The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-06
NEW ORLEANS DISASTER
Mysterious Explosion In a Building
Occupied By Many.
THE KILLED AND INJURED
Opinions Vary as to the Cause OF
the Fire : An Old Crudge
Brought to Light-Story
of a Survivor.


on the ground floor. One of these was oc-
cupied by Emil Boulet as q drinking sa-
loon, and the other by Charles Salathe as
| grocery and ship chandlers' store. The
building was near the lower end of the
French market, separated from it by a
narrow street. Little tongues of flame
began shooting up from the debris and
by this time the onlookers had recovered
from the shock and set about to think of
some means 10 rescue the unfortunatss
who they knew were imprisoned in that
smoking mass of brick and timbers.
An alarm of fire was sounded. The fire.
men did effective work saving the adjoin-
ing buildings. The firemen poured water
on the debris to save the dead from ere
nation. People ran to and fro, SO much
out of their wits that they could not give
intelligent answers to questions. Salathe's
place was known as the Fisherman's Ex-
change, and was rich in memories of the
cheniere ceminada storm. 1t was there
many of the rescued made their head
quarters when they we're brought to the
city, and it was very popular resort of
the fishing people.
AT this morning two bodies had been
recovered. They were identified as those
of Charles Salathe and wife.
At daylight the work of removing the
ruins began. The police were compelled
TO use force to keep the crowd away. The
bodies of Felix Rigot and James Edwards,
employees of the fish stand in the market,
were found. 1t was ascertained that Ed
wards entered the saloon few minutes
before the explosion with a basket of
shrimps.
While the police are inclined to believe
the explosion was the result of an accl-
dent, people residing in the vicinity of the
wrecked building are of an entirely differ
ent opinion. They state openly the ex-
plosion was an attempt to kill Boulet,
who had such a miraculous escape. He
is Frenchman, who two years ago shot
and killed one of the wealthiest Italians
doing business near the French market.
This man, Ariestene Balestraci, and Bou-
let were in the saloon business together.
Boulet's wife contracted liason with.
Balestraci, which caused Boulet to leave
here.
Balestraci would taunt Boulet with the
dishonor, but was always surrounded by
friends when dong so. Two years ago
they met in the French market and Bal
estraci, who was carrying a cane, drew
from its sheath a large sword with which
he attacked Boulet. The latter drew a
revolver, shot and killed the Italian. The
trial resulted in Boulet's acquittal. Ever
since then Boulet has been looked upon
as marked man. His friends tried to
persuade him to leave the city, or at least
to stay away from the market, but he re-
fused. Last night he occupied room in
the barroom on the second floor, and il is
believed the explosion was done for the
simple purpose of killing him. Balestraci
was leader of the Italian colony, and
just the sort of a man to be at the head of
the malta.
The dead so far recovered are:
CHARLES SALATHE, grocer.
MRS. CHARLES SALATHE, his wife.
The 14-months-old child of Mr.. and
Mrs. Salathe.
FELIX RIAUD, barkeeper for Abe De-
cuerst.
JAMES EDWARDS, employed by Barthole.
The injured are:
Lottie j. Selathe, aged o, badly bruised:
Edward Salathe, aged 4, bruised; Charles
Reiss, driver, jaw fractured; j. Vallenter.
skull fractured; Tom Anderson, colored,
slightly injured.
c. II. Witty, collector for the French
market, was standing on the corner op-
posite the saloon, when the explosion took |
place. He was in the habit of going to |
IL.
with the barkeeper, whom he knew very |
well, and had just walked across from the |
market to the corner, when the explosion |
He said it was ACCOMPANIED bv |
a terrific sound, apparently half smoth- |
cred. as il blown from the bottom of the |
The ediflce trembled and then |
went up with a tremendous convulsion,
throwing parts of the building high in the /
air, tearing down the Ursuline street wall /
and part of the Decatur street wall. and /
leaving the greater part of the wall stand |
ing in the rear of the building. Witty /
says 1t went up like a mighty flash, and |
the explosion was followed by big blaze
hat went high in the air and then sub
rded somewhat. Walls and debris came /
iown with n crash and Immediately the /
air was full of smoke and dust blown
everywhere from the grocery store. I'm
people rushed to the scene of
he explosion from every direction.
The people in the two buildings were as
follows:
c. j. Salathe, over tho grocery store.
With his wife and four children, two of the
after being saved; Felix Rigaud, bar
ender; 1s-year-old boy who is missine;
Emile Boulet, who slept over the saloon
md who escaped; Joseph Grimaldi and
Nike Bierei. frequeniers of the saloon,
to be there at the time, and who
ire missing.
When the flremen reached the scene
hey found the flames were creeping out
rom all quarters under the debris. Water
vas pumped on the ruins and large force
4 men started TO work to clear away the
ebris over where IL was supposed the
'odies lay.
One Of the survivors was L. r. Bouelet.
lie said: Il was asleep on the second
oor of the saloon in a corner room. was
by the ceiling falling on me. /
ny still for what seemed TO me a long
ime. when heard some one crying; .'0h,