The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-10-31

20 "
NEW YORK. OCT. so.-All DAY long
gang Of several hundred laborcrs
were at work among tho ruins caused
by. the explosions In the building occu-
pied by Tarrant 6 Company 1t is not
believed that the llst Of dead Will ex-
coed thirty, and some estimates place
the total dead at below twenty. One
hundred and twenty-seven Injured per-
SONS were received at the hospital and
Of this number over. q score, were dis
charged after their wounds had been
dressed. The list of missing; was large
at, first, but many OF those supposed to
have been buried in the ruins have
been accounted for and as far as known
not more than twenty-five persons arc
missing this morning. Tho property
loss 10 variously estimated at from
s1.5Oo, 900 to $4,000
Chemicals Caused the, Fire.
Chemicals probably entered into tho
origin Of the fire. The first smoke that
was seen was dense and Very black.
This changed Into what Appeared TO be
q; light .vapor. greatly increasing In
quantity. Then began q series OF mi
nor explosions, not heavy enough 70
disturb persons. In the street further
thanito warn them from too near. an
approach. Suddenly an explosion OF
much greater force drove the glass
from the windows, showeping It upon
the hremen and policemen, and the
Thousands OF spectators that had gath
cred In the streets. This was followed
almost Immediately by another explos-
ion OF far greater intensity that worked
much disaster. There was perhaps an
interval, Of two minutes. when there
came third explosion that exceeded
those that had preceded, and which
brought the buildings on both sides
ofwarren street in that block tumbllns
to the ground as though&they were
built Of pasteboard.
h Panic For Blocks.
All was Immediately panic for blocks
ntevery direction. y-
Fire Commission John G. scannell
said to-day:
n have no doubt that chemicals and
oils far In excess Of the quantity
sanctioned by law were stored In that
building. suppose that, keen watch
was kept over the official movements
OF inspectors, and when 1t BECAME
known that visit might be made the
quantity of explosives were depleted.
After the inspector had departed the
supply was built UP again. Any one
who has seen the result Of: the explos-
Ions that have occurred here need not
be told that the law has been violated.
/ cannot tell what action, will be Ia
ken. but you may be sure that rigid
investigation will be made and full pun
ishment meted out to the guilty ones
II such, o thing is possible. Tarrant
& Company have not been the only Of
tenders. There are other similar con-
Germs that pay little heed to the law
Thorough Inspection to be Made.
Superintendent OF Buildings Dooner
said that It would be necessary to make
n thorough inspection of the nelghbor-
hood OF the explosion and fire. as soon
as possible. and that the result Of 1t
will be that some Of the buildings Will
have to come down. There was little
doubt. he said, that the foundations oil
many OF the buildings had been dam.
aged and that they are now in dan.
gerous condition. ID
Exact figures on the amount Of the
Insurance carried upon the destroyed
buildings and their contents will not be
ascertained for q week or two. Tho
board OF fire and underwriters met to.
day 70 work on. the figures.
Prominent Among the Missing.
Prominent among those apparently
missing Is Victor Hugo Mathusk. p!.
ano manufacturer. Edward Fish, hi
foster-father. told the police that Mr.
.Mathusk had had an appointment with
lawyer,J. Dearborn, in Warren street
and had left him, at noon. agreeing tt
come back at A O'clock. He had no
kent the t1ttpr nDDniptypapt AVID moth