davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
A DOZEN MEN BLOWN UP.
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION IN A FIREWORKS
FACTORY.
PETERSBURG. VA, IN MOURNING FOR THE
SUDDEN DEATH OF a NUMBER OF PROMl-
NENT CITIZENS A PUBLIC MEET
ING CALLED IN AID OF wID-
OWS AND ORPHANS.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.J

Petersburg Va. April All Petersburg is In
mourning tonight, for great calamity mas De-
fallen the city. and some Of its best citizens nave
lost their lives This afternoon about O'Clock,
fire broke out I'm the fireworks factory OF L. y.
Romaine & Brother, in Bandford suburb OF
Petersburg. The flames spread rapidly and were
quickly communicated from the shop in which
they originated to the other buildings OF the
plant. There were frequent explosions. attended
with fatal results. A high wind prevailed at the
time and the fremen had ;c work at a great dis
advantage.
The following is list o. the dead
Charles ~ Romane, John B. Bland. Captain
James r Tosh. James W. Perkins, James Row
land Robert Rowland John F. Harris, William
Parker James Bryant, Thomas Woodfolk (col-
Oredt
The injured are Chief Engineer f. V. Farley
fatally; Charles Wells. injured Internally; +. w.
Redgray, fatally; Walter Nunally, hand broken
and flesh wound on left breast; +. Stith Beasley'
struck on thigh by flying piece OF tin and
slightly injured: william Parker, slightly. Will
lam Traylor and Quincy Livesay, employees are
missing and are supposed to have been Killed.
Several Of the bodies which were recovered
were burned almost To a crisp. The BODY or
Captain Tosh was identified by his knife. sleeve
buttons ana Watcf. captain Josh "dS Il odii-
didate for Commissioner Of Revenue He leaves
a wife and fourteen children. lie was one OF
Petersburg's most prominent and highly es-
termed citizens. John b. Bland and C.. " Ro-
maine were prominent citizens Both leave
widows with children.
a temporary mOrgue was established IN
house the scene OF the explosion, and there
lay some bodies which had been burned almost
beyond recognition The scene was sickening 10
look upon Some Of the bodies were carried away
in wagons and others on stretchers. DIR. II. q.
Leigh coroner, will hold an inquest on the bodies
tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. The death and
injury OF so many people have thrown pail over
the entire city and little else Is talked Of In the
community.
Mayor Collier this afternoon issued the follow
ing proclamation: I'm view Of the appalling
calamity. occasioned by the fire OF this after
noon i'm Blandford. whereby many families have
been suddenly plunged into the deepest distress
by reason OF the many lives sacrificed ON that
occasion invite a meeting Of the citizens TO be
held at the Courthouse in the Council Chamber
at o'clock p. m. tomorrow Sunday 10 take
such appropriate measures Of sympathy and re-
lief as the extraordinary occasion may require
Respectfully. Charles F. Collier, Mayor
The pecuniary loss is about 100000 partly In
sured
New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
I'm APRIL SNOU DRIZZLE.

IT WAS HARDLY A STORM IN THE CITY YES
-. TERDAY AND TURNED TO RAIN IN
THE EVENING.
An April snowstorm came upon the city yesterday
10 help the April showers bring forth May flowers
1t not particularly promising day In the morn
ing, and in the afternoon IL dim, cloudy damp
and disagreeabe. The snow began TO fall about
$50 O'clock and continued to come down in weak
and watery fakes until $50 In the evening. when
1t changed into rain. 1t could hardly be called a
snowstorm. but rather snow drizzle. II
seemed the last expiring effort OF winter to linger
in the lap of spring. The snow melted as soon as
touched the ground but still IL showed OCCASION
ally. as If 1t really meant 10 set in for an April
blizzard, but these efforts were spasmodc, and OF
short duratOn
The temperature varied greatly in the course Of
the day, running the gamut from % TO 30 degrees.
and no man knew whether to unbutton his overcOat
or 10 keep il buttOned up. The snow and rain OF
yesterday were caused by storm over the lower
lake region. The prospects for to-day as published
by Observer Dunn last night. are that there will BE-
Gearing weather and that the storm which prevailed
yesterday the lower lake region will pass
harmlessly away to the northeast There was an
other storm brewing in the Southwest but II was
not expected 10 arrive here soon, and might not
come al all. The rain that followed the snow yes
terday was not heavy, and Il the "ee'her had been
milder might have passed for an ordinary Aprl
New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
EJG HTY-FITE YE4ES OLD AND StICfDE

