Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-05

of persons buried in the ruins of the ga
loon, because 1t is the custom of a great
many to come into the saloon about II
o'clock and stop there. l have seen as
many as ten and fifteen there at one time.
There is ne telling how many persons are
killed. and no one will be able to know
till after the ruins are thoroughly search
ed"
Mr.. Boulet did not show the effects of
his rough experience to any great extent.
He was without his shoes and hat and was
dressed in a flannel shirt and trousers.
His face and shirt were full of fine plaster
dust and on the back of one of his hands
was a scratch about two inches long. the
only perceptible mark of injury.
Had n Narrow Escape.
Emile Chatard, a negro boy. who was
driving a wagon, had a very narrow escape
and slIivered as he related it. He was on
Decatur street, and had stopped his horses
almost Immediately in front of the saloon
while he went in and got match from the
barkeeper. He had Just received the
match from the hands of the barkeeper
and was walking back toward his horse
when the building was blown up. He was
so frightened that mis- first impulse was
to jurlp on his wagon, and drive his horse
off which he did, the animal needing no
urging. Fortunately for the negro, the
walls. which were blown out toward De-
horse and wagon stood, or he would have
been injured or killed, together with his
horse. AS it was. when the walls came
down the horse was frightened and ran
off some distance.
A Terrible Sight.
The boy looked back at the house and
saw terrible sight. The flames were
blazing up, smoke was issuing from the
house, and debris of every kind was scat
tered all over the vicinity. Hundreds of
crabs that were piled up in the grocery
store were scattered about on the side
walks and street.
AgOnfzing Scenes.
The frantic cries of excited women and
children and the GREATNESS agony of men
who surrounded the frightful scene defy
attempts at description.
People ran to and fro, so much out of
their wits that they could not give intel
ngent answers to queries.
Archbishop Janssens and number OF his
clergy were. among the first on the scene.
The explosion was distinctly heard at the
diocesan house, only few blocks away.
and they FASTENED to the scene to render
what assistance they could.
With daylight this morning the work Of
removing the ruins began. Crowds of peo-
pie hung around the spot and the police
were compelled to- use force to keep them
away.
At 8 o'clock the workmen came across
the mangled body of Felix Rigot, the bar
keeper. He was lying under a pile of tim
dead when taken out. Ten minutes later
another body was found near where Rigot
was lying. The body was identified as Jas
Edwards, an employee of a fish stand in
Edwards had been seen five minutes be-
fore the explosion. and the fact that his
body was found in the ruins was sur
prise. 1t was subsequently ascertained
that be had entered the saloon a few mo-
mentSprior to the explosion with basket
bf shrimp.
At 9 o'clock the workmen while walking
around the ruins heard ringing sort OF
noise, and upon raising some heavy tim
bers found a black-and-tan dog nursing
Beveral puppies. All OF the animals were
alive. and when rescued seemed to realize
their situation.
Three hundred dollars and a quantity OF
jewery have also been recovered. The
work of clearing away the debris Is going
on slowly.
Theory of Foul Play.
While the police are inclined to think that
the explosion was the result of an Academia
number of people residing in the vicinity
of the wrecked building are of an entirely
different opinion. They state openly that
the explosion was an attempt to kill the
man l.. A. Boulet, who had such miracu-
1ous escape.
Boulet is Frenchman. who. two years
ago, shot and killed one of the veaithiest
italians sdoing business in the vicinity or
the French market. This man was Aris-
tide Balestraci, who ran a bar room in the
neighborhood. well as a fish and game
stand in the market Boulet and Balestracl
were at one time good friends. They were
in the saloon business together. Boulet s
wife came between them. and not only
broke up the business arrangements, but
caused a deadly enmity to exist between
the two men.
The woman contracted a liason with Bah
estraci. which. upon reaching the ears OF
Bouet, caused him to leave his wife.
tIvy nrYIa
with his dishonor, but was always sur
rounded by friends when so doing. The
Italian also threatened to Kill the french.
man. and those who were well acquainted
with the men expected a tragedy at any
time.
Killed by BOulet.
1t came one morning about two years
ago. The two men met in the French Mar
ket and after having words Balestraci
who was carrying a cane, drew from Its
sheath large sword with which he at
tackled Boulet. The latter drew a revolver
fired and killed the Italian. The trial re
suited in Boulet's acquittal. Ever since
then Boulet has been looked upon as 6
marked man. His friends tried to persuad,
him to leave the city, or at least to stay
away from the market. but he refused.
Last night he occupied room in the bal
room on the second floor and it is believed
that the explosion was done for the simple
purpose of killing him. That he escaped Ii
looked upon as miracle. Baiestraci was {
leader in the Italian colony. He was {
man of great influence and was just thu
sort of an individual to be at the head o
a Malta organization.
A privase Waterman, who was standing
opposite the market, when seen by an AS
sociated Press reporter this morning, sale
that the first intimation he had of the ex
piosion was hearing a ruInbling noise, fol
lowed by a sheet Of fame and then an ex
plosion. The conclusion knocked him down
and he was stunned for fully FIVE min
utes. He said that he failed to see anyon,
running from the store. and believes tina
the explosion was an accident.
The Dead Recovered.
The dead so far recovered are as follows
Charles Solathe, grocery keeper.
Mrs. Charles Solathe, his wife.
Fourteen-months-old infant child of Mr.
and Mrs. Solathe
Felix Regol, tarkeeper for Abe Decuerst
James Edwards, employed by Barthole.
Injured
Lille Justine Solathe, aged five years
badly bruised: found in the wreck
Edward Solathc. four years old; bruised
found in the wreck.
Chas. Reiss wagon driver; jaw fractured
by fying brick.
!. Valendie. skull fractured by flyinl