The age-herald., 1898-07-20

Oakland, Cal, July 19.-Eght lives have been sacrificed, his own among the number, by a Chinese murderer named Coon Chung, and an immense amount of property was blown up and burned at the works of the Western Fuse and Explosive company to- day.
 A woman near the scene was killed by falling debris from the explosion.
 Five deputy sheriffs and constables, who were trying to arrest the murderer per ished.
 The dead are:
 Deputy Sheriff Charles White, son of Sheriff White; George Wood, D. c. Cam eron, Constable Gus Koch, Constable J. J. Leerri, Mrs. Hill, Coon Chung, Ham Si Ting.
 The Chinaman had fortified himself in the magazine and blew it up when the at tempt to arrest him was made.
 The celestial who was employed in the works and who caused the awful explosion, had killed fellow countryman in quar- rel over a Chinese lottery ticket yesterday
 Defed the Officers
 He then defied the officers of the law who went to arrest him. The murderer fled into the magazine, which contained five tons of giant powder, barricaded him self and threa tened to blow up the maga- zine if any one came to arrest him. Dep uty Sheriff Charles White, son of Sheriff White Constable George Wood, Deputy Sheriff D. C.. Cameron, Deputy Sheriff Koch, Constable J. J. Leerri, Deputy Con- stable Harry Cramer, were on the scene of the shooting shortly after the murder and kept guard over the Chinaman with19 his stronghold. All the officers were armed with rifles. After repeated demands to surrender s-sh -sthiee answer came: If you come l -n%'iin blow up the magazine"
 The officers retired within the private office of the company about twenty yards away This morning Deputy Sheriff White, after a consultation with the others, de- manded to be let within the barricade, not believing the Chinaman would keep his das- tardly promise.
 Fired the Giant Powder
 Accordingly, the entire posse went for the door. True to his word, the Chinaman fired the giant powder and in an instant terrific explosion occurred, killing five om- cers and blowing the Chnaman to pieces.
 Whites body was fearfully mangied. It was found nearly 800 yards away.
 Mrs Hill was visiting a Mrs. Pride, who lived across the way. She was killed in the falling debris of the building.
 All the buildings took fire. Engines were soon fighting the flames, bnt to no avail The works are completely wrecked. -Four houses also are blown down and about for. ty partially wrecked. Deputy Sherln Sherritt and Deputy Ed White escaped put are painfully wounded.
 Deputy Sheriff Sherritts story is to the effect that at 5 o'clock this morning the Chinaman called to Deputy Sheriff White that he would surrender. They immed- lately proceeded to the door, White hrst, and just as the door was reached the sound as of a falling plank was heard ana then the explosion occurred.
 The name of the Chinaman was Coon Chung. The man he murdered was Sam Si Sing. Coroner Wadini and a corps or deputies are searching the ruins surround ing for the remains. In some instances they had to be picked up with shovels. Fourteen freight cars were blown to spiln- ters and several were burned. Windows were broken in Oakland, Alamada and as far as Berkley
 Thrilling Story
 One of the most thrilling stories of the fatality is that told by Fred Sherrtt 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 or us would 20 toward the door and assure the Chinaman that we would not hurt him if he came out. The fellow would invariably reply that we would blow up the place II we attempted to take him.
 The last time he repeated the threat So often that people in the ne.ghborhood became frightened and many moved out of their homes Their forethought saved them, for their homes are scattered to the four winds
 I've hung around all night, and just at daybreak White got a Chinaman to tell the fellow to come out He would not do so. but shortly after 5 o'clock he told us he would walk out.
 "As soon as the fellow made his appear ance at the door of the place, Charles White and Koch walked toward him to make the arrest. Ed White and followed them. about eighty feet behind. They were almost at the door, when Coon closed Il with a bang.
 "I,ess than a second later I was being carried with a cloud of debris and earth swiftly over the ground My face was cut and my clothes torn. and I cannot under stand how it happened that Ed White ano myself were not killed, as some of those who were killed were further away than we were. .
 "I have no doubt that as soon as the door was closed Coon fired his pistol into the p6%der Five minutes after the explo' sion everything was on fire, including train of box cars.