THE AGED WOMAN FEARED BECOMING BLIND
r1tz, OGDEN. NEGLECTED BY HER BROTH
ERs. ALSO TOOK HER LIFE
Eliza Ogden, about fifty years old committed
suicide at No 2i2 East Twenty-third-st. yesterday
bv drinking carbolic acid. Mrs. Julia Davis In
those house Miss Ogden lived. found her dead AT y
o'clock. -
MISC Ogden lived In the house for two years Tier
oxnenses were paid by her two brothers. Frederick
and Clarence ogden. The former is employed ID
the Street Cleaning Department and the other mas
stationery store at No 2S Fulton-st only one
of the brothers. Clarence. had ever called TO see
his sister it is alleged He spent few hours win
her one day last summer She felt the nesiect &C.,
deeply and often threatened to commit suiciu d "a
Friday she spoke of her lonely NE bat see sedn'eu
io be in cheerful spirits when she went 10 Deo. pei,
After living eighty-hve years Swiss wU,i'au1 WI ~
named Barbara Pfeister hanged herseit aD2us ~
n'cIock Yesterday morning. at No ~ Iehts-ave' s @
She lived there with her married daughter ani tb
in.Iaw Henry Dattwyler. lie discoVereu '''e
woman's body hanging from the trans0mu %nu OF IRE.
hedroom door The dead woman was WI Mwen ,pnn
oarH.ed despite her advanced age Dut nau urrh
arowinp childish of late At times she acteu IIieen Ii
=, and gave evidence that her nina was ~, a.
10 Her eyesght almost gone, anu IL, u. ~ ~
.he6,obt that the fear OF becoming Dihu PIo'nP.eu
her 10 xiii herself. Her husband died many Se"N
ago in Switzerland
New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
HE DIED At HIS FATHERS FIRST jISIT
ONE OF THE CONVICTED ELECTION INSPECT
ORs SUDDENLY EXPIRES on BLACK
WELLS ISLAND.

William Rooney. one Of the convicted election IN
snectors who was sentenced month ago 10 the
pcnitentiary by Judge Barrett died yesterday after
noon in the hospital attached 10 the institution lie
expired I'm the arms OF his aged father. who had
been permitted 10 see him for the first time since
his incarceration.
ROoneys sentence was one year ana Ten Hohthh
and fine OF $3.50 Last week his parents, who 1--we
., Va n East Houston-st received word that ne
had been placed In the hospital. He was said TO
he suffering from rheumatism OF the heart II was
obortiv alter noon yesterday when the father
reached the hospital building. Rooney was con-
ecious and recognized his father. He made an
eTort TO embrace him, but had not the strength
He tried to speak few words Of pleasure at seeing
Mo aged parent but his voice failed him Inc
words died on his lips and the sight seemed 70
leave his ewes. As the old man was benYng iondiy
over him the nurses led him gently "a .de ana toid
him the patient was dead -, -, MAJ. ,,
Rooney was thirty-seven years oid iic wa, was con con
,,tcta1 ~ irregularities committed at the last tlec
lion il, the Fifty-frst Election District OF the Win
Assembly District
New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
DEAD FROM An OTERDOSE or MORPHINE
JAcoR MICHAELIs. WELL TNowN AMONG THE
GERMANS OF THE CITY. ACCIDENTALLY
TAKES \ FATAL QUANTITY OF
THE DRUG

