New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-01

the representation that they contained aniline
oil. non-explosive dyestuff.
At the office OF Schoellkopf, Hartford & Hanna
all Information refused concerning the
tanks or their contents No member of the firm
would say how many Of them were stored with
Tarrant & Co.. and that firm professed not to
know. Schoellkopf. Hartford & Hanna would
not even deny that they had been storing
naphtha naphthalene in aniline oil tanks. nor
would they tell reporters the color or properties
OF aniline oil. Their secretiveness was In marked
contrast to the frankness with which other
firms which had goods stored with Tarrant
e. Co. have answered all Inquiries. The stuff is
being analysed by chemists for the Bureau of
Combustibles.
FIRE MARSHAL'S INQUIRY BEGUN.
Fire Marshal Seery began his formal investi-
cation yesterday into the Of the explo-
sion. He subpenaeo three witnesses. Their ex-
animation private, but Assistant District
Attorney Walsh who conducted it, gave the
waiting reporters a review of their testimony.
The only important point brought out a
disappointment Up TO IL has been
ndently expected that the books showing the
chemicals in storage would be found in the safe
when the ruins cleared away. w. c. Allen,
secretary and treasurer of Tarrant & Co.. testi-
fed that these books were not in the safe at the
time Of the fire, which preceded the explosion
but We're in the possession of Benjamin Moore
house. the firms shipping clerk, one of the
D. upper floors Mr.. Moorehouse is among the
missing It is feared that he lost his life by the
explosion. and that the stock books were de-
Btroyed with him.
If this proves TO be true, 1t may he impossible
to ascertain exactly what caused the explosion
because all the members of the firm of Tarrant
G. Co.. and its employees say they do not know
what was in storage except in a general way
and if any outside merchant sent explosives to
be stored there in unlawful quantities, he is net
likely 10 draw attention to that fact now by put
ting In claim for its loss
The two other witnesses examined were Hugo
Limberg. a boy. employed by Tarrant & Co.. and
Mr.. Wells, employed by Breitenbach & Co.. in
the building. They gave unimportant
testimony, Mr.. Walsh said, regarding the origin
OF the fire which caused the explosion. The in
vestigation will be resumed this morning
Il ascertained yesterday that the Har-
shaw Fuller & Goodwin Company, of No 100
Willian-st., had twenty-five hundred pounds of
sulphur stored with Tarrant & Co. When ex-
perts learned this fact they seemed TO think they
mad found the explanation of the great force of
the explosion, because as The Tribune has
already published, the wholesale drug firms Of
McKesson & Robbins and Rogers G. Pyatt had
large quantities Of chlorate of potash stored in
the same building When these two substances
become mixed they form explosive OF terrific
force. e. d. Congdon. representing the Har-
shaw, Fuller & Goodwin Company, said he had
no means of finding out what other substances
Tarrant * Co. were storing close to Nis sulphur.
he was forced to rely upon their business COM
mon sense for the safe disposal of his goods. and
supposed they were licensed to store them. The
other two firms said the same with regard to
their chlorate Of potash. All declared they
would not store chlorate Of potash and sulphur
together upon their premises
OBJECTS TO CRoKER's STATEMENT
Just here arises question which in the opin-
lon OF many wholesale drug men merits the con-
alteration OF those who demand revision OF
the laws regarding the storage Of combustibles.
A member Of the firm Of Schieffelin & Co.. No.
10 William-st., Of the largest and Oldest
drug firms in the city, said TO Tribune re-
porter yesterday:
Fire Chief Croker does an injustice TO the