Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-20
CHINAMAN'S DESPERATE ACT
Blows Up n Powder Magazine and
'thr Five Officers of the Law
Arc Killed.

OAKLAND, Cal, July 19.-The works of
the Western Fuse and Explosive company
were blown up by a murdcrous Chinaman
at $50 this morning. Five deputy sheriffs
and constables, who were trying to arrest
the murderer, We're killed. The dead are:
DEPUTY SHERIFF CHARLES WHITE,
son of Sheriff White. a
, GEORGE WOODSUM,
I d. C. CAMERON.
CONSTABLE KOCH.
]. j. LERRI. +
MRS. HILL
COON G. CHUNG.
The Chinaman had fortified himself in the
magazine. and blew it 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-countryman yesterday
afternoon in a quarrel over n Chinese lot
terry ticket. He then defied the officers of
the law who went to arrest him. The muir
derer fled into the magazine, which con-
tanned five tons of giant powder, barricaded
himself. and threatened to blow up the
magazine if anyone came to arrest him.
Deputy Sheriff Charles White, son of
Sheriff White, in charge of a posse, con-
sisting of Constable Gus Koch, Deputy Sher-
if George Woodsun, Deputy Sheriff D. C.
oHB DSpuNy SOnSluDlS d. D.. LtITl IL
Deputy Constable Harry Cramer, were on
the scene of the shooting shortly after the
murder, and kept guard over the Chinaman
within his stronghold. All of the officers
were armed with rifles. After repeated de-
mands to surrender had been made, to all
Of which the same reply came, IF you come
in here, l will blow up the magazine" the
officers retired for the night within the
private office of the company, about twenty
yards away.
Celestial Keeps His Word.
This morning at 5 o'clock Deputy Sheriff
Charles White, after a consultation with the
others, determined to break down the barri-
cade, not believing the Chinaman would
keep his dastardly promise. Accordingly
the entire posse headed for the door. True
to his word the Chinaman fired the giant
powder and in an instant a terrific explo-
sion occurred, killing five officers and blow
ing the Chinaman TO atoms, so small that
not one piece has been found. Whites
body was fearfully mangled. 1t was found
nearly 500 yards away. Koch was also
badly disfgured and was killed instantly.
d.. G. Cameron was f~earfully disfgured, but
lived long enough to be taken to the hos
pital in the patrol wagon, where he died.
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, but to no avail.
The works are completely wrecked. Four
houses also are blown down and about forty
partially wrecked.
Deputy Sheriff Fred Sheriff and Deputy
Ed White escaped, but are painfully
wounded.
Deputy Sheritts story Is to the effect
that about 5 O'Clock this morning the China
man called to Deputy Sheriff White that he
would surrender. White, Woodsum and
Koch Immediately proceeded to the door,
while the others followed. Just as the door
was reached the sound as Of a falling plank
was heard and then the explosion occurred
The name of the Chinaman was Coon G.
Chung. The man he murdered was Ham 81
Sing.
Coroner Wadels and a corps Of deputies
are searching through the surrounding
fields for remains. In some instances they
had TO be picked up with shovels. Four
teen of the cars were blown to splinters
and several were burned. Windows were
broken in Oakland, Alameda and as far as
Berkeley.
Sheriff and Ed White are complete nerv-
Gus wrecks. They we're carried over forty
feet by the force OF the explosion and
thrown violently TO the ground.