Jacob Michaes. sixty years old. OF No. 233 East
One-hundred- -tenth-st. died from accidental
overdose OF morphine at o'clock yesterday
morning
Mr. Michaes was one OF the best known Ger
mans In the city. In 1866 he started private
school in East Fourth-st. which he maintained for
wears At that time he was known as the German
orator OF the East Side. In 1868 the pupils OF his
school presented to him gold watch at a picnic
given by his school at Joness Wood and the pres
entation was madsby the Mayor Of the city Later
Mr. Michaels started similar school in East
Fortieth-st. which he kept up until fifteen years
ago when he moved TO Harlem. He had been en-
gagged the insurance business. which he relin-
qui5hed over n year ago, when he became Ill
For several months he was confined to Mount
Sinai Hospital and an operation was performed on
his stomach. He became nearly blind. Since leav-
ing the hospital he had been suffering with In
somnia and in the habit OF taking morphine
to make him sleep. on Friday afternoon. while his
wife was away attending funeral. he took an
overdose OF the drug. on his wife's return home
she found him in a comatose condition lying upon
a sofa She sent for a physician. and although
artificial respiration was kept up until s O'Clock
Yesterday morning ne died. He leaves widow and
four children. one OF whom is married
New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
4 BOl'S REMARhAB5 TSC3 PE.
HE STEPS BACKWARD FROM A ROOF AND FALLS
SIXTY FEET TO THE GROUND
WITHOUT INJURY

The neighbors Of the Rev. Charles W. Turner.
pastor Of ST. Johns Episcopal Church. OF Hunting
ton. L. l.. who has been living for the winter In a
fiat at No. 1901 Atlantc-avc., Brooklyn. specu-
letting upon feat performed by his thirteen-year-
old son. John Lawrence. who on Friday. while flying
a kite. fell from the roof OF the house where his
father lived TO the ground withou. sustaining
teral injuries. a close examination of the lad has
disclosed wipgs. and the neghbors at a loss
10 know how he escaped with his life The boy
went up TO the roof Friday with huge kite he
mad constructed and es3ayed 20 fly It," The wind
was light and he hac much difficulty in raising the
Kite He threw It in the air and backed rapidly
away. jerking st the string ne did so. II went
BACKWARD" said the boy. "and must have stepped
on the roof The first ching knew i felt myself
falling II seemed to me like I going 10 sleep
r.ght away don't remember striking the ground
o! whether / held on 10 the kite-string
H.ter being fc"nc on the ground the boy was at
tenced b. DR.. & Lick. OF No. &c Herkimer ST.. who
gSd T find no severe injuries bruises on his body
anss ROOF was about sixty feet from the ground.
seno why the boy was not killed severely in
}u'ed BY fht fall Is uneXplainnble Either John
hNcnce Turner has remarkable constitution or
nts nps iall was greatly broken by holding to the
AZ str1ng The boy says the string not strong.
fs1ynow bis family are extremely thankful for bis
'ensrkable escape
New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
SEQUEL TO THE CHLORINE Tragedy.
DR. BRENlzER. or ITHACA COMMITS SUI
eide. LEAVING A LETTER REFER
RING TO THE POISONING CASE.

DR. BRENlzER. OF ITHACA. COMMITS SUI
eide LEAVING LETTER REFER
RING TO THE POISONING CASE.
Ithaca y. Y. April 7.-Dp W /. Brenizer com
mitted suicide this evening by shooting himself In
the temple at his Offices. In the Masonic Block,
where Mrs Henrietta jackson killed by inhal-
Ing chlorine gas at the Cornell freshmens banquet
on February 20 He left the following letter
Mr Charles White my kind friend and benefactor
Having been we'll received and patronized by the
goodiy people Of Ithaca during the past two years
teel II my duty to explain In part the reasons OF
my final retirement. For five months or more J
nave been worried about something best known to
hard work and study | have tried to subvert
until now but feel useless TO try II longer and. az
II concerns else, I'll make no further men
ton Of It here. True, / have been Informed that
J. prepared that fatal chlorine gas and placed 1t
there in the room. This Is not true. i have never
seen those jugs or chemicals or any other element
used In the deed. For more than six months pre-
vious TO the accident i had not been In the room
where the chlorine prepared. My hands never
touched those elements OF destruction, and hope
that my past life will prove to the doubling mind
better opinion Of me. The animate chlorine within
r"o was thought long to realize the inanimate
chlorine without. My past life Is free OF crime, and
! don't want this In closing II. wish you would
and send the balance TO II. ". Ingerso Of Akron
Ohio. Please send my trunk and clothes 10 Mrs
NJ. T.. Wilson. Akron. Ohio My body as you will
IND 1t. place on yonder hill near Ithaca Yours
finally. w. l.. b.
The trouble he speaks of In his letter Is thought
to be some love affair. The idea that he is mixed
up in the chlorine poisoning case is deemed ridlcu
lous and is attributed to his mind being unbalanced
The Coroner has decided that an inquest is un-
New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
Az AMERICAN hILLED NEAR BLCEFIELDS.

