The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-20
ductor Burt we're discovered. They, too,
xrera taken tn the mOrgu6,

ductOr Burt were discovered. 1uey, 100,
were taken to the morgue.
Earlier in the morning were found the
bodies of Mr.. and Mrs. r. G. Greiner clasped
in fond embrace amid tons of splintered
timbers and badly bent gas pipes. They
had undoubtedly 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, and his forefnger raised as
though forewarning danger. The firemen
first uncovered their heads, and it was half
an hour later before the entire bodies were
exhumed.
Excitement in the city tonight is at
high pitch. Throngs of people crowd
police headquarters, the morgue and hotels
to search for missing friends. Many
stretched ropes encircling the scene of the
accident fail to keep back excited friends
of missing people and thousands of curious
bystanders Police from all over the city
are stationed at the scene, and mere idlers
are rapidly transported to police head
quarters if they fail to obey orders to
vacate. There is much conjecture tonight
concerning the cause of the accident, but
Coroner Martin is now firmly convinced
that the accident was caused as stated
The hastily organized surgeon corp under
Police Surgeon Jarecki did noble work.
With fifty feet of flinsy walls tottering
over their heads, they wendell their way
early in the accident along corridors, down
stairways, past shaky partitions, to aid the
injured. Medicine was passed from one to
another along a line. and while Letson
was being rescued his head was swathed IN
damp bandages and stimulants admin
istered in tender manner. Chief OF Police
Goulding did noble thing by Joining the
line, and gave valuable assistance. Every
policeman was ordered to at once forget
his inconvenience and aid the injured.
About 6 o'clock this evening a severe
windstorm from the northwest arose and
work was extremely precarious with shaky
walls towering hundreds of feet in the air.
To add TO the confusion and chaos rain
began falling in torrents, and what few
workers were not drenched by streams
from the fire-engines were incommoded by
the cold rain. ABOUT s o'clock this even
ing the rain had ceased falling, but clouds
of sitting smoke continued to unfold from
the charred mass of ruins and more en-
gines were called. Their services were not
needed as the wind died away and control
of the the terrible accident was assured
the firemen.
The young man in charge of the boiler at
the time of the accident was thoroughly
irresponsible boy, II years old. He had
attended joyous picnic during the day,
and was under the influence of liquor when
he went on duty, as several reliable per-
sons have testified. How he ever managed
to turn the iniector-cock and escape with
out the slightest injury, as he has certainly
done, is mystery. The boilers are said
to have been in excellent shape just prior
to the explosion, and nothing save gross
negligence could have caused the accident.
The terrible destruction wrought by the
explosion is in evidence everywhere
within three blocks of the scene. Eating
houses nearby, neigh boring hotels, stores,
all have demolished fronts or damaged
windows. Along Mariner street, in the
rear of the building, there is not whole
plate-glass window for block and Law
renee street in the front shows similar
signs of demolition. To estimate the DAM
age is very difficult, especially as no in
surance papers are available, they having
all been lost in the fire, but the loss will
not exceed $4,000
The Gumry was worth about $40. 900 ana
furnished with about $4,000 worth of
goods Everything is total wreck. The
building was afiye-story one, erected in 1888
by Mr.. Gumry. The McMann block,
which adjoins the Gumry on the west, was
also heavily damaged. 1t is owned by
Colonel E. f. Bishop and was built in
1890. 1t was occupied as a furniture-store
by the A. Lillyblade Furniture Company
and was damaged $4,000. The Clayton
block, directly across Lawrence street, was
damaged about 81 800.
The boilerhead which wrought such ter
rible destruction in its path. after smash
ing through the rear wall, crossed a ten
foot alley at lightning speed and crashed
into a brick barn with sufficient force to
entirely destroy it. Late tonight kilograms
are pouring in at police headquarters from
New York, San Francisco, Chicago and
other points, inquiring about people regis
tered at hotels in Denver.
Ex-Governor Routt made a remarkable
statement this morning to United Press
reporter:
"In my opinion the explosion was caused
by dynamite instead of the boiler, and
think it was done to kill Mr.. Gumry. You
know he is superintendent of construction
at the Capitol building and lately dis
charged a number of men. These men
have been heard to threaten the life OF Mr..
Gumry, and l believe they have accom-
plished their threat. don't think boiler
explosion would have wrecked the building
in the manner it did,"
While Ex-Governor Routt is correct in
his statement in regard to the discharge of
the men, he is unquestionably mistaken in
his surmises.
ONE SIDE COLLAPSED.
AMiraOr Disaster Occurred at the Wrecked
building.
DENVER, CoIo., Aug. 19-About 10
o'clock tonight the left side of the build