The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-11-28
Ricllntond Dispatrh.
observation-disclosures IS, 1871.
Ef TIE CIRCULATION OF THE DIS
PATCH is LARGER THAN TIE CoMBINhL
CIRCULATION CT ALL THE OTHER DlILl
SEWsPArERs OF THE CITY.
The Titusyiile Disaster.

&kkG 1kbubVh1Se DtSASIcE.
FALL OF BLOCK OF BUILDINGs-cnILD
KILLED-rANIc IN THE OPERA HOUSE, ETC.
The Titusvile papers give additional
particulars Of the fall of q block OF build
ings In that city. The Herald says:
A little before midnight last night our
community was startled by the intelligence,
which ran rapidly through the CITY, that
the new Roberts block had fallen, crushing
the adjoining building, owned and occu-
pied by MIR. Whalen. injurins many Of the
sleeping inmates and burying In the ruins
q little son Of MIR. Whalen. This most
startling and unlocked for accident oc-
Cured at twenty minutes to II o'clock,
while dramatic performance pittsburgh
Opera House company was in progress in
the Psrshall Opera House. adjoining the
Roberts block. The sound of the falling
building. which sounded like distant thun-
der, and wnich produced vibration re-
semtling an earthquake, caused sudden
CONSERVATION among the audience, who
started to their feet and rushed over the
seats and benches towards the door. Mr..
Frank Mayo, who was upon the stage,
stepped forward and mot!oned the audi
cnCe to keep their seats, and assured them
that there WAS no danger.
The nature and full extent Of the disas-
ter were not at first realized. but 1t was
soon discovered that the east wall of Ro-
bcrt>'S block, abutting the Parshall House
block, had been undermined and fallen
with crash. About thirty feet Of the top
part Of the front wall had been thrown
Outwards TO the pavement. The western
wall was still standing, with the exception
OF about two feet from the top OF the
northwest corner, which fell through the
adjoining building, occupied by Mr.. Wha-
len aud family as residence and store.
The rear wall on the southeastern corner
fell inWardS from top to base for the dis
tancc OF about thirty feet; the top part
fell outwards through the roof Of wooden
tenement occu pied rs sleeping apartments
by the Parshall House domestics. The
whole Of the four floors Of the block re-
main standing, being supported by iron
columns and trostie work, also the Man-
sard roof, forming the fifth story.
Attention was first directed TO the cond1-
ton Of Mr.. Whalen's building, which was
crushed in through the centre, and which
was known TO be occupied by Mr.W Whalen's
family and others. Mr. Whalen'S building
is 4 three-story frame structure, the first
iiJor being occupied as shoe store and
shop. At the time of the crash Mr.Whllen
and his wife were in or about the store.
His daughter Sarah was in the city, but rot
Ut home ut the time. His little son Fred,
seven years old, WAS in bis crib asleep, on
the second floor, in the middle Of the build.
ing, on the east side. Mr. A. 7. Ballantine
and wife occupied apartments on the third
floor, front room, and bad retired for the
night. Mr.. B!lcS, Il lawyer, also had 4
lodg ng.room IN the building, but was for.
tunutely out at the time. The servant gil
had also retired TO her bedroom on the Ut
per floor, but escaped.
The escape OF many persons from the
ruins was quite proyidCntial, but the sad
de>t ,rasely of al! was the death of little
Freddie Thalen. Mr.. Whalen and his
wife quickly escaped from the building un-
hurt. Mr.. Ballantne narratcs his trying
experience rs follows When the first
crash came, the floor on which they were
licd through to the floor below, aud 4 bu-
rcau which was in the room was throHu
over Mrs, Ballantinc. Seeing light in the
room adjoining, OH the second floor, that
was setting fire to some woodwork, Mr..
BaIantine endc2vored to eXtinguish it.
While in this act one of the partitions from
above tell, separating him from his wife.
Thinking himself cut on, his feelings can
he better imagined than described. On
examination he found it was only lath and
plaster, and in very short time he sue
CCeuel Ill bIcahiIle ulo H1-J thIouSh' ohO
was almost frantic ut his absence. lie then
broke the window-sili, and called for as
sistance. & ladder was procured, raised
TO the cornice, and they were taken from
their perilous position to the Parshall
House.
Mrs. Ballantine was not seriously injured,
although badly bruised, and evinced great
deal of nerve and GOODNESS under the cir
cumstanceS. Mr.. Ballantine was severely
cut about the head and face by falling
bricks, aud his desperate effort in breaking
through the partition, and lelt thankful for
their miraculous escape.
The first person who entered the rear Sec
ton of Mr.. Whalen's store found Mrs.
Whalen on the second floor frantically ap-
pealng for assistance to rescue her boy.
The agoniZed mother appealed plteously TO
all who came to save her child, who was
buried in the ruins. ItWas with some diff.
culty that she was removed, and every po.-
sible eioIt was made by a large crowd Of
men 10 remove the debris in search of the
unfortunate little one who had been buried
in the ruins. 1t was task Of no ordinary
importance. ~
The entire middle section Of Mr.. Wha-
lens building had been demolished and car
ried down TO the lower floor by the fallen
wal! of the Roberts block, and an Immense
heap Of pulveriZed brick and mortar, 1n-
terspersed with broken timber and floor
ing, covered the ground floor to the depth
of five or six feet. But stout arms ana
willing hearts We're engaged in the task.
after nearly two hours energetic Work the
Gteless body of the child, lad Of seven
wears, was exhumed from the rubbish.