HID WAS GEORGE FLYNN \ NATIVE or BROOK
LYN-HoW HE MET HIS DEATH
Mobile. Ala April The Norwegian steamship
Sunniva arrived here this morning. Theodore Book
man. "A wcll-to-do planter OF Rama, was passen.
ger and from him was learned the detailed account
Of the killing Of an American at Rama. two weeks
ago tonight Mr.. Bockman left Buefelds on Sun
day He gave the details OF the killing substan-
tally follows:
William Wilson az at first printed in the American
PAPERS His name was George Flynn. lie was
native of Brooklyn and was about thirty-two years
Old. His father is foreman OF the Anchor Line
docks at Brooklyn. ~,
Flynn was watchman at the store of Brown &
Harris at Rama. and slept In the second story OF
the store He had retired for the night. when.
about $50 o'clock he heard some fighting going on
investIeation in as to the nature of the fighting. he
found a policeman trying 10 arrest negro. he or
dered them off Of the porch, and upon their refuS'
ing to obey he pushed them both down. About
that time the Governor OF Rama AgHeIlo, came up
when he was shot dead by the Governor without
the slightest provocation The anair created tne
widest excitement. not only at Rama but also at
Buehelds" .
Tor a physician nor would he allow the wounded
taken 70 prison. where he died the next morning
from the effect Of the wound though his lie might
necessary attention. The next morning a tug was
sent down to Bluefelds and the Governor-General
him orders 10 arrest the old Governor but the new
Governor failed to follow his instructions and the
old Governor escaped.
.'The United States battleship San Francisco was
exnected at Buefelds from Rio last week. The
British man-of-war left there some two weeks ago
ana while she was there everything was quiet.
When the British commander left. he exacted a
nromise from General Carlos Lacaya, who is In
Charge at Bluefeds that no more soldiers should
he oiartered there but he had no sooner gone than
Lacaya broke the promise l.,
when I left Biueheds things there were In
state of anarchy and the people there were hold
ing meetings every day to try and organize a gov
ernment'
New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
THE TESTIMONY As GIVEN.
PRESIDENT MARTIN EXAMINED FUR
TIER
HE TELLS HOW APPOINTMENTS TO THE FORCE
ARE MADE THE SERGEANT WHO WAS
WILLING TO HELP A VOTER AFTER
HE SAID HE WAS A DEMOCRAT
INTIMIDATION IN THE NTH


