The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-04-22
Thursday. April %. 1880.

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it was noticed that the floor of the art gal
lery was cracking, and Albert Mckay,
manager, of the fair, was summoned to the
place. He mounted the stairs leading to
the art gallery and noticed that the room
was 1lled with ladies and gentlemen. De-
tectiye Tilley who had been employed to
watch valuable pictures in the room. in-
formed him that the walls were cracking
10 some places aud that there was dan
ger OF the floor giving way. Mckay
sent a man to turn off the gas in that
part OF the building and called out to the
persons near him to leave the gallery
as quickly as possible. His manner of
speaking caused most persons in tho room
to step out on the board landing which
oVerlooks the main part of the garden.
Ihe dancing hall on the same floor was
still tull of people. Before they could be
warned of the approaching danger sue
cesslon of loud reports were heard and
the tlOnt wall suddenly fell out into the
street. large part of the roof, which
had been supported by the wall immediate.
~ fell In upon the heads of the frightened
dancers, burying many of them out OF
sight, Screams and groaus were heard
on every side and pantic followed. A
moment after the accident the floor of the
dancing room settled and there was a
general stampede out upon the landing
and down the STAIRCASE to the man part
or the garden. Those who were out of
danger when the roof fell, rushed forward
TO the front of the building and seriously
impeded the progress of those who were
trying to escape. Out sidethe building the
widest excitement prevailed. A large
police force soon cleared the street in
front OF the garden. Alarms Of fire were
sent out bringing several companies of
fremen to assist in the work of rescuing
the wounded. Calls were sent to Bell
evue and New York hospitals and a num-
ber of ambulances in charge of surgeons
we're promptly on hand. Almost the frst
person taken from the ruins was Mrs, VIM
A. Ogden HegemanD, wife OF prominent
lawyer, land lady well known in New York
society. Another woman, whose name
could not be learned, and two or three
men whose names could not be ascestain-
ed, were carried out dead. VIM, FL, Tiles
ton, East Thirty-eight street. was dragg"
ed from underneath part of the ROOT. having
both legs and an arm broken. His inju-
ries are supposed to be fatal. James
Smith, of Flushing, Long Island, was also
found suffering from several bruises. Two
or three men and several women who were |
taken away by their friends.
At midnight the fTemen were still at
work on the ruins, 1t was believed that |
all the wounded had been removed, but it |
is feared that some more lifeless bodies |
are still beneath the debris. The loss by |
the accident. apart from the loss of life, is |
very great The art gallery. which was
r, duced TO a mass of ruins, contained a
large number of paintings, many of
them OF great value. The loss on the |
building is estimated at from $25, 900 |
to $4,000 The building is owned by
VIM. anderbiit, and was insured
against fire,
The killed are Mrs Hegemau, FL. L.
Wilett, an unmarried lady. Marie. nurse
maid to Mrs. Hegeman. Injured. Coe,
bruised about the body; Leonard Dater,
right leg fractured E. l.. Danes, left hand
crushed and slight confusion; Fl. Hook,
arm broker; Albert Hilton. slight bruises;
5. J. Hyde. injured slightly, A, Montgom-
cry. slight injuries; Ann Scoville, slight
injuries: Silverman, light bodily injuries,
Miss Josie Streeter, severe internal iDju-
ries; j. W. Swan. slightly injured; Ernst
a. Thompson, slightly cut about the head;
Wm, Nj. Tileston, compound fracture of
both legs, fractured left arm and lacerated
wound OF the head; Walter Webber, seri~
,usly injured, had several scalp wounds,
eg broken and left foot crushed Four
aides we're taken from the dancing room,
Ill of whom were injured isht'y.