Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-06-22
Fall Of a Large Building on
Market Street.
Narrow Escape of a Family from
Terrible Death.
Heroic Conduct of Mr. A. A.
Capelle.

About 10 O'Clock last Saturday morning
the rear of the four story BRICK store and
dwelling at No. 212 Market street. fell To the
ground. The following are the facts of the
case:
A few months ago, Messrs. Capele "
Bro, Hardware Merchants, 214 Market
Street, purchased the extensive property
adjoining their store, and commenced the
erection of an immense structure 10 front on
King street, in the rear of the old building
fronting on Market street. On the 25th Of
last March, colored porter in the employ
OF the firm named Perry Trusly, was thrown
out OF the house in which he lived, and The
Capelle brothers generously allowed him to
move into the second story OF their building,
and occupy il rent free. Ills family conss-
ted of a wife and three children, the oldest
being SIX years old, and the youngest mere
infant
On the morning Of the casualty Trnsly
had been sent on an errand, and was absent
at the time il occurred.
| A market man near the store hearing the
iimbers oil The building makinga great crack
ing noise, called TO MIR. A. A. Capelle that
the building was falling, who, with remark.
able presence oil mind and leroism unpar.
alleled, thinking only of the helpless family
within, rushed through his store, out into the
street, aud into the front door oil the falling
house. Up stairs he ran, over the creakina
hoor, but the door OF therOom was locked
Quick as thought he made a dash for anoth
er door, through which he passed into The
room containing the woman and children
who were unconscious Ot the danger by which
, they were surrounded, Catching up one child
under his arm and sei2ing the Oldest by thu
hand, he called to the woman to follow him
> the building was falling. 1t was but the worl
of moment for her to pick up her infant, ly
ing on the bed, and rush after him. Directl,
in the doorway, right in his path, stood
chair. With both hands enenmbered he wa;
unable to remove it, so he jumped over it
l. dragging the child with him, and hurrie,
down the falling stairway out into TIN
\ street. The woman followed close behind. an,
being overcome with fright, she was taken in
. to the store and kindly cared for. At tina
Z moment the building fell with terrible crash
4 frightening persons in the neighhorhood. som
Of whom thought it was the effect of an earth
, quake. The market people outside, in from
= of the store, retreaied in great confusion, am
e it was some time ere they had any intelligibl
/, idea of what had taken place. In about hal
II an hour afterwards poor Trusty came rushn
frantieally into the store, having heard of tn
casualty, and was Overioyed to hear that hi
y wife and children had been saved by MI
a a Capelle from the certain death which apparent
y ly awaited them. Although only minute i
'i the doomed building, Mr.. Capelle could scarce
" believe he had been in there less. than fiv
Is minutes, and after the danger was past and h
e realized the risk he had run, reaction too
l. place, and he trembled at the thought of it.
n At the time the building began to give wa
L a number of workmen were engaged on tn
foundations, but hearing the timbers crackin
is they made good their escape There was
ID large lot OF agricultural implements stored Oh
q, the first floor, (nothing in the basement
Of which will probably prove total loss. A
l. the present writing it is impossible to make
Is correct estimate Of the loss entailed upo
r. Alessrs. Capele & Bro, but with characteristic
energy this live firm is husily engaged
clearing out the debris and repairing tn
u damage done. When completed, theirs wi
a he one of the largest stores on Market stree
Is and they are already preparing to stock
IL with the best assortment Of goods in the har,
10 ware line ever brought to this city.