Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-30
BUILDINGS BLOWN UP
DYNAMITE EXPLOSION IN SOUTH
SCRANTON. PENNsYLvANIA.
OWNER OF MAIN BLOCK SUSPECTED.
lie Is Painfully Burned, However,
md Otherwise Injurcd-A Leader
Charged With Arson.

SCRANTON, PA, June "a dyna-
mite explosion early this morning in
South Scranton blew up the business
block of Leon Olchofski, double dwell
ing owned by him, and detached house
owned by Michael OHara. The business
block. a two-story building. was torn to
pieces. Twenty other houses had all the
windows blown out and plaster torn
from the walls. The shock was felt all
over the city. Olchofsk was seriously
injured in saving his wife and his re-
covery is doubtful. Following the ex-
posion, the wrecked buildings took fire,
but the firemen kept the flames from
spreading.
The other buildings seriously damaged
were the brick business-block and dwell
ing of Charles Johnson, the dwellings
Of William Grambe, Charles Kiefer, John
Kline, Michael Joyce. DR.. j. j. Walsh,
James Welsh, Adam Ehinger, Bridget
Lavelle, Joseph Denims, Philip Klein,
Carl Schurman and George Gardner. and
Il. Huse's blacksmith-shop In some of
the houses the sleeping people were
covered with falling plaster The infant
child of Michael Joyce was dangerously
injured, and a little son of John Klein's
almost suffocated. The total loss will
reach S25.0Oo
Olchofski has been in political and
church wrangles for a number of years,
and was the recognized leader of one
of the warning factions among the South
Side Polanders When asked if he
thought it possible that some enemy had
blown up his store. he said he did not
know what TO think; it might be that.
but he would not like to say anything
about it. He closed up the store at 8
o'clock last night and left everything
In good shape
BURST OF FLAME.
Olchofski lived on the ground floor next
10 the store building. All he knows is
that he was aroused by an explosion and
a burst Of flame into his ROOM He
grabbed his wife. and, leading the way.
made his exit to the street, where he
lost consciousness. He was carried TO a
house opposite. and a physician was
summoned. He was found to be pain
fully burned about the face and hands
and forehead. a large lump indicating
that he had been struck by a flying mis-
sile. His eyes are seriously burned
Mickalowski, a saloOn-kecper, who lived
above Olchofski, awoke to find his bed
room filled with smoke. and tongues of
flame bursting through the windows from
the storeside. His wife came rushing into
the room in terror. with blood trickling
down her face from a slight abrasion
caused by falling plaster. Gathering up
their children. they started for the hall
way exit, but the key of the door had
been Knocked out by the explosion. and
being unable to find IL in a hurried hunt
about the floor they made for the Win
dOws, and. one by one, dropped to the
roof Of the summer kitchen below. and
then to the ground.
Chiefs Roblng and Hickey of the police
and fire departments. respectively. and a
corps of assistants worked with a great
deal OF eagerness to-day. i'm an effort TO
fix the responsibility for the exDlosion
Ii is generally believed that Leon Olchof-
ski. owner of the main building. is the
guilty party. He was arrested tonight
charged with arson. a bureau that was
removed during the fire from his double
dwelling at the rear Of the store, was
found saturated with kerosene in all its
three big drawers. He had his clothes
on when the explosion occurred and,
after rushing from the house, fell sense
less in the street. The wreckage in the
street was partly removed to-day, and
no bodies were found. Experts say that
about 100 pounds of dynamite or d pro-
portonate quantity of some other equally
powerful agency must have been used.