Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-04-06
A WOMAN AT THE BOTTOM OF IT.
Believed that the Frightful Explosion in
New Orleans Yesterday Morning was
Caused with Murder in View.

New Orleans Yesterday Morning was
Caused with Murder in View.
New Orleans, La, April 5.-About 2
o'clock an explosion from some un-
known cause occurred in two-story
brick building near the French mar
ket, containing two stores and rooms
on the ground floor.
One Of these was occupied by Emile
Bouiet as a drinking saloon; the other
by Charles Salathe's grocery and ship
chandlery.
The explosion startled the neighbor-
hood, and when the dust cleared away
little tongues of flames began to shoot
up from the debris, and an alarm OF
fire was sounded.
The fremen struggled to apply
water 10 the debris TO save the dead
from cremation.
Salorthes place was known as the
"Fishermen's Exchange" and . very
popular resort of the fishing people.
AT 4 O'clock two bodies were recov-
cred, identified as Charles Solarthe and
his wife. At s o'clock the WOrkmen
came across the mangled body Of Felix
Rigot. the barkeeper, under a pile OF
timber. dead. Ten minutes later an
other body was found and identified as
James Edwards, an employe OF fish
stand in the market. At 9 o'clock
worllmen heard a whining noise and
raising some heavy timbers found
black and tan dog nursing several pup
pies. All were alive and seemed 10
realize their situation.
While the police are inclined to be-
of an accident. a number of people
state openly that the explosion was an
attempt to kill L. A. Boulet, who had
such a miraculous escape. Bouiet,
Frenchman, two years ago shot and
killed one OF the wealthiest Italians
doing business in the vicinity OF the
French Market, Aristide Balestraci,
who ran a bar room in the neighbor-
hood as we'll as a fish and game stand
in the market. BOulet and Balestracl
were at one time good friends, and in
the saloon business together. Boulets
wife came between them. The woman
contracted a liason with Balestraci,
which upon reaching the ears OF Bou-
let, caused him to leave his wife.
Balesraci would frequently taunt
Boulet with his dishonor, but was al
ways surrounded by friends when do
ing so. The Italian also threatened to
kill the Frenchman and those who
were we'll acquainted y'0h the men
expected a tragedy at any time. 1t
came one morning about two years
ago. They met in the French Market
and after having words Balestraci
who was carrying a cane, drew from
its sheath a large sword with which he
attacked BOulet. The latter drew a
revolver, fired and killed the Italian
The trial resulted in BOulets acquit-
tai. Ever since BOulet has been look
ed upOn as a marked man. His friends
tried 10 persuade him to leave the city
or at least to stay away from the mar
ket. but he refused. Last night he o.
cupied a room over the bar and it IS
believed the explosion was for the pur-
pose of killing him. That he escaped
is looked upon as a miracle. Bales
tract was a leader in the Italian col
ony. He was a man Of great influence
and was Just the sort of an individual
to be at the head of Malta organiza-
CiOn.
A private watchman who was stand
ing opposite the market said the first
intimation he had of the explosion was
hearing a rumbling noise followed by
a sheet Of fame and then an explosion.
The cOncussion knocked him down and
ne was stunned for fully five minutes
He failed to see any one running from
the store and believes the explosion
was an a eident
The explosion resulted in five
deaths: the Slathes, husband and wife,
and their little babe; Paul Rigaud, the
bartender and John Ewards, whose
bodies have been recovered.
/. A. Boutlet said eo-day: "The
Malta would not adopt such means TO
kill their victim. They have other
and surer means of doing this kind of
work. 1 firmly belive the explosion
was the result Of an accident"