Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1898 — HE KEPT HIS WORD. [ARTICLE]

HE KEPT HIS WORD.

Chinaman Besieged in a Powder Magazine Blows It Up. POSSE UNDERTAKES HIS CAPTURE. Dlareffard* His Threat* and Gaea to Ita Death—Five of Ita Member., Together with the Culprit and a Are Killed. Oaklaud, Cal., July 20. —The works of the Western 1 use & Explosive company were blown up by a murderous Chinaman at 5:30 Tuesday morning. Five deputy sheriffs and constables who were trying to arrest the murderer were killed. The dead are: Deputy Sheriffs Charles White, son of Sheriff White; George Woodsum, D. C. Cameron; Constables Gus Koch, J. J. Lerri, Mrs. rtill and Goong Chung. The Chinaman had fortified himself in the magazine and blew it up when the attempt to arrest him was made. Had Killed a Countryman. The Celestial, who was employed in the works and who caused the awful explosion, had killed a fellow-country-man Monday afternoon in a quarrel over a Chinese lottery ticket. He then defied the officers of the law who went to arrest him. The murderer fled into the magazine, which contained five tons of giant powder, barricaded himself and threatened to blow up the magazine if anyone came to arrest him. Deputy Sheriff Charles White, son of Sheriff White, in charge of a posse consisting of Constable Gus Koch, Deputy Sheriff George Woodsum, Deputy Sheriff D. C. Cameron, Deputy Constable J. J. Lerri and Deputy Constable Harry Cramer were on the scene of the shooting shortly after the murder and kept guard over the Chinaman within his stronghold. All the officers were armed with rifles. After repeated demands to surrender had been made, to all of which the same reply came: “If you come in here I will blow un th* macr_zin«_” the

officers retired for the night within the private office of the company, about 20 yards away. Tuesday morning at five o’clock Deputy Sheriff Charles White, after a consultation with the others, determined to break down the barricade, not believing the Chinaman would Keep his dastardly promise. A Desperutr Deed. Accordingly the entire posse headed for the door. True to his word, the Chinaman fired the giant powder, and in an instant a terrific explosion occurred, killing five officers and blowing the Chinaman to atoms so small that but one piece has been found. White's body was fearfully mangled. It was found nearly 500 yards away. Koch was also badly disfigured, but lived long enough to be taken to the hospital in a patrol wagon, where he died. Mrs. Will was visiting a Mrs. Pride, who lived across the way. She was killed in the falling debris j>f the building. All the buildings took fire. Engines were soon fighting the flames, but to no avail. The works are completely wrecked. Four houses also are blown down and about 40 partially wrecked. The name of the Chinaman was Goong Chung. The manjieanurdered was Sam Si Sing. CoronerTVadeni and a corps of deputies are searching through the surrounding fields for the remains. In some instances thev had to be picked up with shovels. Fourteen of the cars were blown to splinters and several were burned. Windows were broken In Oakland, Alameda and as far as Berkley.