The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-06
FIVE KILLED ny AN EXPLOSION.
Powder In Grocery at New Orleans
Causes Terrible Havoc.


New Orlans. La, April 5-A terrible ex-
ploslon occurred this morning at o'clock.
The grocery and ship chandiery Of Charles
J. Salathe at Decatur and Ursuline streets.
opposite the lower French market, entirely
demolishirg that and an adjoining saloon.
Fisherman's exchange and bury.ng a mum
Der of people in the debris, which at once
took fire. At the hour Of the explosion
the street In front was beginning to 1il
up With market people. A number OF wag-
ons were on Decatur street and on the
sidewalks and in the market small knots
of men were getting out their goods and
trading for their daily supplies. Their
trade was cut short by mufiied sound
that came from across the street. As they
inquisltely turned, expecting an explosion,
wall lifted and came down with a crash
on all sides, The force of the explosion was
terrible Drivers were hurled from vehi-
cles and wares on the market stands were
blown to the four winds. The explosion Is
thought to have been caused by gun pow
der, twenty-five or thirty pounds of which
were always kept on hand by salathe for
sale to the hunters and fishermen who
make their headquarters IN the neighbor-
hood OF the French market
The following people are known to have
been in the two buildings AT the time.
Charles J. Salathe, his wife, baby and
two children, Eddie, aged TO- and Lily,
aged 8.
Felix Rleaud. barkeeper. rs years old.
A boy who is missing.
Emile Boulet, proprietor Of and who
slept over the saloon, and who escaped.
Joseph Grimaki and Mike BiTf, frequen-
ters OF the saloon who are supposed 10
have been in there at the time
Constantine ftro a fruit stand keeper In
the French market.
The bodies Of Mr. and Mrs. Saiathe,
clasped In each others arms, have been
recovered, and also the body OF their in
FAINT
Emile Boulet aud Constantine Itro were
blown clear out into the street but not
much injured
Eddie salathe. aged 10. and Lilly, aged
s. slept in rear room over the grocery
store and were saved. They are bruised
but not seriously
The injured so far as known are:
James Murphy. driver Of market
wagon, was blown from his wagon and
struck violently against a post His
right leg was severely iacerated.
Charles Refs, stall keeper. was se-
riously injured about the head and rem
dered unconscious. His injuries are very
painful. but not necessarily dangerous.
Dave Labue. a peddler, received cuts
on the head.
Charles Alballler. l2 years old had his
skull crushed.
Lilly and Eddy salathe. aged and 10.
received slight injuries about the head.
Constantine Itro. 30 years old. who runs
a fish stand, had his head crushed.
j. Vallenti. a stand keeper in the fish
market, was caught under the falling
wall and sustained severe injuries about
the head
The f2-year-old son OF Frank Alballler
a w n ~ "a
Fishermans exchange and received a
severe cut on the head. He Will recover
When the firemen reached the scene
they found flames creeping out from all
quarters under the debris. Water was
pumped on the debris and large force Of
men started TO work to clear away the de-
bris where It was supposed the bodies
lay.
Archbishop Janssens and numbers Of
clergy were among the first on the scene.
The explosion was distinctly heard at the
Diocesan house only few blocks away
and they hastened to the scene to render
what assistance they could.
The bodies of Felix Ricaud, barkeeper.
and James Edwards have been recovered
from the ruins Of the explosion. Ed
wards was an oyster luggerman, and II 10
supposed he was sitting in front OF this
saloon when the explosion occurred.
Michael Biri turned up safe and sound,
having leIt the DaffOOm minute before
the explosion occurred Edwards body,
which was badly crushed, was at first
identified as Biri.
The money damage by the explosion and
fire is estimated at $4,000
The following is a correct list OF those
who lost their lives by the explosion:
G. j. Salathe, proprietor of the Fish
ermen's exchange.
Mrs. Salathe. wife Of c. j. salathe
child OF Mr. and Mrs. Salathe.
James Edwards, shrimp gatherer.
Felix Riguad. a bar keeper
The origin Of the explosion is a mystery.
The premises were lighted by gas and a
small light was left burning in the store
al night. The powder which exploded was
kept In two kegs Of twenty-five pounds
each, and was usually kept in an ice
box. The clerk says the powder was left
under the counter last night
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