Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-04-11
A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.

Death List May Reach Fifteen The
building in Witch tho Powder Ex-
ploded and an Adjoining saloon De-
stroyed-Tho Proprietor of the Build
ings and His Wife Among Those Lost.
New ORLEANS, La, April ga terrible
explosion occurred at the corner OF De-
catur and Ursalne streets this morning
about 2 o'clock. The ship chandlery store
of Charles Salathe and tho adjoining
saloon, the Fishermen's Exchange, owned
by Charles Salathe, were completely de-
molished Saluthe kept large quantities
of powder, which he sold to fishermen and
hunters.
Fire broke out Immediately following
the explosion. 1t occurred in the ship
chandlery store, in which u quantity of
powder aud shot have always been kept on
hand. The front and side walls were
entirely blown down, but the rear parti-
tons were left standing, showing that the
explosion had occurred in the front part Vt
the building.
At the hour of the explosion the street
in front was beginning to ill up with
market people. A number OF wagons
were ON Decatur street, and on the side
walks and in the market small knots of
men were getting out their goods and
trade was cut short by mutfled sound
that came from across the street, and as
they lnstinctively turned, expecting an
explosion, the walls lifted and came down
with crash on all sides,
The force OF the explosion was terrible.
Drivers were hurled from their vehicles
and the wares on the market stands were
blown TO tue four winds.
Salathe and his wife and one child are
supposed to have been killed. His bed
room was directly over the powder. One
of his children emerged from the ruins in
his night clothes afterthe engines had been
at work ON the flames about 8 minutes,
The explosion was caused by powder
stored in the grocery, which was blown To
| pieces. The French market was Just being
| opened, and the men who sell fish ana
other food were unloading thelr wagons
| Some OF them had gone into the saloon &c
drink and the barkeeper. Felix Rigo, anC
| five or six people who were drinking there
are under the debris. Splnters, bricks
| pieces of timber and other material were
scattered on the market. damaging this
| structures and the windows in Sarrassn'.
| tobacco factory, adjoining, were shattered
| More than six men who were on thu
streets, were slightly injured by tiyint
particles.
| Emile Boulet, the owner of the barroom
had stepped across tue street for nnomen
| and was in the market when the explosion
occurred, thus saving his own life. There
were sleeping apartments over the bar
room in which q number Of Leople weri
supposed to be resting for the night.
The following are those missing so far a
obtained Joseph Grinaldi, Mike Biri
Felix Rigo.
AT AIS o'clock the bodies Of Salathe ant
his wife were recovered.
FOUND a NANGLEp BODY,
At o'clock the workmen came acros
the mangled body Of Felix Rigo the bur
keeper. He was lying under a pile o
timber In the front part of the soloon. HI
was dead when taken out.
Ten minutes later another body wa
found near where Rigo was lying III
body was identified as James Edwards, al
employee of tish-stand in the market
Edwards had been seen five minutes bcfor
the explosion, and the fact that his bod,
was found in the ruins was surprise. |
was subsequently ascertained that he hn,
cnterted the saloon few moments pre-
vions to the explosion with a basket 0
shrimp.
At 8 o'clock the workmcn. while walk
ing around the ruins, heard whining sol
of noise, and upon raising some heav
timbers found black and tan nursing seN
eral puppies. All Of the animals were aiv
and when rescued seem to realize thei
situation.
Three hundred dollars and quantity q
jewelry have also been recovered. TIL
work of clearing away the debris is goin
| nm slDwlv