The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-20
DESPERATE MURDERER
Blows Up a Powder Works to Avoid
l,.- Being Arrested.
THE RESULT Is SEVEN DEAD.

The Death List Includes Five Omcer.
who We're Endeavoring to Arres
the Murderous Chinaman, a W omar
Visitor Nearby, and the Murderer.
Oakland, CAL, July 20-The works o.
the Western Fuse and Explosive com.
pany were blown up by a murderous
Chinaman early yesterday morning
Five deputy sheriffs and. constables
who were trying to arrest the murderer
were killed. The dead are: Deputy
sheriffs Charles White, George Wood
sum and D. c. Cameron, and Con-
stables Gus Koch and J. J. Lerri, be-
sides Mrs. Hill and Coon Ng Chung,
the murderous Chinaman, who had for
titled himself in the magazine and blew
1t up when the attempt to arrest him
was made. Deputy Sheriffs Fred Sher-
rift and Ed. White escaped. but are
painfully wounded.
The Celestial, who was employed in
the works, had killed a fellow country
man Monday afternoon in a quarrel
over a Chinese lottery ticket. He then
defied the officers of the law who went
to arrest him. The murdere8 fled into
the magazine, which contained five
tons of giant powder, barricaded him
self and threatened to blow up the
magazine II any one came to arrest
him. Deputy Sheriff Charles White, son
of Sheriff White, and a posse were on
hn ~ hn oh chN, oP knw
the murder, and kept guard over the
Chinaman within his stronghold. All
the officers were armed with rifles.
One Of the most thrilling stories of
the fatality Is that told by Fred Sher-
rift, Of West Oakland, whose escape
was simply marvellous He said:
with the other deputy sheriffs we
kept as close to the powder house as
we thought advisable. Occasionally one
of us would go toward the door and as
sure the Chinaman that we would not
hurt him II he came out. The fellow
invariably replied that he would blow
up the place If we attempted to take
him. Late Monday night he repeated
his threat so often that the people
around there thought he would do 1t,
and many moved out of their homes.
Had they not done so they would be
dead, for their homes are strewn over
many acres.
1--WE hung around all night, and Just
at daybreak Charley urged China
man to tell the fellow to come out. He
would not do SO, but shortly after s
o'clock he told us he would walk out
and give us no more trouble.
AS soon as the fellow made his ap-
pearance at the door of the place
Charley White and Koch walked to-
ward him to make the arrest. Ed
White and I followed them about 80
'eet behind. They were almost at the
loor when Coon closed it with bang.
LESS than second later was be-
ng carried with cloud of debris and
arth swiftly over the ground. My face
vas cut and my clothes torn and I
'annot understand how 1t happened
hat Ed White and myself were not
Tiled, as some Of those killed were fur
her away than we were.
I have no doubt that as soon as the
loor was closed Coon fired his pistol
nto the powder. Five minutes after the
~P'ooAoi WdS VII llLe, III.
luding train of box cars"
Sheriff and Ed White are complete
nervous wrecks. Thew were carried
yer 40 feet by the force of the explos-
IN, and thrown violently to the
round. t
The body of the Chinaman was blown t
D atoms SO small that but one piece ,
las been found, Whites body was
aarfully mangled. It was found nearly ,
DO yards away. Koch was badly dis
cured, but lived long enough to be
AIKEN to the hospital, where he died. 6
lrs. Hill, who was visiting a friend c
cross the way, was killed in the fall Q
lg debris. Dr.. o
All the buildings took fire Engines u
ere son fighting the flames but to no =
vail. The works are completely
rocked. Four houses also are blown .
own and about 40 partially wrecked, b
ourteen cars were blown to splinters !,
nd several were burned. Windows
ere broken In Oakland, Alameda and |,
! far as Berkeley. ~