Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-16
OHIO.
THE SITUATION AT CINCINNATI-ANoTHE ER
DREADFUL DISASTER.

THE SITUATION AT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Err
DREADFUL DISASTER.
CINCINNATI, February 15.-At l o'clock
this morning people in the vicinity of No. so
Wilstach street, on the border of the inun-
dated district, in the western part OF the
city, were startled by a loud explosion,
which broke the glass in the windows of the
three-story brick building occupied by four
families, numbering seventeen. 1t was found
that the explosion was from fire damp or
sewer gas in the cellar, aud all the peo
pie were buried in the debris. A scene of
terror followed. II was supposed that the
explosion was caused by the pressure of
water iu the sewer, and the people thought
that other explosions would follow. MANY
left their houses in the utmost alarm, and
fed thialy clad to places of safety. The
fire alarm turned out, which added 10 the
CONSERVATION, and the Fire Department re-
sponded promptly. Finding no fire, they
began rescuing the unfortunate victims.
This was slow work. The house was owned
by Jacob Brown, who, with bis wife. two
sons and Two daughters, occupied the first
floor. Officer Macke, special policeman at
Fourth and Vine streets, and known as
"Kipg William" occupied the front room,
second floor, with his wife. The back
part of the same story was occupied
by William Miller, his wife and two chill
dren. The third floor was occupied by VIM.
Hannen, his wife and two twin daughters,
two years old. By 5 o'clock m. all the oc-
cupants had been taken out, Officer Macke
and wife and the two-year old daughter of
Mr.. Miller wefe dead. John and Henry Brown
and Robert Rockaman, a neighber who was
in the house at the time, were 30 badly in
jured that they can hardly recover. John
Brown and wife were rescued after many
hours labor, severely but not fatally hurt
His daughters were taken out comparatively
unhurt. Mr.. Miller was badly injured. All
the rest of his family, except the child
mentioned above, escaped with small injury.
Hannen and family also escaped with slight
injuries. The Brown boys and Rockam an
were building a raft. They wanted lumber
which was in the cellar and went for it with
a candle, when the gas, or damp, exploded.
The adjoining house was injured by the e1-
Rlosion.
THE OUTLOOK sLIG HTLY IMPROVED.
The weather is very warm and cloudy,
with occasional sunshine. The river is fuc-
tuaiing, apparently declining, but very
slightly. 1t stands about sixty-six feet three
inches. The food in the Licking and other
streams is expected, if not TO swell the
streams here, TO check the fall. There is no
important change in the railroad situation
this morning, except the transfer of the
Cincinnati, Washington and Baltimore from
the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton to its
own track, and making the stockyards a
station. This is three miles from the depot,
and can be reached by omnibus, which must
The damage to the Cincinnati. Hamilton and
Dayton road lies in the city limits, and was
caused BY the sudden rise 10 Mill creek
and branches by yesterdays rains. The
track was washed out, and the bridge at
Cumminsville is in danger. Trains on The
Panhandle changed their route this morn
ing, starting from the stockyards station,
and going thence by the Cincinnati, Wash
ington and Baltimore road to Loveland,
where their own track is reached. A large
quantity of Eastern mail was sent out to-
day. Considerable Western mail was
also sent from the stockyards sta
tion TO Columbus, and thence West.
No mail has been sent on the river
route between Cincinnati and Portsmouth
since Saturday last. The Cincinnati, Hamil-
ton and Dayton arranged to send trains from