The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-05
IDENTIFYING THE BODIES.
Coroner BraytOn Has the Charred Re-
mAins TagGed=Cause of ExnInsinn


A critical examination of the charred
bodies of the victims of the explosion and
fire of yesterday was made by Coroner
Brayton, assisted by Drs. Dodds and West
over. Five bodies were laid side by side in
the little mortuary of Flanner & Buchanan
and they presented a CHASTITY appearance.
Except the body of Jacob Darling, which
vas not injured by the fire, the face, skin
and extremities of each of the others were
burnt off. Only few charred bones stuck
out from the dismembered trunks. The
bodies were first numbered by cords at
tached to the person of each.
Number l was the body of Mr. Darling
who was killed by the falling wall. His
chest was crushed in. The right arm was
nearly severed from the trunk by wound
extending into the right lung. His body
and limbs were badly cut and bruised The
face escaped mutilation.
Number 2 was the body of the grocery
clerk. Pious Edward Gresh, age nineteen,
whose father owned the store He was
identified by his brother-in-law Mr.. Pur-
sci, who recognized the garters, hose and
material of which the pants were made
DR.. Kimberlin, dentist, had pulled one of
his back teeth a few weeks before, but
could not identify him, as the teeth, most
of the jaws and face were burned away
Both lower arms were gone as we'll as the
top and sides of the skull but the tongue
eye sockets and ShriVeled brain were still
discernible- Later three teeth were found
one lower molar and two upper molars
Number 3, the old soldier, Henry Earn
est was identified partly by his small
spare frame and also by exclusion, as all
the others We're accounted for. The left
upper molar tooth only was in place. AS
with the Others the tongue and base of the
brain were readily recognized. The remains
Of the head were not much larger than
the fist
Number was a large, powerful man.
weighing probably two hundred pounds or
more. The trunk was massive, we'll mus
cled and the internal organs large; the
charred heart the size of the mans fist The
stomach was charred and empty. He had
about his shriveled shanks the remnants
sufficient quantity of light-colored hair re-
manned unburnt upon his legs and pelvis
was seventeen inches long from the knee to
ankle. AS in the others the tongue and
base of the brain were present He is be-
heved to be one of party of campers from
Oakland a fisherman from the city
Number 5, the last one examined a Flan-
ner 4 Buchanan's, was identified as Chas.
Yountz by the people of Broad Ripple 1t
is said he was on the police force during
the Denny administration. There was no
doubt as to the identity of Yountz as he
had upon his left arm a spiral wire elastic
TO hold up his shirt sleeves. Fragments of
white cotton socks were found about his
protruding ankle bones The trunk was of
a medium size: the length of the thigh bone
was nineteen inches. and the frame that
of a man weighing about $50 pounds
The coroner could get no satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION of the cause of either explosion
He saw Mr.. Watts druggist and Mr.
Johnson, a young man living five miles out
in the country. who, with Mr.. Watts. was
developing a Photographic negative in the
dark room under the stairs and Just back
of the drugroom. Mr.. Johnson, who was
burned about the face and eyes but NOT
dangerously. stated that when he and Mr.
Watts entered the dark room the air was
CO foul hot hn nClrA
could breathe it. The picture he said. was
a good one. and was coming out fine But
the red shaded kerosene lamp he said AT
once burned down low, almost going out.
Mr.. Watts turned It up and it went down
again, though 1t had abundant oil In
went out and the druggist asked johnson
for match. Mr.. Watts struck the match
and the first explosion occurred Johnson
found himself upon. his back under the
stairs. He saw hole where daylight came
in and he wiggled out TO light and air.
There was no explosive collection or ether
in the dark room, and he knows 1t was not
the lamp.
After Coroner BraytOn identified the re-