The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-05-17
Another Buadfng Accident.

CHICAGO, May liza Tribune special
from Rockford, ILL.,, says:
A pail has fallen over what this morning
was q happy community. The W~innebago
County Court House, which this morning,
when our citizens commenced their days
labor, was the pride of their hearts, is now a
desolate ruin, a monument of criminal in.
competency. Some families which babe
adieu to their loved ones this morning re-
ceived their corpses tonight, disigured by
the ruins from which they were drawn
piecemeal.
The building was not yet under roof, and
the massive stone cornice which preceded
the roof was to-day being put on. Just as
the keystone was being placed in the dome
Of the main pavilion, the brick-work be-
tween the iron and stone gave way, and the
entire dome and the interior walls of the
structure came crumbling down with q ter
rible crash that was heard nearly a mile
away.
Men lay terribly mutilated beneath those
rocks, shrieking for assistance that was only
rendered at the risk of the bystanders' lives.
One unfortunate man, named William Gloss,
was extricated, but one of his legs was left
beneath q ponderous stone. He soon ex-
PRED in great agony as he lay upon the
green sward in front of the Courthouse. A
negro jumped from a window sixty feet
from the ground, and, though badly injured,
will probably recover.
Within ten minutes after the disaster no
less than four bodies were recovered by the
almost s%uperhuman efforts of the immense
crowd that quickly gathered. The city sur
geons were promptly on hand, rendering
great aid to the wounded, who were carried
on stretchers to the nearest hotels. A
Swede, named Andrew Bildahl, had his head
oplit IMAM hnt the unnnd Uaa nlaap6 and
the victim taken home may live. The an
guish of the living was heartrending.
Workmen's wives and mothers were soon
on the spot. The air was filled with sobs,
wailings and meanings, and the onlooker was
sickened by the sights on every hand.
At $50 p. m.-The excavators have just
taken out the dead body of Warren, the
negro before mentioned. 1t is terribly mu.
tilated. The old Courthouse is turned into
a morgue, and sad scenes are constantly oc
curing there. Relatives and friends stand
weeping over the bodies of their dear ones
and children look mournfully at what they
formerly knew as their fathers.
A Coroner's jury of respected citizens ha.
been called, and this afternoon identified
the dead bodies. They meet tomorrow a
9 a. H., and will make a thorough investiga
ton. Clergymen have arranged for q unior
meeting on Sunday evening to hold mem
orial services. Subscriptions for the relic
of the families of the wounded and dead
will be started. 1t is believed that a
least ten or twelve lives nave been lost, anC
that about fourteen persons are more or les
injured. The loss to the building viii
be from $4,000 to S65, 900. The entire from
must come down to the friezs, and the plan
will probably be changed. Superintendent
Latham lays the blame on Architect Gay
whose instructions were followed implicitly
Mr.. Richardson will not talk about the mat
ter. The papers tonight place the blame OIL
different shoulders. Digging for the missin.
is still goiug on.
ROCKFORD, ILL, May IA a. nth
list of killed is as follows: Fred Haugh, a
Haugh, ]. Pike, A. H. Holienbeck, J.. Wa
rem, Geo. Glass, Timothy Flanagan, Mr.. Sin
holm, J. Lawson and ]. Peck. C. Harri
will not live through the night.
The town is grestiy excited, and a tho
ougn examination will be demanded. Tn
work of excavating is rapidly progressing
aud other bodies may be recovered.
MAY 13.-There were 40 new deve'o,
ments in the Rockford ca'amity to.da,
Two bodies still remsin in the ruins, an
relays of workmen were busily engaged a
night in removing the debris. The excit
ment is intense, AID the affair will undeTg
the most searching investigation.