The New York herald., 1869-03-12
FALL OF A BUILDING IN PHILADELPHIA.
Woman, Two Children and Horse
killed-One Man Badly Injured.


From the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph
This morning, at hafp three O'Clock. an acci.
city In many years. The residents in the vicinity OF
Broad and Shppen streets, at the early hour above
mentioned were aroused from their sleep py heavy
crash, as Of falling timbers.
German named John Lutz. suspectlng that
some accident had occurred, sprang from his bed
and on looking through his bedroom window saw
that small two story brick and stone house In the
rear OF Shipper and Loi streets had fallen and lay
In ruins on the ground Dressing himself hastily he
instantly hurried TO the house OF the HARMONY Fire
Engine Company and aroused the members who
were sleeping there.
and on their arrival were greeted by the and
cries OF some one beneath the debris. These. 1t
subsequently ascertained came from Gabriel Kidd,
an Irish ab0rer. who, with his wife and two chill
dren the OCCUPANTS or the house, all buried
building. T6e men reinforced BY fresh arrivals ,for for
the spread fast at that early hour worked
energeticaly and with the determination TO save life
After half an hour OF lncessant labor the rst body
was reached; but the cries having ceased, 1t was
feared that life was extinct When, however, the
supposed corpse was removed 10 a house near by II
was found 10 be the husband and father. Gabriel
Kidd yet alive though nd dangerously y Injured; FUR
Thomas Kidd q lad nineteen years Of age.
He had evidently been sunocated. From
more persons occdped the house with
the two already rescued, aud after another
half hour the bodies OF tue wife OF Mr. Kidd and hts
daughter Margaret q girl OF sixteen years. were
dragged out In boirof the latter life also was ex.
tinct and, as In the case OF the son. b0th han ded
from sutfocation.
The byrtanders then informed the workmen that
In the adjacent stable, when was crushed by the
falling house, horse was kept. but after the re-
inoval OF the rubbish the animal was found lying
dead, with one OF his limbs broken.
The reporter Of the Telegraph visited Mr. Kidd AZ
the Pennsylvania Hospital and found HIM IN great
agony from his injuries and quite unable to give
any lucid explanation OF the disaster He states
that about three O'Clock, near a. he can Judge he
was awakened by O SOUND resembling the rumbiDg
OF u great number OF wheelborrows, and then felt
himself sinking downward. He became senseless,
but revived to ind himself ON his ped pinned
by heavy oists and only able To move his head.
he shouted for help as long as he was able,
and then again became senseess until removed
by the hrenen and nelghburs. He also states
that he knew the house TO be N an unsafe condition
aud had directed his wife 10 request the owner
widow lady named o. 'Hagan 10 nave ~ repaired but
notwithstanding her promises TO comply she had
failed TO do this
The house fronting on Lol street, south OF the
ruined building, Ia seriously damaged, and unless
torn down Il VIII soon fall.
Mr. Kidd is q man of nifty years OF age, his wife
OF the same age. and his son and daughter were
aged respectively nineteen and sixteen years. An
inquest will be held tomorrow.