel
since the arrest, and thinks he is the same
man whom he saw at the PARK entrance
and at Montgomery and Market streets
but could not testify with any positiveness
Oh this point.
The actions of the three men at the parl
were suspicious enough to arrest his atten
ton and seeing two of them few hours aft
erward and subsequently learning of the ex
plosion OF a valise containing dynamic
prompted witness to report the matter Il
the authorities. Beyond these two point
he knew nothing of the case except from
reading.
john Curtin, owner OF the lodging hons
where the explosion occurred, was mex
sworn and the further taking Of testimon.
was deferred until II A M. to-day, whel
Curtin's story will be heard.