Five OF the seven members Of the Senate COM
mlttee which is engaged in Investigating the con.
duct OF the police In this city attended the session
yesterlay-Messrs. Lexow. Saxton. Cantor. Robert
son and Bradley. Mr. Sutherland. counsel for the
committee directed the work. and he assisted
by Henry Grasse. upon whom much OF the work OF
securing testimony has devolved. Mr. Nicoll. rep
resenting the Police Department. was present The
courtroom was filled with spectators. AS on the
other days Of the hearings Part II OF the Superior
Court used. and the large courtroom proved
TO be a more comfortable place for the hearing
than the smaller room formerly occupied In the de-
partment OF the Common Pleas.
As the members Of the committee can spare only
one or two days week here great deal OF work
has to be done In the brief time allowed. Every
minute which the committee sits is OF hard
work. and the facts brought out quickly and
clearly. The dispatch with which the work Is done
has brought forth many compliments for Mr.. Suth-
er.and and Mr. Grasse.
Senator Bradley. the Independent Democratic
member from Brooklyn. called Familiarity Uncle
Dan" Bradley reached the courthouse. as usual
long before the other members OF the committee ar
rived Senator Bradley has been pitching into the
Bridge Trustees and 1t has been hnted that he
comes over to New-York every morning before
daybreak in order avoid meeting any OF the irate
trustees Senator Bradley however. denies the
rumor.
SLEEK JIMMY MARTIN.
poiice Commissioner Jimmy" Martin who Is also
Tammanv Hall leader in the XXIst Assembly Dis
,rict and hence has been dividing his attention be-
,ween the finest" and the fattest" dn offices
arrived promptly witness. Jimmy Is a good
example OF a sleek Tammany Hall favorite He has
held Office ever since he was big enough. with the
exception OF couple OF years in the cary seventies
when the influence OF the Wigwam declined. owing
70 the absence OF Mr.. Tweed and other leaders In
iaii or in foreign landswhere many OF the present
Democratic leaders at present. "Jimmy's" salary
gradually grew bigger the years by, and the
offices he held more and more important and
prominent He has been drawing 5000 year from
well afford to live In the SILK Stocking District
and TO wear the finely fitting tallor-m suit and
the shining silk hat which he proudly bore into the
courtroom yesterday. Jimmy Is a smooth one
not only In personal appearance. but also In the
vay he gives his testimony pronouncedly smooth
even sppery He does not wriggle when the uues-
tions become searching. He right for the diff
roll OF him easily the opposing slip
SO far az his manner Is concerned But the waves
are there Just the same. II Jimmy" doesn't mind
them and their roar IL being heard throughou the
State.
Mr. Sutherland said when the coure opened
that Mr. Martin had sent for some papers, and that
while these were being obtained he would call sew
Continued n. Fourth Page.
New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
THE BOILER. EXPLODED.

THREE MEN WERE KILLED AND TWO FATALLY
WOUNDED AS 4 RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.
Spencer Ind. April The boiler in the mill be
Longing TO Christian Weber at Lancaster. ten miles
from this city. exploded to-day while the employees
were at work. The mill owner MS son. heWlS SI
Weber and Clifton Tinehart, aborer were IN
stanty killed by the explosion. TWO otnrr ihDoreiS
whose names are not known were fatally injured
New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
TNCHECEED FLAMES AT CONEI Island

\ FIERCE FIRE BREAKS OFT IN THE BowERY"-
DANCD HALLS AND BATH HOUSES De
STROYED-HOTELS THREATENED
Fire broke out late last night at Coney Island In
the "Bowery.' which is composed Of a number Of
dance halls, barrooms. merry grounds bathing
houses ETC. along Surf-ave. II was feared that the
hotels at the famous resort would be destroyed.
The Coney Island Fire Department was early on the
scene but owing 10 swift breeze was long unable
10 do any effective work in checking the flames.
IL is thought that the fire Will burn while II mas
material to feed on \ number OF structures have
already fallen prey 10 the ilames. IL Is estimated
that the loss will reach 100000.
New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
r,ocpIryc CoyGREssMEy TO CONFER

Washington. April 7.-Chairman Holman OF the
Denocratc caucus. to-day Issued the ioho"ms
call: -, ro,,ocra,ic NOM
..1-bere will be a meeting OF the De"o'."'' ~ ~. ~ "
iheie W. IYausa on tuesday evening. April TO- at
so,clock TO consider questions OF nha"ee "o" 'e"'
ing" .,..s . from, n generally signed petition
,rd, members who wish to secure the cary sl's
iron, !" ,n yer cent tax on State banks; az SuaI
OF tnS ~ ~ pfSe last Democratic Nationa PLATFORM
New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
ALL THE BIG FAIR BCILDINGS SOLD.

