The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-05
Held MAN
LOST HIS
SALOON
It Was Blown Up During
Yesterdays Early Morn
ing Hours.
PEOPLE HURLED OUT OF
BED.
Fire Marshal ToWe Believes
That Dynamite Was
Used.
CONCLUSION WAS FELT FIVE
BLOCKS OFF.
| The Heroic Rescue of an Old Lady
by John Cosgrov, a Young
Groceryman.
CONCUss ION WAS FELT FIVE
BLOCKS OFF.
The Heroic Rescue of an Old Lady
by John Cosgrov Young
Groceryman.

of a prosperous business at the southeast
corner OF Twenty-sixth and Folsom streets
until "a o'clock yesterday morning. At
that early hour something occurred in the
nature of an explosion, and the fire that
followed has left nothing but charred
wood where Heidtman once reigned.
A shattered clock in Mrs. John Blaes'
bakery next door, 1898 Folsom, hanging in
heaps of bread and pies, mixed with
broken glass, indicates to nicely the time.
the explosion occurred.
1t was an explosion everybody says, but
there is not being within blocks OF the
locality who can tell anything more than
that he or she was violently bumped out
of bed during the early hours OF the morn
ing, and in the wakelul hours that fol-
lowed witnessed the burning of HEIDI
mans saloon.
1t is evident from the wrecked appear
ance of Mrs. Joseph Blaes' store that
some powerful explosive had taken action
next door. Still, Proprietor Heidtman de-
clared 10 the Fire Marshal that nothing of
a com bustible nature was ever kept in his
house. When he closed his saloon at mid
night, Henry Wehner, the barkeeper, who
goes on at o'clock i'll the morning, was
the only man about the premises. He was
asleep in a back room.
Wehner had retired about 10 o'clock,
and the first intimation he had of trouble
was when his bedroom at the back OF the
saloon fell apart and the flames sur
rounded him. He was consider bly,
burned and was conveyed for treatment
to AGA Folsom street, where he is in
critical condition.
The conclusion resulting from the ex-
falf INV
away.
Fortunately there was no one seriously
hurt besides Henry Wiener, the bar
keeper.
Mrs. Blaes, the mother Of Joseph Blaes,
owner of the coffee saloon, next door TO
the place where the explosion occurred,
was caught in the dense smoke and was
unable 20 help herself out.
At this iuncture John Cosgrove, a men,
Der of the firm of Coseroye Brothers, on
the opposite corner of Folsom street, made
his way into the house. broke into the
old lady's room and carried her to the
fresh air.
The insurance on the Heidtman saloon,
amounting to $1l00, in the Bremen
Ham burg Company, is less than half the
value OF the stock taken by Heldtman in
March last.
Fire Marshal Towe while investigating
the ruins found price list of giant pow
der and dynamite partially burnt He
attached considerable Importance to it
and took possession OF it,
The Fire Marshal is satisfied that the
explosion was caused by dynamite, from
the fact that the walls fell inward and not
outward. He is also satisfied that the
dynamite was in the portion OF the build
ing used as the saloon and close to the
wall dividing it from Blaes' bakery.
my bartender. Henry Wehner." said
Heidtman to the Marshal, went TO bed
about half-pas 10 o'clock. He slept in a
small room in the rear. locked up the
place shortly before II o'clock and went
home to bed.
II was awakened from my sleep by
Wehner, who told me the saloon was on
fire. He was burnt about the arms and
legs and complained of pains in his chest.
Ny wife attended to his burns while |
went TO the fire. After l returned l
wanted to take Wehner to the German
Hospital, but he preferred to go to friends
on Folsom street, and | took him there
and called IN doctor.
81 took possession of the place in Au-
gust last, with u partner. He sold out
and I continued the business myself. l
took stock in March and it amounted to
$1400 l am insured in two companies for
S1100 [ would not have sold out for less
than $500, as IL was paying business"
Heidtman positively denied that any
dynamite or any explosive material was
in the place TO his knowledge, and he de-
clared he knew nothing of the price-lis
for dynamite and giant powder.
The Fire Marshal laid the matter before
Captain Bohen, who detailed Detective
| Dillon on the case.
Detective Dillon had an interview with
| W Inner, the bartender. last night.
Wehner said: 81 went 10 bed about
hai-past 10 and was awakened by the ex-
plosion. l was thrown out of my bed,
| and, seeing the flames, l hastily pulled on
my trousers and boots and jun ped out of
the window. Then | went 10 Heidtman's
mouse and told him that the place was on
| fire."
Dillon asked him if he saw or spoke to
any one alter leaving the burning build
! ing and he said he did not think
so. The fact is, he spoke to Mr..
and Mrs. Chris Pecole of 3164 Twenty
sixth street. They were awakened by the
nolae OF the explosion and both jumped
out oil BED and ran outside. Pecole took
timet 10 pull on his trousers, but his wife
ran out in her mig htrobe.
Ihey told the detective that Wehner
was fully dressed and he came up to them
and asked them where the firebells were
ringing. Then he turned round the cor
ner and disappeared.
Dillon asked him what was the value of
The stock in the place ana he said he did
| not know. Finally he said he thought it
was tetween $1,000 and $1100.
Wehner was also seen by Fire Marshal
Towe. He practically told him the same
story. The Fire Marshal asked him If he
knew anything about the price list for
dynamite and he REPLIED in the negative
Wehner was arrested on April of last
year for felony EN- excitement. He was
mixed up with Martha Godschauk in the
case of Carl Voght, musician from Ger.
many, who was swindled out of over $1,000
by the woman. The par ocular charge
against Wehner was for obtaining $3.50
from Attorney J. P. Sweeney on an order
purporting to be signed by Voght. He
was held 10 answer before the Superior
Court on April Fl, but he was not con-
vieted.