The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-20

This morning about quarter-past six o'clock,
an accident occurred at the Blockley Aimshouse,
in the Twenty fourth Ward, in which the lives Of
eighteen persons are known to have been lost, aud
many more fatally injured and stlll missing.
The accident occurred in the female department
OF the Insane Asylum, and was attended with the
most shocking and heart-rendiug scenes.
Description of the BuIIdIng.
the department where the accident occurred
was divided into three stories. The first floor
YVES occupied by the epileptic insane; the second,
by the ordinary insane; and the third, by the
sick. The frst floor was also used as a dining
and sitting room, and the second as sitting
room.
The building was constructed in the most sub
stanIial manner, being built of brick and stone,
with n rough outside. The rafters were heavy
and thick, and the construction OF the depart
ment was such that an accident was never
dreamed of.
The Accident.
Just as the bell for breakfast rang this morn
ing, the catastrophe occurred. The poor insane
were all up, and some of them had loitercd into
the sitting room, and some were already in the
dining room.
The departments, at ordinary times, are occu-
pied as follows - On the first tlsor, 50; second
floor, n third floor, %. Fortunately, at the
time of the occurrence, there were about fifty
persons on the second and third floors, thus
rendering the casualties much greater than they
otherwise would have been.
At the time stated three loud and terrific crashes
were heard, caused by the falling of the three
floors at intervals. Immediately the whole place
was a mass of ruins, all having disappeared save
the hanging rafters and u portion of the roof.
The department was completely gutted out. The
unfortunate victims were hurled from the second
and third floors down to the basement, along
with those on the first, all of whom were buried
alive beneath the ruins.
The shTieks of the insane were most appalling !,
and the whole place was thrown into the utmost
confusion. Some of the number managed to
work their way out, when they were at once
taken charge of, and hurried TO places of Sc
Curity.
The crash attracted the attention of the various
officials in the premises, and they, together with
number of the inmates of other Departments,
rushed TO the spot and commenced clearing
away the ruins and eXtricatpg the dead and
wounded.
The appearance of the place was most dan
gerous, anditwas with great risk that the victims
could be rescued. The ratters and huge pieces OF
stone continued to fall. Some portion of the roof
and ceiling was in tottering condition, and had
to be torn away, in order 10 allow the work TO
proceed.
All the surgeons in the House were summoned
to attend TO the wounded. DIR. Butler and his
assistant, Or. McElroy, of the Insane Department,
were most unremtting in their attentions t0ithOse
who needed their aid. The most able of the
paupers at the place were called, together with a
number of outside workmen, aud all set TO work
removing the ruius and carrying of the dead and
wounded.
The dead bodies Of sixteen were taken from
the ruins, and two more, badly injured, died as
soon as they were admitted into the surgical
ward. II was impossible TO obtain all the names
of those who were killed, as some Of those who
were taken from the ruins were so mutt
lated as to be past recognition; besides, their
names are only known according TO the descrp-
ton given them in the doctors record.
Those who escaped unhurt and who received
slight injuries, were conveyed TO apartments, and
all placed together and until the roll is called
and a record made of each inmate, the names Of
all the missing cannot be ascertained. The names
OF those known 10 be killed are as follows -
Susan Owens,
Chri,tiana Allison, an epilcptic case.
Nancy Mack.
Sophia Ellinger.
Ann Galbraith.
Hannah Dilen.
Ellen Mitchell.
Andrew j. Noble, an insane lad, aged six years.
Ellen Murray, supposed 70 be dead.
The Others will not be recognized until this
afternoon or evening
At noon the workmen were still busily en-
Gagged in clearing away the ruins, as two or three
others are yet supposed to be buried beneath.
the wounded.
Nineteen were wounded, aud five or six so
badly, that their recovery is considered doubtful.
Among the number was Catharine Bean, whose
injuries will probably prove fatal
Cathariue Cumskcy i, also badly injured.
Mrs Mary Rice, Ose Of the nurses, was also
injured, having been struck on the arm By
piece of falling timber She was on the third
lloor at the time, and was hurled clear to tue
basement
Robert Wilson had mis- skull fractured. lie
was one Of the inmates, aud was helping TO
rescue the bodies when he was struck on the
head with a !arse piece Of stone.
The Cause Of the Accident.
The precise cause OF the accident is not posi-
lively known, although il is supposed to have
occurred in the following manner The ir,t
floor was supported by an archWdy and pier.
The ceilings Of the second and third floors were
also supported by piers.
The impression Is that the first pier, or the one
supporting the first door, together with the arch
way, gave way. The weight Of the second and
third floors resting on the first, with no support
under the latter, of course caused the others TO
fall This idea seems to DO confirmed from the
tact three distinct crashes, at successive intervals
We're heard. The three rooms were about thirty
four feet square, with n respective height Of
twelve or fourteen teot making the stories very
high.
iThe break was Immediately in the centre Of
each room the rafters cracking in two, the broken
ends falling dOwuwards while the other end re-
NAMED against the wall. In consequence Of the
raters not falling entire, the lives Of many Of the
inmates we're thus saved.
At the time OF the crash a large number of in
sane children were sitting along the wall on the
first floor, and rs the falling debris all accumu-
lated in the centre, owing to the funnel-like
shape into which the rafters had fallen, they thus
escaped uulniurcd.
it is also thought that the pier which gave way
first had been partly cut through by the old
heating apparatus underneath. Rats were also
abundant in the cellar, and may have contributed
10 the mischief.
The Ruins.
The whole Of this wing Of the Insane Depart
ment Is a mass of ruins, aud will have to be re-
built. The loose stones, brick, mortar, aud
broken rafters, completely fill the cellar and eX-
tend above the first floor.
Those who were on the first floor at the time ol
the occurrence were exposed to the greatest dan
ger, as the floor upon which they were located
not only gave way, but they were imperiled by
the falling ruins Of the second and third stories
The wreck Is most complete, and the whole
1enarfuQnt tooLa "A II an iInmange weight lnr