Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-08
Friends View the Remains.

Friends View the Remains.
Just then two friends of Cumberland
and Henson called.
They were admitted to the morgue and
they Identified the body of Henson. This
identification made it certain that the
other body was that Of Cumberland. A
number of friends Of both dead work.
men called at the morgue during the day,
but only a few OF them were admitted.
There was no reason for exhibiting the
body of the colored man. for there was
nothing about his remains which would
assist in the work Of Identification. The
shoe taken from one foot, the superin-
tendent of the morgue stated, can be
identified. There was suspender buckle
on the body, but it Is of common pattern
and will probably be of ,no,s help in the
matter of getting the body Identified.
Coroner hewitt was, informed of the
horrible affair and visited the building
early this morning. He saw several men
employed about the gas plant and ques-
toned them, but was unable to ascertain
anything to give him an idea of the cause
Of the explosion. The coroner decided to
hold an inquest to have jury pass upon
the affair. The hearing win be held at
the sixth precinct police station Monday
morning at 10 o'clock.
Horstman's Story.
Warren Horstman, who had so narrow
an escape, was seen by Starreporter this
morning. He had hardly recovered from
his fright All he was able to tell was
that he was knocked down and that he
ran as fast as he could when he regained
his feet. He saw the colored visitor when
he stopped at the door The colored man.
ne said, was not there more than a minute
when the explosion occurred. Mr.. Horst
man said he had no idea what caused the
explosion.
Mr. Reilley, superintendent Of the plant,
made similar statement regarding the
cause of the explosion. He said he had
been unable to find anything about the
building to indicate what had occasioned
1t. Workmen he said, are not permitted
to smoke in the building, and so far as he
knew the machinery was In perfect con-
dition.
A number of small boys gathered about
the building this morning and picked over
the pile of debris for souvenirs. They car
ried off small bolts, nails, screws and even
some of the smaller tools from the engine
room. Occasionally one Of them would
make CHASTITY find in the shape of a bone
or something from one of the bodies of
the victims.
The police remained about the building
during the morning.
The death of Griggsby was a peculiarly
sad one. Relatives and friends had called
at the hospital during the morning to see
him, and his wife and child were at his
side when death claimed him. Miss Cum
berland, who had called IN the belief that
the man under treatment was her brother,
was admitted to the room. The patient
was asleep when she called, and when she
had satisfied herself that he was not her
brother she went to the morgue. Relatives
of the victims sought to obtain their bodies
this afternoon to have them prepared for
burial and the coroner granted the re-
quests. This was done by swearing jury
over the body of Stephen Henson, and then
adjourning the hearingsB
Chief Belts Report.
Chief Engineer VIM. T. Belt this after
noon submitted to Commissioner Mac
farland, who has supervision over the
fire department, a report relative to the
fire and explosion of gas at the Pintsch
Gas Company's plant at 13k and e
streets southwest. Chief Belt mentions
in his report the fatalities resulting and
the injuries sustained by Charles Grigs-
by, and added: "The casualties occurred
as a result of the explosion of the gas,
which happened before the alarm was
sounded" o
Chief Belt states that the damage to
the machinery and building amounted to
about $4,000. In closing his report the
chief says:
The department has responded on sew
eraI occasions to fires in this plant, and
1t has always been considered by the de-
partment as extremely hazardous in case
of fire"
Commissioner Mcfarland requested Chief
Belt to explain his note to the effect that
the plant is extremely hazardous" Chief
Belt stated that all the regulations have
been complied with by the company, but
that from the nature of the business there
is danger to the employees working about
the building. The danger from explosions
and fire at the plant are not imminent to
the public, but only to the employees of the
company in the building
Commissioner Macfarland expressed re-
gret at the unfortunate disaster and stated
that he will look into the matter to see if
any 1urther precautions can be provided for
the safety of those employed In the build
ing.