The morning call., 1894-10-08
ZILLMER BOYCOTT.
Great Excitement in the
Mission.
Customers Say They VIII Not Pat
roniZe His Store Again-Arrange-
ments for the Fire.

The discovery of the prepa rations in the
cellar underneath the grocery and saloon
OF Henry Zillmer, northwest corner of
Valencia and Nineteenth streets, to set
fire to the building as detailed in yester-
days CALL. has aroused the greatest ex-
element 10 the neighborhood.
Many Of Mrs. Lapidge's neighbors who
have been patrons OF ZIllmer, called upon
her yesterday and congratulated her upon
her narrow escape from the fiery element.
They EXPRESSED their intention of taking
their custom from Zillmer in the hope
that he would be forced to cancel his five
years lease, which has yet four years to
run.
A further examination of the cellar
shows conclusiVely that it was no I'M
skilled hand that laid the foundation for a
speedy and destructive fire. COaloil had
been lavlshly used on piles of straw and
broken Boxes and the floor joists and the
floor were shining with the oil.
Assuming that ZIllmer's explanation to
Fire Marshal Towpe and Detective Hand
ley about the auger hole bored in the
floor within an inch and half of the
sixty-gal!on oil tank in the store is correct
there is possibility that the drIppings
from The tank might have dropped through
the hole into the cellar. But That does not
WOOD ln the spaces between the floor jDsts
and girder just underneath the auger
hole. Some one must have placed the pile
there. There are also a large number of
empty boxes 10 the cellar near the door,
/ which would prove splendid feeders for
tho flames.
But there is another large pile of straw
and broken boxes saturated with oil be-
| tween the floor joiSts aud the brick d wi
sion wall Oh the north of the cellar. This
| Is underneath a hack room of saloon on
| Valencia street. adjoining Zillmer's grocery
and SALOON. which is lighted by gas and is
| the meeting place of a Republican club.
The ladder found in the area-way in the
! rear of the building is another suspicious
! circumstance. 1t was placed by Captain
! Lapidge in front of the building 10 enable
! the gas man 10 inspect the meter, which is
! about eight feet from the ground. Mrs.
| Lapidge discovered its removal on FRIDAY
evening after she had smelt the coal oil in
the cellar, and noticed the piles Of straw
and kindling-wood
This area-way, which Ia part of the Gel
! lar, has depth of about ten feet from the
| ground. An incendiary could climb down
this ladder into the cellar, touch off the
! saturated piles Of straw and kindliug-
wood, climb up the ladder and make his
escape through the yard into the street.
"My husband" said Mrs. Lapidge, yes
terday, always protested against ZiilmeI
| placing so many empty boxes in the cellar,
| W hich he had no right to use. He asked
Lilmer what ne meant by Ii, and why he
aid not sell the empty boxes, but he al
ways put him off with laugh and the re-
mark that he would attend to that.
''Zillmer also used to have a lot OF
wooden sign boards in front Of his store,
but recently these have all been put in the
cellar also. My husband asked why be
had put them in the cellar, but he could
not get satisfactory explanation"
Fire Marshal lowe. in speaking of the
matter last night, said: Il will consult
my attorney the first thing Tomorrow
morning, aud If he advises me that l car
prosecute Ziilmer for arson in the second
degree, shall have him arrested at once
II am satisfied taere was every prepare
ton made by Zillmer to set the place on
fire. his motive being 0vernsurance, and
am not to allow him to 60 unpublished if
can help it,"