The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-28
tfOn.

, scene and made an investigation to
guide him in the official inquiry and
possible criminal prosecution that will
follow.
Ira A. Shaler, engineer in charge of
the work at Park avenue; John Brack-
en-, a foreman, and Martin McGrath, an
assistant foreman, were placed under
arrest and charged with homicide.
Wilham Barclay Parsons, chief engin-
eer of the rapid transit company, said
that Shaler was one of the most com
petent and careful engineers he ever
knew The damage may exceed $1,000,-
900. The first estimate on the Murray
Hill Hotel placed the loss at 100000
but later the hotel was abandoned as
unsafe. If the building is condemned
the loss on it alone will approach ST.
100000. The damage to the Grand
Union was estimated at $4,000 and
that to the Manhattan Hospital at
$25,000 The loss at the Grand Central
station was entirely in glass, as was
that of the 100 or more buildings affect
ed by the explosion. No estimate was
| made of the loses sustained by the
rapid transit contractors.
Attorney jerome in a Fight.
There was a clash in court this aft
| ernoon between Ditrict Attorney Je-
rome and Coroner Goldenkranz. Mr..
Jerome was in his office examining
/ Shaler, Bracken and McGrath, the men
under arrest, when q policeman enter
1 ed and, under the coroner's instruc-
tions, demanded that the prisoners ap-
pear before that official. Mr.. Jerome
allowed them to go, but he and his
assistant followed. The district attor-
ney told the coroner that there was no
/ information in the patrolman's aff1-
davit on which to hold anybody, and
there was a wordy wrangle between
a H. IA so1-
| rearrested the men and held them in
| $4,000 each.
All this had worked up the feelings
| of everybody so much that there was
a free fight. Mr. Jerome received a
blow in the face from a coroner's clerk
who in turn was beaten by two of
the district attorneys detectives. Then
| the detectives and the clerk had each
! other arrested, but soon better coun-
I sci prevailed and all charges were
/ withdrawn for the present.
| Caused by Carclessncss.
! Moses Epps, a powder man in charge
of the shanty, where the explosion oc-
Cured, is at Flowers Hospital suffering
from contusions and shock. He said
that on going to the shanty about noon
1 he found a candle, which he had left
| lighted on a shelf, lying on the floor,
and some paper which was about it
| was on fire. Close to this burning
paper were thirteen boxes of dynamite
cartridges, each box containing from
sixty to seventy-five cartridges. This
evening Epps was practically a pris-
oner, a policeman having been assigned
to guard him.
In addition to those already men
toned. as under arrest Andrew Murray
was tonight locked up Murray had
charge of the dynamite. He said there
were about twenty sticks of dynamite
| in the shanty.
The Murray Hill i'm Bad Shape.
Late tonight investigation of the
damage done to the Murray Hill Hotel
was completed. and it showed a re-
markable condition of affairs. Two
thirds of the big hostelry cannot be
used until repairs have been made, and
the northeast corner is closed entirely.
Proprietor Jacques places the loss in
glass alone at $4,000. Every window
in the hotel was shattered and the
window frames torn from. their fasten-
ings and blown into the rooms. Cell
ings and walls crumbled, pictures were
blown from their places and furniture
was upset.