The Leavenworth weekly times., 1875-03-11
TERRIBLE CALAMITY.
A Building Falls at Denver and
Kills two Working Men,

Kills two Working Hen,
Besides Injuring Many Others.
From the Rocky Mountain Ne,cs Of Sunday
We learn the following particulars Of 8
trightful calamity that occurred in Denver
On Saturday afternoon, while workmer
were engaged on the building Improvement
in progress at Nos. 201 and 203 Fifteenth
street, the division wall between the two
buildings bulged out in the center and fell
over in the cellar Of McCune's new struc.
ture. Scarcely had it struck before the sec
ond floor and inside wall Of William Holli-
days grocery store came tumbling after it.
The central or division wall, which was
being carried up an additional story, had
reached height of about twenty feet, and
was only eight inches in thickness The
brick from the falling walls, with masses Of
plaster and the heavy timbers Of the floor,
came down with a crash like bolt of thun-
der, and with suddenness that was ap-
palling.
There were five bricklayers, five hod-
carriers, and four carpenters at work on top
of the walls when the crash occurred. Sew
eral men. among them Alvin McCune,
were at work in the open cellar, while a
number OF workmen were excavating under
the sidewalk in front of the store. VIM.
Holiday, VIM, Cowell, Albert Draper and
Rufus Wills, were inside the store, and a
number Of customers had Just left the door.
Chas. Pridmore, clerk for Holiday, who
was in the cellar excavation, saw the wall
giving way, and alarmed the Others near
him. The men tried to escape to the side
walk, but all were caught, either BY bricks
or timbers, and all were more or less in
jured. The men on top fell and jumped in
all directions, and that single one Of them
escaped instant death is q matter of wor-
der. Among the top men were Dave Hay
wood, John Egan, Mike OHara and Pat
Lucid, who, when the walls began to fly
from under their feet, jumped for their
lives.
In a moment after the accident the fire
alarm was given, and scene of excitement
seldom equalled anywhere occurred, lasting
for over an hour, a period which seemed
like an age to the anxious spectators, and
especially to those who had friends i'm the
building, many of the latter, though unin-
jured, haying slipped out of sight, which led
the crowd to believe that they were buried
in the ruins The fremen and police, aided
by scores of hardy men, began moving the
debris. Thousands of people crowded each
other in the street, and a perfect tumult
prevailed. Women, hearing that their
husbands were buried in the ruins, pushed
into the swaying throng, and with tears in
their eyes, begged for some assurance that
their loved ones had escaped.
The first one taken out of the debris was
Alvin McCune. He, as already stated, was
in the cellar, and when found was lying
and apparently dead, with loose
boards, plaster, and other rubbish covering
him, and brick all around him. He was
to his home, at 1O9 Broadway.
Then Michael Foley, hod-carrier, was
borne out. The blood was streaming from
his left leg, and from gashes about the head,
and as he was carried through the crowd
everybody seemed to think that he was IA
tally wounded. He was first taken to Pot
ter's hotel, and afterwards to his home.
The next, and last victim found was AL
bert Draper, book k-keeper for William Hol-
liday. When the crash came he was stand
ing behind the counter, and there his man.
gled body was recovered. The body was
squeezed in against the base of the counter,
the neck was broken, the spine was broken,
both legs were twisted into a shapeless
mass, and the head was terribly crushed.
The remains were placed in an express
wagon and conveyed to the undertaking es-
of Rogers Il Brown.
Foley died of his injuries the next morn
ing about one o'clock.
Albert Draper-Skull crushed; neck
broken left shoulder crushed left side Sc.
verely injured-Dead. His body has been
by Messrs. Rogers 4 Brown, and
in obedience to a telegram from his rela-
tions, in Flint, Mich, will be forward this
Michael Foley-Compound comminuted
fracture OF the right leg, midway between
ankle and knee joints; bruised about the
head, and on the hands. Doing finely.
Doctors expect to save the leg.
Alvin ADMINISTRATORS Of the left
cheek bone, and badly bruised about left
eye: conclusion. Is doing we'll. The doc
tors say that he may be expected out in a
week.
John Gibson-Three scalp wounds; left
shoulder and right hand bruised slight
conclusion. Is doing well.
c. H. Harding-Right arm badly bruis-
ed two knuckles of right hand knocked
down." two cuts over right eye. Is about
d. A. Haywood-Rib fractured on left
side; bruised about head, feet and hands !;
face badly bruised on right side. Is doing
we'll.
C. H. Fristoe-Right ankle badly sprain-
ed bruised on nose and about body. Doing
nicely.
Charles Pridmore - scalp wound. Is
about.
Rufus Wils-Three scalp wounds; con-
cussion. Is improving.
John Eagan-Elbows bruised injury in
groin. Is about.
Patrick Lucid-Slight sprain of hip. Is
about.
Mike OHara-Badly injured extent not
known.
John Adams-Bruised about the face.
Is around.
VIM. Holliday-Bruised about the back.
Is around.