The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1895-08-23
THE DENVER HORROR.

Eight Bodies Recovered Ten Known tn
he In the Ruins and Seventeen Missing
Two Theories as to the Cause OF the Ex-
piosion.
DENVER, Col, Aug. 19-Without a
moments warning, the boiler in the
basement of the Gumry hotel on Law
renee street. near Seventeenth, ex-
ploded shortly after midnight this
morning, and with terrific force tore
away the entire rear portion of the
building, demolishing the rear and
side walls and reducing the place to a
mass OF debris which shortly after took
fire.
Eight bodies have been recovered
and are at the city morgue. Ten more
are known to be buried in the ruins
and seventeen are missing The loss
of life will not be definitely known for
day or two.
1t is believed that a 17-year-old boy,
Elmer Pearce. who was temporarily
placed in charge of the boiler, is re-
sponsible for the accident With the
boiler almost at red heat, he let in
cold water, which caused the explo-
sion. Strange to say he escaped un-
scathed and tonight was being hunted
by crowd of angry people, who
would have dealt with him hastily had
he been apprehended. There is no
elew to his whereabouts.
NJ. f. Letson was the first man taken
out alive from the ruins. He had an
experience which was marvellous. He
slept on the third floor, and when
found was encased in conical mass
of mortar and bricks that barely al
lowed him breathing room. CHEZ
Roberts of the fire department first
discovered him and began the removal
of the debris, which seemed to rest
directly upon his body. In agonizing
appeals Letson begged for an instru-
ment to end his existence The res
cuers worked with a will, and in two
hours had succeeded in removing
enough plaster and bricks from the
now apparently lifeless body to allow
his removal. He was taken to the
county hospital, and though his lower
limbs were horribly confused, he will
survive.
Women and children. maddened by
the terrible suspense of the day. hur-
ried to and fro outside the lines in
anxious inquiry concerning missing
ones. Strong men, hard at work amid
the ruins. shivered at the smell Of
roasting flesh and turned with pallid
countenances from the scene Never
before has such absolute wreck and
ruin been seen in any portion of the
state.
About 10 o'clock in the morning
woman's hand was noticed protruding
from among pile of laths, bricks and
other material. The rescuers imme-
diately went work in this place, and
when the work of removal was fin-
ished it was discovered that she was
dead. Lying beside her in lifeless en-
brace was the corpse of a small child.
The work of the firemen was super
intended by Mayor McMurray, and Po-
lice Commissioners Hogle, Church and
Wilson.
At o'clock the body of an unknown
man was recovered, and it was inn
mediately taken to the city morgue,
where it was later thought to be that
of j. F.. McClosl1ey.
Half an hour later the remains Of
Conductor Burt were discovered and
taken out, and they too were taken to
the morgue.
Earlier in the morning were found
the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. r. C.
Greiner clasped in fond embrace amid
tons of the wreckage. They had un-
doubtedly died from suffocation, as
their features were perfectly clear and
their limbs in natural repose. The left
arm of Mr.. Greiner was thrown across
his wife's face, his forefinger raised as
though warning her of danger The
tremen first uncovered their heads,
and it was half an hour later before
the entire bodies were cxhumed.
Excitement it the city tonight is at
q high pitch. Throngs of people
crowd police headquarters. the morgue
and hotels, searching for missing
friends. The ropes encircling the
scene of the accident failed to keep
back excited friends of missing PEG.
pie and thousands of curious bystand-
ers. Police from all over the city were
stationed at the scene and are attempt
ing to keep order.
There is much conf &c ture tonight
concerning the cause of the accident,
but Coroner Martin is now firmly con-
WINGED that the accident was caused
by the boy
The hastily-organized surgeons
corps, under Police Surgeon Jarackeri,
did noble work. With fifty feet of
himsy walls lettering over their heads,
they wendell their way early in the
accident lone co,r;lo.c Jo,.,p N