News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-08-28
QUAKER CITY OUIRKS.
PHILADELPHIA, AUG. IS.

OlUUluR dU NOME l6WHVeulHBSs luCb
we we're startled by a frightful ex-
plosion which extinguished gas jets
in the house, ratified the windows
and caused Tapping of the window
shades by it's fearful conclusion. Less
than a square and a half distant five
two story and a half and three story
brick buildings we're blown to smith
Greens, eight persons killed and a
large number injured. The wreckage
was Immediately on fire and a scene
to be remembered was theresult. This
destruction of life and property was
the work of comparatively small
quantity of gasoline in the basement
of small grocery store, which now,
"after the horse is stolen" will bring
about very rigid regulations from the
Department of Public Safety and the
Police Bureau. Government experts
on explosives have passed opinion on
the extremely dangerous character
of gasoline as handled by the great
majority of people who are ignorant
of its possibilities. Right here is an
object lesson for the thousands who
are using gasoline in much the same
manner in which they would use kero-
sene oil. The vapor from gasoline is
most treacherous as was Illustrated
only a day or two after the Locust
street explosion, lady having an
apartment house had been using
gasoline in cleaning the room oc.
cupied by a gentleman who came in
while she was engaged in the work.
He stepped on a match with results
nearly fatal to the two.
In one recent letter something was
related concerning murder cases in
Philadelphia. At the very time of
writing horrible murder, with at
tending circumstances somewhat re-
sembling the famous Borden case,
was being committed out near 32nd.
and Chestnutstreets, in what is known
as Marble Terrace. An elderly wo-
man was found dead in her home,
having been cruelty beaten about the
head with a brick. Circumstances
and the story of young cOlOred wO-
man, a servant in the household, at
first pointed strongly to son Of the
murdered woman, prosperous bust
ness, unmarried, who lived alternate
ly between the home of his mother
and a summer resort hotel at SOmers
Point, of which he was proprietor.
He was locked up and was in q terrible
condition, mentally and physically,
for several days. The grand jury re-
fused to iDdict him; it was proven
that he was elsewhere at the time of
the crime, and little by little the
evidence has been drawn closer to
this colored woman. She has been
held by the grand jury, and the son
walked out of prison a free man to
Immediately marry theyoung woman
who stood Loyalty by him during the
trying days of his incarceration.
This leads to further observations as
to the colored population of this city.
They exceed forty-five thousand in
number and the great majority are
a hard lot. The time was when the
writer felt kindlier feeling for the
black race than now. The opinion
formerly held, as to their ability,
rights of citizenship, honesty and
general all around characteristics if
only given chance for development,
has met with radical changes. A
look at the rogues gallery at police
headquarters show black faces on
two-thirds of the criminals. They,
the men, are largely INDECENT loung-
ers, largely given up to policy play
ing, filling up with poor rum, swing
ing the razor or knife and serving
time. Colored servants are much
employed but their stay is short as,
with rare exceptions, they are as sure
to steal as they are to eat about
twice the allowance of a white. Here
all types are seen, from the turbaned
old Aunty and grizzled Uncle Tom
sort, to the really cute pickaninny.
But such theivesl The saying that
Saturday night is Nigger's night"
is not groundless supposition, for
it is then that the dudes AMI damsels
come forth, when the bulk of the
population crush the growler" until
quarrelling, scraping frame of mine
is developed, and than the razors fly.
The police force has double duty Sat
urday night, and Monday morning
finds the numerous magistrates Of
fees and central police court rather
cloudy in appearance and working
over time.
But crooks and criminals do not
all have black faces. There came to
the city few weeks since slick actor
like face, who had lady purporting
to be his wife. He posed everywhere
as an expert stenographer and type.
list, with fine position in the general
office of the Philadelphia & Reading
r. R., referred to the Y. M. G. A and
to the head of the auditing depart
ment of the said road. He defrauded
apartment houses, boarding houses
stole jewelry, passed bogus checks
got the possession of goods anC
pawned them and was getting holder
and holder in his crooked operation
Police headquarters had frequent
complaints, had warrent out for hi:
arrest, and two of the best detectives
from headquarters were trying theiI
best to run him down. Knowing
that had seen the guilty party, two
city hall detectives requested me &c