Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-12-23

anc4 Of Frank NJ. Boylo and John Frye,
carried bin out into the fresh air.
The body was stretched out on the
grass plot ami several physicians, in
GLIDING DIR. e. q. Shortlidge, DR.. j.
j. Jones and DIR. Horace Belts, made
a superficial examination. which inui-
Gated TINT Cooper was fatally injured.
His skull had been badly fractured and
one arm was broken. The police
pntrol wagon arrived ON the scene abo1t
10 minutes after Cooper had been
brought from the building and he was
hurrieuly put on the etretcher ind
taken to the Delaware Hospital lie
never recovered consciousness and died
about G. 20 o'clock.
John j. Copper was the son OF Richard
NJ. Cooper OF Cheswoll, who in the
last campaign was tho Prohibition can
didate for Governor. Tho son came to
this city about seven months ago to
take charge OF tho elevator OF tho
Fedora building, having passed civil
service examination before receiving
tho appointment. lie served six months
on probation and his work was entirely
satisfactory, 81 that be was permanently
appointed to the position about three
weeks ago. lie had also received the
assurance of letter position under the
government during the coming spring
and looked forward to receiving an in
creased aalary. Those who had occa ..
sion to use the elevator found hun
always ubliging, always genial in his
manner and conversation. In the short
time he had been engaged at the build
ing he had won the respect of many
pnrsons, not only those who were en-
played in the bulldog. bet lawyers and
nther visitnrH as we'll. The cards for
his marriage to Miss Eva Carey, daugh-
tar of John Carey OF Chesw0ld, were
issued about 10 days ago. G. S. Smith
of this city was to he his best man and
tho ceremony was to he performed in
the Bnthel Church, Cheswold. Mr..
Cuorer had rented house at Eden
Park for himself and bride. Employees
OF tho postoilice proposed to join in
giving him wedding present, hut
the money was devoted to tine purchase
OF floral offering for his furural
DIR. W. II. Cooper, collector Of the
port was distant relative Of the young
man. md he ielergaphed 20 the family
VI the deceased.
Ths exact cause of the explosion will
probably never he known. One theory
is that esraping gas was ignited ny a
naked light. The nearest gas jet in
the basement is about IL feet from THO
generator. The second explosion prob.
ably resulted from the carrying of the
burning gas into the gasometer.
When the second explosion occurred,
though not SO loud as tho fret, it
caused groat alarm because il left the
building In darkness, and at the mo.
ment IL occurred tongues OF fame shot
from the gas Jets throughout the build
ing. In the ollice OF tue United States
Court the smoke from the gas slightly
hlackened Judge Bradford and several
others, and Harry Mahaffy, the stem.
grspher, bad marrow escape from
being scorChed by the flame.
After tho first report, Substitute Let.
ter-carrier Daniel tiabke ran to open
the widow IN Ninth street. While in
tho areaway the second explosion oc-
curred and fragments OF glass we're
dashed around him as he crouchel
against the wall between two window
sashes. Several employees of the office
went to the basement upon the first re-
port. but left rapidly when learning of
danger.
There was little for the Fire Depart-
ment to do, for the burning gas seemed
not to catch to the building. just over
the generator the insulation was melted
from electric wireH. In the course of
half an hour tho smoke had largely
cleared away and the darkness through
out the building began to be broken by
a oGcasioal gas jet, Assistant Post
master Mullan having diree ted Superin-
tendent Curley of the Wilmington Coal
Tn ha IL nj
to the building.
When the smoke had cleared some.
what in the cellar an examination of
the scene nj the explosion was possible.
The pillar near by was despatched
with flying PARTICLES. A few feet to
tho side of the generator the floor was
marked by grayish matter, supposed
to be portion of brain substance, and
a few fest behind the generator was a
pool OF blood where the body had heon
found. From that point could be traced
across the cement floor the direction in
which Mr.. Sasse had dragged the body
in order to reach the door.
Engineer McIntire in speaking OF the
accident said that Cooper had charged
the generator probably 200 times.
DIR. W. III. Cooper, custodian, said be
never enjoyed the idea OF having a gas
plant OF any kind inside the building.
hut he had been informed by Major +.
S. Turner, licensee of the plant, that
permission had bsen granted to put it
there. Not because he feared the ma
chine would explode. hut chiefly because
OF ths Odor which aross from il. He
was in favor of removing the apparatus
out into the yard of the property.
Within few weeks he had discussed
its removal with Major Turner, and the
department being Satisfied that por.
tion OF the yard should be uaed for the
apparatus, it was to DO removed.
James McNulty, an attacbe of the
building, had his leg cut by glass, and
number OF persuns we're blackeneh
about the face by the smoke. Great
crowds of people lowered around the
building during the excitement and
many were the reports Ut injuries by
the explosion. For three quarters Of
an hour, or until the lights were turned
on, business was practically suspended
in tho postUlfice.
After the death OF the unfortunate
young man the body was taken in
charge by Deputy Coroner Chandler,
who embalmed it, Friday morning
Brady Cooper of Cheswud, a brother
Of tho deceased, arrival and took charge
OF the remains, which were sent to
Cheswold.
Deceased, after his arrival in this
city, connected himself with Harrison
Street NJ. j. Church, and had been O
regular attendant there. lie had been
one of the ushers and was wsll liked
by the pastor and members of the con-
gregation. He was also member of
Cheswold Council OF the Junior Order