Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-09-01
ALMOST A FATAL ACCIDENT.
Fall Of a Three-StOry Building in Jack
son, Tennessee-MiraeulOus Es-
cape Of the Builders.
CAUSES Of the DisaSter-The Loss will
Foot up Fully SsO0O-A Lesson
for Our City.

The jackson Wing and Tribune give
the following particulars of a frightfu
accident which occurred in that city las
Monday: about nine o'clock in the
morning the new and splendid three
story building of John A. Greer, on the
corner of Main street and Central alley,
the walls of which had Just been finish
ed, fell with q sound and jar like an
earthquake, burying four negro men in
its ruins The frightful crash filled the
street with excited, pallid and stricken
people. The dust raised by the crumb-
ling walls formed, for several minutes,
a thick and impenetTable cloud. From
the ruins four negro men were speedily
dug up, but Others were thought to be
sin beneath the rubbish. Mr.. Gran
vile McCabe, one of the contractors,
and William Iancey, were reported
as among the victims. The excite
ment for the time was uncontrol-
able, and exaggerated rumors as
to the number buried by the
falling walls spread confusion and con-
sternatiOn throughout the city. Soon il
was asceTtained that McCabe and Yam
cey were not in the building at the time
Of the disaster, and that the four negro
men, already rescued, were the only vic
TINS. To the astonishment OF every
one, rs If by a miracle, these four men
were taken cut alive from the very jaws
Of death. One Of them, Jack Hogsett,
was on the very top Of the house, and
came down with the walls and timbeTs,
maintaining his position and escaping
with only few bruises and flesh cuts.
Another, Frank Besely, fell with the
third floor through to the cellar beneath,
and was absolutely buried beneath an
ocean Of brick and timber. Yet, with
little assistance, he made his way
through the mass OF rubbish
which imprisoned him, to the
street. His injuries, excepting a few
fiesh-bruises and cuts, are internal, and
hence serious. Rice Bend and Sam West
We're halfway down the gangway, next
TO the wall that gave way, at the time
of the accident, and were precipitated
into the cellar below, from which they
were rescued with difficulty. Rice
Bends right arm was broken, and in
addition to face bruises, is thought to
have received severe internal injuries.
Sam Vests left knee-cap was dislo-
Gated, his face badly cut, and his back
seriously injured. How many of the
four will die is a matter of doubt, but
that any were alive after the disaster is
the wonder of all. Various are the Opin-
ions expressed as to
THE CAUSE OF THIS FRIGHTFUL DIsAs-
TER.
Beaveridge and McCabe, experienced
and competent men, were the contract
ors. McCabe had charge of the work,
and says that the walls were equal to
any he ever built. After as thorough an
investigation as it was possible for us TO
make, we attribute the disaster to the
causes:
First-A nine-inch wall built against
r. II. Anderson & Co.'s hard
ware store, upon which the weight
of 8ll the timbers rested on the
west side; AndeTsOn's wall was not
plumb, had been undeTpinned, and the
new wall, in consequence, was wider in
the middle than at the bottom or top.
Second-The brick were laid without
being bathed in water. The nine-inch
wall was the first TO give way, bulging
out from the wall against which it was
built, and by the weight of the timbers
carried with ii involving the east
and the south walls in the COM
mon ruin. These walls literally crum-
bled from tuTret TO foundation, no
two bricks adhering together, evidencing
that lime enough was not used in the
mortar. However, this nine-inch wall
might have given way anyhow-for the
reason that the bricks when laid We're
dry and hot, absorbing the moisture in
the mortar before the cement was
formed. IN many cities, during the dry
months bricks are not permitted
10 be laid unless well bathed in water,
and all experienced masons will testify
that a first-class wall cannot be built in
the dry summer months in any other |
way. The east wall of II. II. Anderson |
& Co.'s building was damaged, but we
10 not think seriously OF at least dan |
The loss by the disaster is va
-iOusly estimated at from twelve hum |
ired to two thousand dollars.
MILLER & CHEEK, cotton factors, |
merchants, and dealers in |
'ancy groceries, at wholesale and retail, 1
No. 3S4 Main street. This firm is COM
posed Of gentlemen who are well known |
a commercial circles, and have con- |
iucted business for q long number Of
years. Mr.. r. G. Miller was of late
with the firm OF Williams & Co., and 4
llsO in business with Mr.. John Zent His |
experience has been Of that character 70
'ender him a first-class business man in |
very Iesrect. He is a young man Of
Energy and excellent business qualities,
which are duly appreciated in this COM
nunity, where he has been Taised
rom infancy. Mr.. r. d. Cheek,
he other member of the
irm, has for the past five years been as
Ociated with Menken Brothers. He is
.lso q young gentleman of exemplary
haracter and most excellent business
qualifications. As cotton factors they
re careful and practical, closely watch
ng the interests Of their patrons, who
re always satisfied with the attention
hese gentlemen give their bnsiuess.
Their stock of choice family groceries
annOt be eXcelled for purity and quail
ty. The public and planters will, upon
of Miller & Cheeks stock,
ind that they keep one of the best as
orted stocks Of groceries ever offered for
ale in this market. The enterprise OF this
rm is 70 be commended, and they are
their business every day.
'lsnters can rely upon the statements
( this firm and govern themselves &C.
Every bale of cotton is
'eighe &, inspected and sold under the
ersOnal supervision of one of the mem
eTs of the firm, and thereby the high
st market price is always secured for
he planter. These gentlemen are care
Il and perfectly trustworthy in their
ealings and transactions, adding hon.
sty 10 efficiency in the management OF
leir transactions, which from such a
,ct are being largely augmented. Their
Onest business course, cheap rates and
Xcellent goods, commend them to the
atronage of the public, and also invite
,ade and business from planters aud
he adjoining country. We trust
his firm will secure that prosperity
leir efforts merit.
No CITY ever had better or more ex- I
slient firm than Levett & Hill. whole I
lie and retail dealers in boots and shoes, :
%. 314 Main street, corner of Monroe. :
Ir. Levett is the pioneer shoe man Of |
and always selects his stock {
ith reference to the wants and tastes i
the people, who will always be salts
ed with the bargains given by this lib
al house, which is one of the largest !
nd most important in the city OF Men,
ais. The osher member Of the firm, {
II. Bill, is young man most favorably
nown to this community, in whose
.idst he has been raised, and with !
hose interests he is thoroughly identi-
ed. Merchants, wishing to purchase
,ots and shoes of the most durable
laracter, OF the most popular style, and
the lowest rates, should examine {
e complete and varied stock Of this
Itensive house.
The enterprising firm of Foster,