Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17

j. M. MCClOud, druggist. y
: L. Christopher, candy manufac- I.
!. turer. +
! s. Nordinger, Jeweler. +
II. Jevne, merchant. +
s'Fs:s *'' +'.'s E %.s*.s s-s.ss.+s.+i
Nine men, bound by the most sacred
oath the state has to offer, the oath of
duty toward the dead, are discussing
the evidence in the inquest over the
bodies of the victims of the explosion
and disaster at the Cressaty restaurant
last Wednesday morning, and the entire
city is awaiting the report of that jury
which will determine the responsibility
of\the disaster.
The jury, selected by Deputy Coroner
Jack Adams, Is composed of some of
the best known business men of Los
Angeles. Moses Hamburger of the
Peoples Store, H. Jevne the wholesale
and retail grocer, s. Nordlinger, jew
eler; Harry G. Dean druggist; L. J.
Christopher, and others of like stand
ing who are known throughout the
state as men of honesty and business
integrity.
These men met yesterday in the par
lors of the Bresee undertaking estab-
lishment to investigate the cause of
the disaster. All through q weary,
gloomy day, neglecting their business
and calls of duty, they listened as wit
ness after witness told the details of
the tragedy In the next room were the
bodies of the victims of the explosion
Poor little Lavonne Meyers, the young
est victim of the tragedy, rested side by
side with Mrs. Annie Crawford, the
eldest; while next to them were the
bodies of John Mains and Jack Fuentes,
whose lives had been crushed out.
Many Witnesses Examined
The jurors saw those bodies yesterday
and their attention to the detailed evil
dence was painfully severe at times.
At the close of the session nearly two
score witnesses had been examined.
. while ten others remained In the wit
ness room and dozen more sub
poenaed for the occasion were moaning
In agony In various hospitals.
Between today and tomorrow after
noon, when the investigation will be
resumed, each one Of those stricken
witnesses will be examined and their
depositions taken to assist in the in
vestigation. The others will also be
compelled to undergo the searching in |
quiry and it may be Tuesday before
verdict fixing the responsibility of the |
accident Is returned.
In the meantime little Lavonne Mey-
ers Will have been placed in her grave |
the funerals of Mrs. Crawford, John
Mains and j. M. c. Fuentes will have
been held, and new names may have |
been added to that list of dead
Among the chief witnesses of the in |
QUESTION yesterday were Max r. Rot
man, an employe of the gas company |
who had served with them for less |
than three weeks and who was stand |
ing within three feet of Foreman Blu
menthal when the explosion occurred |
Patrolman Billy Matuskawiz of the |
Spring street squad, Miss Rae Calish. |
nf tvs.
Fire Chief Lips.
Rotman Tells Story
Rotman was the only man who |
could testify accurately as to what
had been done by the gas men, and
even he could not tell of the cause
of the explosion.
Here is his stor5', the fir-t account |
to be published from the viewpoint of
the employees of the gas company, from |
the men who alone knew in what con-
dition the gas pipes were.
II was hired by the Los Angeles |
Gas company on January 26," testified |
Rotman. Before that time l had |
been employed with the gas companies
OF Brooklyn for three years or more
and was thoroughly acquainted with
the gas business.
ION the morning of the 18th, the day
OF the explosion was about to leave
the gas company's office at 10:45 o'clock
when l met Foreman Charlie Blumen-
thai on the steps of the office build
ing. l was mounting my wheel when
ne called to me and told me to hurry
down to the Cressaty restaurant that
there was trouble there with the pines
and that 1 must hurry to assist Hold
ern1an who had already been sent there
to investigate.
II jumped on my wheel and was rid
xxyhn
back and told me that 1 must take
my soap along In order to putty the
leaks Immediately and so l went back
and got the soap and some tools. /
then hurried to the place and asked
for Holderman. They couldn't tell me
where he was, so / walked on through
the restaurant to the kitchen and
tfound him examining the pipes. l
asked him If he had looked at the
meter and he told me that he had
taken the meter out and that he want
ed to look for the gas main in order
10 draw out the gas and shut off the
now into the restaurant pipes while
he fixed the leaks.
About that time we walked outside
ana there we found Foreman Blumen-
lhal, who had come down to the res
taurant to make a personal investi-
cation. He was talking to Police Com
missioner Lewis who was the agent
OF the building Holderman asked
blumenthal = there was a manhole In
the vicinity so that he could get at
the gas main and shut off the gas,
and Blumenthal said he didn't know
Of any.
Thought Head Was Torn of
"Blumenthal then ordered me to
hurry back to the office and get his
electric flash and | returned in a very
short time with the light and gave II
to Blumenthal. He walked ahead with
Holderman and the two entered the
restaurant through the kitchen door,
while l stopped to stand my bicycle