The record-union., 1897-07-05

SAN FRANClSCO, July Hc
special correspondent of the enron
icle" says:
The people of Ell Dorado County, and
especially the officers of the law, are
very much agitated over the question
of the storing and handling of giant
powder and other high explosives that
are used SO extensively in mining IN
this region. A great amount of litiga-
ton, both in the way of criminal cases
and civil suits for damages, is pending.
An arrest was made this week, that OF
c. T. Uhlenkamp of Lotus. and evil
dence is being secured so that a num-
Der of more arrests and prosecutions
will follow.
The agitation arose from the great
fire at Georgetown on June 14th, when
every business house in the place was
burned down. besides two lives being
lost, number of persons seriously in
jured, and almost every residence in
the town that had escaped the flames
wrecked by a terrible explosion of gi-
ant powder in D. Sornberger's store.
The disaster led to a public demand
for an investigation. District Attorney
Carpenter found a State law that pro-
vides that a Board of Supervisors may
pass an ordinance prohibiting the stor-
ing of powder in a town. No such or
dinance was ever enacted in FL Dorado
County An agitation has been begun
in Placerville and other towns in this
county to induce the Board of Super
visors at it's next session to enact such
a prohibitive measure in accordance
with the provisions of the State law.
While the matter was being investi-
gated by the authorities it was discov-
cred that every dealer in powder in
the county is violating a State law
that provides that a record must be
kept of all sales Of explosives, with the
dates and the names and descriptions
of the parties to whom powder is sold.
The criminal prosecutions that have
already been begun bu the arrest Of
Uhlenkamp will involve a large num-
Der of merchants as powder is sold by
almost every general merchandise
store in the county.
The complaint against Uhenkamp
was sworn to by J. E. Sexton, who will
probably be the complaining witness in
all the cases. The parties concerned
denounce Sexton as an informer, and
claim that the prosecutions are actu-
ated by the desire to secure the fine of
$3.50 in each case that is provided by
the law to be paid upon conviction to
the informer.
The excitement over the matter was
increased on Tuesday evening last by
a startling discovery in the rear of the
Ohio House, large frame building
that is the most extensive hotel in the
county. George w. Mckee one of the
owners of the hotel, was directing the
shifting around of a lot of loose wood
in the wood shed preparatory to hav-
ing a number of loads thrown in when
two packages of giant powder were
discovered. The dangerous bundles
appeared TO have been hidden under
the wood The packages contained ten
sticks of the powerful explosive. The
stuff was handled very gingerly and
quickly removed to a place of safety
Immediately there was much alarm
among the hundred and more guests of
house, but a thorough search failed to
reveal any more powder anywhere.
At first there was much mystery as
to the object of storing the powder in
the wood pile. but an examination of
the packages revealed some memoran-
dums that got Informer J. E. Sexton
into serious trouble. It seems that the
powder had been bought at the stores
of Nick Fossatti at Smiths Flat and
w. d. Montgomery at Placervflle. and
was intended to be used as evidence
against the merchants in the cases
against them for failing 10 keep rec
ords of sales of explosives. Dan c.
Greenwalt, who bought the powder,
stated that he had been given the
money by Sheriff Hilbert, who directed
him to turn the powder over to Sexton.
which was done. The powder was
thus traced to Sexton and it was be-
lieved that he placed it in the wood
pile, although he was a boarder and
lodger at the house and was thereby as
much endangered as any of the rest of
the guests. He does not admit the
TACT, but it is supposed that he put the
powder in the wood temporarily with
no malicious motive. intending simply
to keep il for use in the case against
the merchants
The proprietors of the Ohio House
now threaten to prosecute Sexton
criminally under law that provides
that a person is guilty of a felony who
''recklessly or maliciously'' places ex-
plosives in public place
lively meeting of the volunteer fire
companies of Placerville was held last
evening, at which resolutions were
passed severely denouncing Sexton for
his action. A small fire occurred in