The herald., 1898-07-20
AN AWFUL SUICIDE
CHINESE BLOWS HIMSELF UP
iNAPOWDER MILL
MANY PEOPLE KILLED
HOUSES WRECKED AND PROP.
ERTY DESTROYED
A DESPERATE CRIMINAL
Hiehbinder Tries to Murder Comrade
and in Revenge for Pursuit
Causes Death and Ruin

8UO III SoVcuBo LUZ uASuAs
Causes Death and Ruin
Associated Press Special Wire
OAKLAND, July 19.-The most sensa-
tional tragedy ever known in California &C.
Cured shortly after 5 o'clock this morning
at Meirose, q little settlement near Sather
station, between Fruitvale and Alameda.
BY the act Of Chinese murderer the pow
der magazine Of the California Fuse COM
pany was exploded, resulting In the instant
death Of eight persons and inflicting in
1uries upon several others. A dozen cot
tages were demolished; fifty buildings in
GLIDING one school house, were more orless
shattered, railroad cars were hurled from
the tracks and windows were broken miles
away from the scene of the disaster. The
property loss is estimated as high as $4,000
or more.
The wretch who caused this death and
devastation was Gung ing Chang. or All
Len, who yesterday shot and fatally
wounded Han 81 Sing. and then took refuge
in the powder magazine, where he remained
at bay all night. defying the officers of the
law to arrest him. The Eighth regiment of
California volunteers is encamped near by,
and its officers also attempted to dislodge
the criminal, whose first victim died before
daylight. Just before sunrise final effort
to capture the desperate man was made,
and in an instant the towns and cities about
the bay were shaken to their foundations by
q terrific explosion. The Monaghan had
carried out his threat, fired his revolver into
4 can of powder, and of himself and the
brave men who had demanded his surren-
der only mangled remains were left. Bits
Of their bruised and bleeding bodies, some
charred by fire and blackened by powder
smoke, were scattered over a wide area.
These were gathered up in baskets and bags,
Identification in most cases being absolutely
impossible. Nothing remained Of the mag
azine. and the village of Melrose was a
wreck. Fires broke out in several places.
sion and terror. Tonight many commun-
tiles are in mourning, for the officers killed
were all widely known, and came from va
rious parts of Alameda county.
OAKLAND, Cal. July 19-The Western
Fuse Works were blown up by a murderous
Chinese at 500 this morning. Six deputy
sheriffs, who were trying to arrest the
murderer were killed. The dead are Dep
uty Sheriffs Charles White, son of Sheriff
White; George Woodsum, D. C. Cameron,
Constable Gus Koch, ]. J. Lerri and Mrs.
Hill.
The Chinese had fortified himself in the
magazine and blew it up when the attempt
to arrest him was made.
Tho celestial, who was employed in the
works and who caused the awful explosion,
had killed fellow-countryman yesterday
afternoon in q quarrel over Chinese lottery
tickets. He then defled the officers of the
law who went to arrest him. The murder
er fled into the magazine, which contained
five tons OF giant powder, barricaded the
door and threate to blow up the maya
zine II anyone came to arrest him. Deputy
Sheriff Charles White, son of Sheriff White
In charge OF the posse, consisting of Con-
stable Gus Koch, Deputy Sheriff George
Woodsum, Deputy Sheriff D. c. Cameron
Deputy Constable ]. ]. Lerri and Deputy
Constable Harry Cramer, were on the
scene of the shooting shortly after the
murder and kept guard over the Chinese
within his stronghold. All the officers were
armed with rifles. After repeated demands
to surrender had been made, to all of which
the same reply came. 'if you come in here
will blow up the magazine" The officers
retired for the night within the private
office of the company about twenty yards
away.
This morning at o'clock Deputy Sheriff
Charles White. after consultation with the
others. determined to break down the bar
ricade, not believing the Chinese would
keep his dastardly promise.
This Is the statement of one of the sur
vivors:
Accordingly the entire posse headed for
the door. 1t was 5:18 o'clock exactly when
the assault was made. True to his word,
the Chinese fired the giant powder, and in
an instant a terrific explosion occurred,
killing all the officers and blowing the
Chinese to atoms so small that not one
piece has been found. Charles Whites
body was fearfully mangled. 1t was found
nearly 500 yards away. Gus Hoch was also
badly disf1gured and was killed instantly
d. c. 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. The dead woman
Mved in San Francisco at the Kings
Daughters Home. and was killed in the
falling debris of the house. All the build
ings took fire. Engines were soon fighting
the flames, but to no avail. The works ar.
completely wrecked. Deputy Sheriff Free
Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Ed. White es
capped. but are painfully wounded.
Deputy Sheriff Sherritt's story is to th,
effect that at s o'clock this morning tn,
Chinese called to Deputy Sheriff Whit,
that he would surely surrender. White
Woodsum and Koch Immediately proceed
ed to the door while the others followed
Just a. the door was reached the sound o
Z falling plank was heard and then the OK
plosion occurred. The name of the Chi
nese was Gun Ung Chang. The man h.
murdered was Ham 81 Sing The Coroner
wagons and Z corps Of deputies are search
~ ~ Surrounding held for the rsr,llna