Chicago April IL. c. Garrett. a st. Louis
contractor has purchased all the big Worlds Fair
buildings from the South Park Commissioners for
s755O0 The structures included in the purchase are
the Manufactures, Administration Electricity.
Mines and Mining. Agriculture. Fisheries ana
TRANSPORTATION buildings and Machinery Hall. This
excludes only the Fine Arts Building now the
property OF the Field Columbian Museum the Con,
vent of Ia Rabida, the two service buildings and
the Forestry Building. Chicago men who bid on the
buildings complaining that they were sold out out
begin at once. The contractor must clear the Park
by May !, 1895.
New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
INJURED.

poSsrR mike" legs and hands badly burned
DtrCAN Owen fireman. skull fractured. badly bruised
sev.r,l rIls broken. viii probably die
tIVISGsTONE DAVID. Of Port Perry limbs broken
ana badly bruised
The others who are injured are known only by
Numbers their names not appearing on the com
nany's payrols. one had several ribs broken, and
Us otherwise badly crushed; he Will likely die
Another mad both legs broken; another was badly
burned about the head, and may lose his eyes
Eieht others were more less injured (some seri
ousIv) by flying rock and debris.
New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
FiTlL PREM1TrRE EXPLOSIOE

THREE LABoRERs KILLED And SEVERAL BADLY
INJURED AT HRINTON. PENN.
PIttsburg April THREE men were killed outright
and thirteen others more less seriously injured
this morning by premature explosion OF
,,i.n, nowdcr and dynamite the new
works Of the Westinghouse Electric Com
pany now in course OF construction at Brfn-
ton Station on the Pennsylvania road. near
Braddock The men. all OF whom were Austrians'
were engaged in excavatng for the foundation OF a
new electric plant. 4 heavy charge OF giant powder
r.s ,l,ced In the solid earth. In some unexplained
manner the dynamite cap placed on the powder
won't of suddenly exploding the powder charge.
The men were called back to drill for the powder
sie 'rwenty tons or more OF thick earth fell on the
iaborcrs When they were extricated half hour
iatcr three were dead and three were In n critical
condition The dead were mangled almost beyond
recognition. ,., 4, -. ,ouo,,s.
New-York tribune., 1894-04-08

Gt-NTTR FRED u Walls, unmarried
sfCIIN0WICH NICK" of Port Berry; leaves widow
and children.
si;AIIN MIKE" Of Walls unmarried
INJURED
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-28
DIED.


ALDEN-In this city. April Is. Ann Maria c.,
widow of Rev. John Alden. aged S2 years.
BURDiCK-In Bristol. r.. L., April Is, La
fayette Burdick, aged 6S years.
COURLEY-In Arlington, April "a, Ann Cur
ley.
COATES-In this city. April 25, Myra j.. wife
OF Charles K. Coates and daughter OF the
late. William IL. Butnam OF Pawtuckct,
aged rs years.
COLvIN--In Manton, April q, William H.,
son of Henry ii. and Louisa Colvin, aged
20 years.
HANLEY-In this city, April 26, Bridget, wife
of Thomas Hanley, aged 20 years.
KELLY-In this city, April 2,, Nellie A. Kelly.
LEE-In Pawtuxet, April 27, Penelope B.,
widow of George Il. Lee, aged 62 years.
PRESTON-In In this city. April 26. Mrs. Eliza
NJ. Preston, aged IS years, formerly OF
East Killingly, Conn.
PHINNEY-In Warren, April &c. Thomas p.
Phinney, aged 30 years.
ROBINSON-In New York city, April %. of
pneumonia. Jennie IL. Robinson,
daughter of the late Attmorc Robinson.
SUNNER-In this city. April ~, Susan NJ,
wife OF James j. sumner, aged b years.
TAYL0R-Tn Cranston. April %. Caleb. son
of Caleb IL. and Fannie Taylor, aged 20
years.
vAUGHN-In this city, April %, Charles
Vaughn. aged 50 years.
WATSON-In This city. April .6. Henry T.,
son of Harriet "A. and the late Jonathan
Watson. aged 3S years.