The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-11-10
CAUGHT IN THE FLAMES.
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AT KANSAS CITY.
MO.-BUILDINGS FALL AND TAKE FIRE
ONE HUNDRED GIRLS AND BOYS SHUT IN
THE RUINs-EIGHT PERSONS KILLED.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, November S.-About
I O'Clock yesterday evening one OF the
most terrible accidents, resulting in dis
astrous fire and loss Of life, occurred at the
corner OF Main and Second streets, In this
city. The premises were occupied by J. +.
Corle IL Son as q wholesale mandatory Of
crackers and candy, who employed about
two hundred bands. mostly girls and boys.
At the hour above mentioned, rs the en-
ployes were returning to their work from
dinner. the wall between Nos. 204 and 2OG
fell with q terrible crash, carrying with it
Nos. POP, 2O4, and 20G, and burving
in the wreck nearly one hu:drcd
persons. a panic ensued among all who
were in the establishment. A rush for the
doors was made. Suddenly the brick walls
between Nos. 202 and 2Q4 gave way. The
second floor was first TO fall, and it fell with
a crash, burying several persons in the
ruins. Then the third floor and the roof Of
the second and part Of the floor and roof OF
the third building fell upon the first floor.
The rear part OF the first floor next gave
way. Part of the front walls OF Nos. 202
and 204 fell back on the ruins. No. 200,
the old Watkins Bank building, on the cor
ner OF Second and Main streets, stood firm.
THE KILLED AND INJURED.
The killed, so far rs known at this hour,
are Annie Becker, John ShulticP, Emma
Kemper. Mary Cooper, Eddy Mcconnell,
Louise Hummell, and two unknown boys.
The wounded are: Nellie Curtin, terribly
cut in chest and head; George Sanders,
arm broke and chest crushed; Frank Shep-
pard, leg broken.
PANIc-sTRICKEN EMPLOYEES RUSHING OUT.
From within the huge, tumblng wreck
issued the terror-stricken occupants, who
mingled their screams and shrieks with the
crash OF falling timbers and masses OF
brick. Hardly had the house fallen before
the ruins took fire. hefurnaces were in full
blast at the time OF the accident, and the dry
building material was like finder. dense
black smoke, through which The lurid
flames shot up, canopied the scene. AT
eighteen minutes after l O'Clock general
alarm from the Second fire district was
sounded, and the entire force OF the Fire De-
partment was quickly on the ground. III
the mean time the scene within the building
and about it was terrible. In the second
story about thirty girls were cut Off from
the stairs by tmbers blocking 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 was battered
down and the girls were released.
CAUGHT IN THE TERRIBLE FURNACE.
The flames followed the fall OF the build
ing almost instantly, and in less than hve
minutes the whole was mass OF cracking
timberS and Kissing flames. The tremen
worked like Trojans, as within could be
heard the calls and prayers OF the lmpIl,
soned girls and boys. The flames were so
fierce, however, that nothing could be done
for nearly half an hour, and only one per-
son. q girl, was released alive. OF those
caught when the building tumbled at first
| it was thought that from ten 10 twenty per.
| sons were killed, but at a late hour all had
been accounted for except eight, and four
| OF these have already been taken out dead
and are now at the morgue, where is gath
cred an immense crowd OF persons-mo
theirs looking for daughters; fathers, sons
and sisters, brothers.
THE BUILDING 0vERwEIGHTED.
The cause of the accident can hardly b'
| arrived at, but it is supposed the grea
| amount OF stock on band caused the wall
to crumble. The building was three storie
in height, built of brick, and was erected il
1862. 1t was considered perfectly safe, ant
| had been in use by the Messrs. C0rle for tn
manufacture OF crackers two years.
LOSSES AND INSURANCE.
| The total loss is placed at about $40 600
$4,000 on the buildings, $4,000 on ma
chiuery, $21. 1000 on stock, $4,000 on furni
ture and fixtures-and is insured TO
| $40 900.