The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-05-01
Terrible Accident in Chicago.
From the Chicago Tribune, %.

IOul tue CAlCitgO 1fIDuue, "a.
Another terrible accident has occurred
following closely on the heels of the burn
ing OF the Sea Bird and the panic in ST.
Mary's church, and carrying desolation and
unutterable grief to many humbe home
Death, Ia ore of its most terrible forms,
suddenly came upon large assemblage and
bore away his numerous victims.
The scene Of the occurrer ae was in the
two story frame building No. 543 Archer
avenue. This building, which is known as
Heaveys hall, is rented by Heavey d Fox,
who occupy the lower floor as a saloon and
billiard hall. There are four tables in it,
and 1t is one Of the finest in that portion O.!
the city
Up stairs is hall thirty feet wide by
scventy-two deep, which has been used tor
some time for political and other meetings.
1t Is entered In the rear from the side
street, which here intersects Archer avenue
Last night this hall was filed tc its great.
est capacity with eager and enthusiastic
lrishmeh A grand meeting Of the Fenian
| organization was taking place. General
y Neil, the president OF the brotherhood,
and Alr. Gibbons, the second in command,
were both present. The latter had Just
concluded a strong aud exciting appeal to
his countrymen to arise and strike for the
redemption of their native land. The APP
plause, which was frequent while he spoke,
redoubled at the close 1t was a paroxysnl
OF cheers, of clappings and stampings
| In the very heigh. of this frantic and tu-
! muitu0us applause, which continued de-
spite The warnings given a moment before
| by the proprietor Of the place, the floor of
the hall gave way, and nearly all of the
shouting, applauding multitude were swept
down Oh to the floor below.
The flooring of the hall was supported
only by couple of beams nine inches by
twelve, which were resting upon jo;sts
fourteen feet long. Flimsy and unsubstan
tial as paper, it Is wonderful that the frail
structure had not gone down long ago.
These unfortunates being thus precipi>
tated together with broken beams and
boards upon the billiard room below, the
flooring to that in turn gave way, and all
were hurled dista.-se of six feet more into
the cellar. Fortunately bst very few per
sons were in the billiard room, nearly ali
having gone up stairs to hear the speeches.
There was, however, large stove in the
room, and II was feared by the Mortified
oystanoers that 1t would set fire to the de.
prls.. lhe alarm box was broken open and
tne alarm struck, but the flames were hap
PLY ex,lnguished without injury being done
TO any person..
When the floor thus caved in, numbers
who were-n the windows saved them
selves by jumping out or by clinging to
them; and few, also, who wore in the ex.
treme southern end Of the room esca ped
uninjurcd. The rush was terrible, ard the
1consternation was equal to that which pre-
vailed at 81. .Mary's church on Good Fri.
day night. The fears of the fire, the erie.
of those who lay in the wreck of the build
ing, and the shouts of those who had been
so fortunate as to escape, made the scene
one not to be easily forgotten.
| Almost Immediately steps we're taken for
the rescue of the wounded, and they were,
as soon as extrlcated, taken to their cwn
homes, or where. that wa not possible, &c
houses in the vicinity Many, however,
had not been taken out by o'clock. ~
The report of the accident few ike wild
flre over Bridgeport, and in few minutes
hundreds of people had gathered about the
ruins. Many of these were aware that
friends aud relatives las acsoae ths xai1sd