The New York herald., 1879-11-08
A Terrible Accident at Kan
sas City, Mo.
BUILDINGS FALL AND TAKE FIRE.
One Hundred Girls and Boys
Shut in the Ruins.
EIGHT PERSONS KILLED.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALp.1


KANSAS CITY, No. Nov. T. 1879.
About one O'Clock this afternoon one of the most
terrible accidents resulting in disastrous fire and
loss OF life. occurred at the OF Main and Sec
ond streets. in this city. The premises were occu-
pied by ]. F. Corle & Son as wholesale manufac-
tory of crackers and candy. who employed about
two hundred hands, mostly girls and boys. At the
hour above mentioned. as the employees were return
ing to their work from dinner. the wall between
Nos 204 and 206' fell with terrible crash
carrying with it Nos. 20a. 2O4 and 206. and
burying in the wreck nearly one hundred
persons. A panic ensued among all who were in the
establishment rush for the doors was made
Suddenly the brick walls between Nos. 202 and 204
gave way. The second hoor first fall, and it
fell with crash. buryng several persons in the
ruins. Then the third floor and the roof OF the
ond and part Of the floor roof of the third build
ing fell upon the first foor The rear part Of the
first floor mex. gave Part OF the front walls of
Nos 202 and 2O4 fell back the ruins No. 200. the
old Watkins Bank building. on the OF Second
and Main streets. stood firm.
THE KILLED AND INJURED.
The killed. so far known at this hour, are:-
ANNIE BECKER.
JOHN SHULTICE.
EMMA KEMPER
MARY COOPER
EDDY MCCONNELL.
LOUISE HUMMELL.
TWO UNKNOWN BOYS.
The wounded are
NELLIE CURTIN terribly cut in chest ana head.
GEORGE SANDERS. arm broke and chest crushed.
FRANK SHEPPARD, leg broken.
PANIc-srRIcKEN EMPLOYEES RUSHING OUT.
From within the huge. tumbling wreck issued tho
terror-stricken occupants. who mingled their
screams and shrieks with the crash Of falling TIM
bers and masses of brick. Hardly had the house
fallen before the ruins took fire. The furnaces were
full blast at the of the accident and the dry
building material like finder. dense black
smoke. through which the lurid flames shot up,
canopied the scene At eighteen minutes after one
O'Clock a general alarm from the Second fire dis
trict was sounded, and the entire force Of the Fire
Department was quickly on the ground. In the
meantime the within the building and about
it was terrible. In the second story about thirty
girls cut off from the stairs by timbers block
ing the doorway. They ran to the windows. and
before any one could stop them several had jumped
to the ground. receiving terrible wounds. At last
the door to the stairway battered down and the
girls were released
CAUGHT THE TERRIBLE FURNACE
The flames followed the fall of the building almost
instantly, and in less than Ave minutes the whole
of cracking timbers and kissing flames
The fremen worked like Trojans. as within could
bo hesrsl the calls and prayers Of the imprisoned
girls and boys. The flames fierce however
that nothing could be done for nearly half an hour
and only person. girl. was re-
leased alive. OF those caught when the
building tumbled at first it thought that
from ten to twenty persons killed. but at a
late hour all had been accounted for except eight
and Of these have already been taken out dead
and are now at the Morsue. where is gathered an
immense crowd Of persons-mothers looking for
daughters; fathers, sons; and sisters. brothers.
THE BUILDING ovERwEIGHrED.
The cause Of the accident hardly be arrived
at. but 1t is supposed the great amount of
stock on hand caused the walls to crumble.
The building three stories in height. built of
brick. ana erected in 1862 1t considered
perfectly safe. and had been in by the Messrs
Corle for the manufacture of crackers two years.
INSURANCE.
The total loss is placed ut about $4,000 800 900
on the buildings. S23 900 machinery, S2l 900 on
stock. $4,000 on furniture and fxtures-and is In
sured for $50, 900 follows:-