The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-05-21
AMIDNIeHT H0RROR.
Fall ct Wall in Buffalo, Family
Buried in the Ruins-Mirac1lous Es-
cane From naafh -

= - W oAk III AsuAoAo "A s0uy
Buried in the Ruins-Mirac1lous Es-
cape From Death.
Prom the Buffalo Courier.
Persons living near the corner of Swan
and Elllcott streets were startled from their
sCmters about IL o'ciock Saturday night
by terrible crash which spoke of ruin and
possible death. Those who took the trouble
to ascertain what disaster had bafaIlen their
nelghbOrs, and others who were attracted
thither by the fire alarm, found that the
rear wall of the wing of the large four and
halt story brick building on southwest
corner of Swan and Elicott streets, had
tumbled down, and, falling on the two
story building further south, on EIlicott
street, occupied by Mr.. D. d. Colley and
family, had completely demolished IL at
structure. The crash was heard by Mr..
jacob Dunnerburger, diver on the steamer
YdU, while he stood in the back door of
the steamer s house on South Division St,
and satisfied that there was a serious acct
dent somewhere in the vicinity, he started
for the place whence the noise came, ac-
companied by Mr.. Thomas Carroll, of Crti>
zeu, Hook and ladder Go. Nc. 2. r, ach.
ing the RUNS first, Jacob discovered that
Mr.. Colleys hou lad teeu crushed, and
| IN an instant was convinced that the family
were under the wreck. requesting Mr..
Carroll to return 10 the hose louise and
bring all the force in it to its rescue, and
also to sound the alarm Of fire, be worked
himself to the rear of MIR Colley's hou,e
and called his hume. e4f
| FROM UNDER THE RUINS.
came tie response Jake, save me-save
my ch,id J lu less time than it takes 10
write THIS, The bunkers of Truck 2, with
amps, axes, etc., were on the ground aud
ready to assist Mr. Dunnerburger, who had
found out approximately the spot where
the dying persons lay buried The mem
beers OF the truck company who re- inf, ced
Jacob at his time were Robert Reed. Thos.
Carroll, Peter Hoffman, Felix Swar,z, and
Joseph Brown. From beneath the i'm
mense pile OF ragged beams. broken floor
ing, brick and plaster which bad been piled
| there III angry confusion, these men set to
work to extrlcate their fellow beings fiom
threatened death.
The screams of the little girl. Jennie.
aged SIX years, and the Voice of Mrs. Col
ley, could be heard distinctly. After near
ly an hour OF intense suspense, the little
girl was taken out by Robert Reed and
Charles Harris, Clerk tor MI Peter Han
our. Soon after Mr.. Dunnerterger, who
did such splendid execution in this trying
scene, got out MIS- Co,ley, and IN a lew
moments MI. Colley was removed. The
The intelligence of The rescue went like
wild fire through the assembled crowd,
and hearts throbbed lighter, and muttered
| prayers of thanktulness went up TO
heaven.
AN HOUR OF AGONY
At the time of the accident Mr.. Coey,
wife and child. We're asleep In their bed
chamber, which was located on the south
side of the house, on the seccud floor =
They were awakened by the crash of the
falling wall /; MIR, e. thought the house
was struck by tightening in an instant
they felt the floor give way: they dropped
to the ground floor, or very near it. and
then everything became dark and terrible
They did not compr' bend their situation :;
their lmaglnatiOns did not picture TO them
the nature of the di,aster They knew
that they were alive, but without the re
hottest hope OF ever being rescued from
the living tomb in which they SO suddenly
found themselves. Mrs. CoIiey could not
move; her head, body and limbs were
firmly secured TO the spot; her lower limbs
were tightly encased In the debris as to stop
she circulation OF the blood they became
as cold as ice and she felt as if death WIS
slowly but surely stealing over her. The
| horror which took pc session of her NAV be
ina ined, but would defy portrayal. She
| knew her husband and child were alive.
because she could bear their voices. She
( saw freman's lamp glmmer through the
wreck, and he thought flashed across her
| mind that the house was on fire, but while
strong and willing hands were working for
her salvation, an age of suspense and az
ony rolled by. and until she was finally
brought out Of her imprisonment, she hal
no thought of beng saved. Mr. CoIey
felt equally hopeless of escape. although
in communication. with the tiremen /; but
his condition was less painful than that of
his wife. His lower limbs he could not
move, but he could raise the body to half
sitting posture. The little gi simply APP
preciated the presence of danger, but did
not comprehend its extent. and could only
scream now and then 1t was an hour
fraught with terrific imaginings to the man
and women and will never be forgotten.
ANOTHER NARROW ESCAPE.
Mr.. K. 0 Benton and wife had very
| narrow escape. They had taken possess
ION OF rooms the same day, in the second
story OF the house on the corner Of Elicott
and Swan streets, and near to the wall
which gave way. They had retired for the
night, but Mrs. Benton was awakened by
| what she at first thought severe hail
storm. She a~oke her husband. and the
noise soon sounded to both like he crack
ling Of u'ning h MOCK She arose, wen
10 the Window, and saw the wall crack ing
asunder. She and her husband dee med i,
prudent TO leave the roo,n, and they had
not been absent trou it three minutes when
the wall Tell out, carrying with il, IN some
way, the mattress upon which they had been
lying. There were only two or three other
Occupants in the house, and these were
! more alarmed than hurt.