The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-06

posite the saloon when the explosion took
place. He was in the habit OF going 10
the saloon often during the night 20 chat
with the harkeeper. whom he knew very
well and had Just walked across from
the market 10 the corner when the ex-
plosion occurred. Hs said IL was accom-
panied by terrific sound. apparently
half smothered. as IL blown Up from the
bottom OF the building. The building
freErhled ard then went I'D with tire
mendous CONFUSION. throwing parts 81 IL
high in the air. tearing down the Ursu-
line street wall and part OF the Decatur
street wall. leaving the greater part OF
the wall standing in the rear of the
building. Witty says X went up like q
mighty fash. and that the explosion was
followed by a big blaze that went high
into the air and then subsidized somewhat.
Walls and debris came down with
crash. and Immediately the air was full
of smoke and dust People rushed 20 the
place OF the explosion from every direc-
ton. Those IN the two buildings were
as follows: c. ]. Salathe, over the groc-
cry store. with his wife and four chill
dren; two of the latter were saved: Felix
Rigot. barkeeper. ls-year-old boy. who
Is missing: Emile Boulet. who slept over
the saloon. and who escaped: Joseph
Grimaldi and Mike Bierei, freouenters OF
the saloon supposed TO be there at the
time. and who are missing. When the
firemen reached the scene they found
that the flames were creeping out from
all quarters under the debris. Water
was pumped on the ruins and large
force of men started to work 10 clear
away the debris over where IL was sup
posed the bodies lay.
One of the survivors was L. r. Roulet.
He says: II was asleep on tho second
floor of the saloon in the corner room.
n kx~ ttRa sag
me. l lay still for what to me seemed a
long time. when I heard some one crying.
"Oh. my God, my child" I could hear
people talking. but could not make my
self heard. Several times I called out
as loud as could After while / tried
10 move. and found that by cramping
myself into as small space as possi-
bic / could breathe freer. Then I heard
some one walking over me. 1 called out
and he answered. He proved 10 be a
friend named Willie Morse. When he
heard me he told me not TO be afraid.
but to keep quiet and he would get me
out In FIVE minutes He went away. but
soon came back with friends. and they
started TO digging hole over me. They
worked as fast as possible and IL did
not take long to make a large enough
hole to pull me through. l do not remem-
Der much more. for the strain was so
great l was almost unconscious when
they got me out and brought me over TO
the saloon. l am not hurt, except a few
scratches. / know Mr. Salathe kept some
powder on hand in his store. but : do
not know how much. I cannot imagine
how the powder came TO explode. Some
people say IL was not powder that ex
ploded. eut I don't know OF anything
else in the house that could have caused
the wreck. / believe there are a number
of persons buried In the ruins of The sa-
loon, because 1t Is the custom of a good
many TO come 10 the saloon about u
o'clock and sleep there. I have seen as
many as 10 and Is at one time.