The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-26
DECLINE IN REAL ESTATE.
The Fall OF Forty Acres OF Land in wili:es-
barre, Pa.

barre, Pa.
Wilkesbarre (Pa.) Special.
A few minutes before o'clock Wednesday
morning the residents of the Second ward,
one of the outlying corners of the city, we're
startled from their sound slumbers by roar
resembling the laundering shock of an earth
quake. Naturally, great alarm prevailed,
and in a few moments the streets were
crowded with men, women and children i'll
various stages of fright, all in scanty gar
ments, many facing the zero breezes of the
early hour in their night clothes only. The
first shock was followed few minutes after
by another as loud and and as alarming. As
the people ran out of their homes, the
ceilings of numbers OF which were
tumbling about their heads, and
the earth fairly rocking beneath
their feet the widest CONSERVATION
prevailed. Mothers caught up their babies,
and with wild cries rushed out into the cold,
dark morning, without stopping to throw a
mantle or other protection about their forms.
Children joined with their frightened
screams, and for time a perfect pandemo-
MUM prevailed.
The stout-hearted miners had their hands
full IN their attempts to quiet the apprehen-
siOns of the women and children. In the
meantime lanterns and miners lamps were
brought into requisition, and little squads
fitted here and there in an effort to ascertain
what the exact trouble was. As the early
explorers passed along the main street thew
discovered numerous zigZag gaps from two
tc five inches in width, running diagonally
across the thoroughfare and under the houses
that line the street. In the vicinity of sew
eral large stores these seams were threaten
ing IN character, and naturally tended to
greatly increase the alarm that was felt. The
lantern-bearers were followed by excited
crowds, many OF whom were women, who,
upon the discovery of each new seam
gave supplementary evidences of their fright
by the widest action. Naturally the utmost
anxiety was manifested for daylight and its
disclosures, and when the first streaks of
dawn came streaming over the hills every
body in the work forgot breakfast, and matu-
final. labors of the day were entirely sus-
pended, The streets were crowded and the
air full of the most conflicting reports. Lit
tie by little the exact condition OF things
was revealed, and nothing like it was ever
seen in the coal fields before. 1t was discov-
cred that the foundations of hundreds OF
dwellings were torn apart by the seams.
Balconies were removed from their bear
ings, ceilings destroyed. chimueys ca
reened, sidewalks thrown over as if by
an explosion, and numerous small bridges
were wrecked large brick public
school-house was fairly hedged about with
wide gaps, and may tumble ut any moment.
Several big brick stores are similarly situated.
The territory embraced by the cavern is fully
forty acres in extent. and is mostly covered
with dwellings. The transverse assures are
not more than a rod apart, and are crossed
by Others running at right angles the sur
face being fairly broken UP into little
squares. Three hundred feet below are
located worked-out colleries belonging to
the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company.
The coal removed was from what is known
as the Baltimore vein, which is fifteen feet
thick. A few years ago it is said that the
company ordered the pillars to be
what is technically termed robbed"
This is to remove the natural col
umns of coal left standing for the
support of the roof, and put timber
props in their places. The theory of to-day's
disaster is that these props have rotted, and
are now beginning to give way. There is no
telling what further trouble may follow. Elk
perienced miners apprehend the dropping
down several feet of the entire surface, in
which event great destruction of life and
property must inevitably follow. The great
est excitement prevails all over the the city
in consequence of the terrible situation in
the Second ward. Residents living about
the threatened district have been flying from
their homes since morning. Most of the
houses are owned by thrifty miners and rep
resent their sole earnings for years. Their
DISTRESS is GREAT