The sun., 1900-11-01
INQUIRY INT0 HORROR
ln lcaYorto Determine Responsibility
For T.i.'l,i;it Li.,,,,e,
PRESIDENT MAIN TESTIFIES
Assistant District Attorney Walsh
Announces That Prosecutions
VIII Follow If Illegal Storage
of Explosives Is Shown.

New York, Oct. 31.-Judging from the
preparatory arrangements, the first of
the official investigations into the War
ren street disaster is to be a most thor
ough affair.
1t was begun at fire headquarters, and
among those examined at the outset was
President Main of the Tarrant company.
The investigation is being conducted be-
hind closed doors, but sufficient informa-
ton concerning it's progress leaks out to
warrant the belief that the authorities
intend to hear both sides of the story.
Fire Marshal Seery said that all the
testimony as to the contents of the Tar
rant building, with the expert opinions
as to the causes of the explosion, will be
turned over to Commissioner Scannell for
his examination. The investigation fol-
lowed visit to the scene of the disaster
by Fire Marshal Seery.
Assistant District Attorney Walsh was
present at fire headquarters during the
progress of the investigation, and he said
to the reporters that every official con-
nccted with the Tarrant building would
be prosecuted in the event of any illegal
storage of explosives being shown.
Treasurer w. 9. Allan of the Tarrant
company was also on hand at the inves-
tgation and was said to have in his pos
session the storage books of the wrecked
concern. This was subsequently denied,
it being added that the contents of the
building AT the time of the fire could not
be ascertaincd until the diggers at the
scene recovered the safe containing the
books.
potnsh auI SuIDhur stored
Mr.. Rogers of Rogers q Pyatt has ad-
mittcd that the firm had about two tons
Of chlorate of potash stored in the i'll
fated building. Another firm admitted
having Il ron of sulphur in storage there.
G. a. Mayer, Ph. g., after inspecting
the ruins said that chlorate of potash,
when mixed with sulphur, would produce
Just Slch an explosion as destroyed the
half acre of buildings in that neighbor-
hood.
Both welr lsHtl in the manufacture of
rcl,ortS. Mr. Mayer said. and neither
was dangerous If kept from the other.
As Il combination of incompatibles, he
ndt,rd, they had few equals.
Inspector of CoEh1lSthlcs George T..
Murray now thinks that the chlorate Of
potash. coming in contact with either
nitric or sulphulic acid and REINFORCED
by the great heat. produced the cxplo-
sion.
Some Of those at the scene of the fire
the first day. particularly the frcmcn.
now recall that they were almost over
come by the sulphurous fumes that filed
the air. -Four great drums which fell
from the Tarinnt building when it col
lapscd have been discovered. One Is
| empty. The other two contain naphtha
or some fluid substance of ii highly in
tlammable nature. President Main says
that. while the license permitted brnzinr
ana naphtlia 70 he on the promises. nnnp
was there. The officials are Guarding
the drunls.
Thousn many workmcn aro busy witl
pick and shovel. the rtlin5 Of the hnild-
ngs atc slow io give M their Victims.
Charwd ana disi>Gwcl Ei,,r~ Of bone
and flesh which ~" Lcli,ved ta ha pnrtf
Of Il nnnher af bodies harc bocl found
lNt there is no pns,idn way 10 Identity
them.