The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-20
Work of a Desperate Chinese Mur-
derer at Oakland.
REFUGE IN A MAGAZINE
BLEW IT UP WHEN DEPUTIES
APPROACHED.
Five Tons of Giant Were Exploded
and Six Persons Were Killed, Be-
sides the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Picked Up With shovels-Not
Piece of the Chinanan Found.

Oakland, Cal. July 19.-The works Of
the Western Fuse & Explosive COM
pany were blown up by a murderous
Chinese at 500 this morning. Five dep
uty sheriffs, who were trying to arrest
the murderer were killed. The dead
are Deputy Sherifs Charles White, son
OF Sheriff White: George WOodsum, d.
c. Cameron, Constable Gus Koch, j. !.
Lerri, Mrs. Hill and Coon Ng Chung.
The Chinaman had fortified himself IN
the magazine and blew ii up when the
attempt to arrest him was made
The celestial, who was employed in
the works, and who caused the awful
explosion, had killed a fellow country
man yesterday afternoon in quarrel
over Chinese lottery tickets.
He then defed the officers of the law
who went to arrest him. The murderer
fed into the magazine, which contained
five tons OF giant powder, barricaded
the door and threatened To blow up the
magazine if any one came to arrest
him.
Deputy Sheriff Charles White. son of
Sheriff White, in charge of posse
consisting of Constable Gus Koch,
Deputy Sheriff George Woodsum, Dep
uty Sheriff d. c. Cameron, Deputy
Constable J. j. Lerri and Deputy Con-
stable Harry Cramer, We're on the
scene of the Shooting shortly after the
murder, and kept guard over the Chi
naman within his stronghold. All the
officers We're armed with rifles. After
repeated demands to surrender had
been made to all Of which the same re-
ply came. II you come in here / will
blow up the magazine the officers
retired for the night within the private
office of the company, about 20 yards
away.
STORY OF THE F<-fALITY.
One of the most thrilling stories of
the fatality is told by Fred Sheriff. of
West Oakland, whose escape was SIM
ply 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
assure The Chinese that we would not
hurt him if he came out. The fellow
would invariably reply that ne would
blow up the place if we attempted to
take him. Late last night he repeated
his threat so often that the people
around there believed he would do it,
and many of them moved out of their
homes. If they had not done so they
would now be dead. for their homes are
scattered over many acres.
We hung around all night and just
at daybreak Charley White sent Chi
naman 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
and give US no more trouble.
las soon as the fellow madk his ap-
pearance at the door of the place,
Charley White and Koch walked to-
ward him to make the arrest. Ed
White and 1 followed them, about so
feet behind. They were almost at the
door, when Coon Ng Chung closed it
with a bang.
Less than a second later 1 was be-
ing carried with a cloud of debris and
earth swiftly over the ground. My
face was cut and my clothes torn, and
1 cannot understand how it happened
that Ed White and myself were not
killed. as some of those killed were
farther away than we We're.
I have no doubt that as soon as
the door was closed Coon fred his
pistol into the powder"
BLOWN TO ATOMS.
The explosion was terrific. killing all
the officers, and blowing the Chinese to
atoms so small that not one piece has
been found. Whites body was fear
fully mangled. 1t was found = lrly
500 yards away. Koch was badly dis
figured. and was killed instantly. d.
G. Cameron was fearfully disfigured.
but lived long enough to be taken TO
the hospital in the patrol wagon, where
he died. Mrs. Hill was visiting Mrs.
Pride, who lived across the way. She
was killed in the falling debris of the
house.
All the buildings took fire. Engines
We're soon fighting the flames. but to
no avail. The works are completely
wrecked.
Four houses also are blown down,
and about 20 partially wrecked.
The CCroner's wagon and a corps of
deputies are searching through the
surrounding fields for the remains. In
some instances these had to be picked
up with shovels. Fourteen freight cars
were blown 20 splinters and several
were burned.