Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-05
taT IN A DEATH-TRAP,
rArAL CRASH IN wAsnINgrsN.
The Wallis Or Half or NE Called States nsssi
yau Ia Esshs People Buried Usdes ssssy
Fr<< Of py3ck and Tksubers

The whole LACK portion OF the hvc-stOr'
building in Washington known as tn
United States Hotel fell 10 the ground a
T:s0 O'Clock sunday evening. forming
heap Of doris some thirty feet high. unde
which were an Unknown number OF per
sons. The Repuoiicon says: At first th,
inmates who we're In the main building, a
we'll a. those outside, sesmed psralyzed
the screams OF eoiorsd womsn directin,
the first s1oit. This was successful, Il
that, by removing two layers Of bricks anl
beam that had projected her from ssrioul
hsrm, Annie Dixon was rescued with bu
slight injuries. her wrist beng disloestet
Nd q few scalp wounds and scratches com
prising her damages. From her was OBJ
iaincd the first information OF who was In
the rear Of the building. The Kitchen
where she was ut the time The crkst
came, occupied the extreme norih
westerly corner OF the first floor Of thu
structure. and was separated from the
diuing.room. which took up the rest OF this
ing.room. Mrs. Delden, the wife OF Mr.
Wallace J. Belden, proprietor OF The hotel
b,d. shc said. lust left the kitchen for the
tlining-room when the building fell. There
were eight persons In the room with the
two other women. all OF whom were caught
in the falling bricks and tlmbers. For her.
self. she rushed for the window opening
on the alley 10 the north, but was overtaken
by the falling msterisl aud blown out Of
the window in the mighty blast caused by
the collapse % the building. The woman
was taken TO DR.. Smith TownsheDd's Office,
after receiving temporary cid from DIR.
hsA hnr M m
Providence Hospital. In the mean time 4
general fire alarm bad been sounded, and
all the fremcn and hook d-lad der-men.
save Companies 5 and 7, which were KEEP,
on reserve ut their houses, were promptly
on the spot and at work under Chief Gro
min.
Esrly in the work a child's voice was
heard coming from ths yard Of the adie
ing bonse, occupied 10y Mr.. Lucius w.
Shook Is a saloon, and into which large
portion OF the east wall had fallen. This
sIot was threatened by strip OF the wall
which WA still attashcd 10 the main build
ing, but leaned badly and seemed ready to
descend upon the heads OF any who might
attempt TO rescue Ibs imprisoned child.
Mr. Shook was the flr>t TO recognize the
voice ~ that Of bis eleven.yen-old son
Ernest, and as soon As this was known
volunteers were plenty. despite the i'm
miDeDce OF the danger, for the boy was u
general favorite. He could be heard
plainly enough to be understood rs to his
location, which was on the outside OF a gate
which separated the yard from an alley,
.nd consequently in the thick OF the
Chris. When the volunteers at this spot
were about played out a dust-begrlmmed
negro rushed forward and FASTENED the
work.
IL knorod was saved for q good pur-
pose,' SAID he as the child was brought
out. II was Sam CLARK, vino narrowly eS
capped the gsllows few years since for
killing Jack Cash. He and the boy had
become great friends.
Work on the main wreck was being
pushed vigorously by at least fifty men,
and after Two hours ceaselcsS toll the first
sign Of life was heard. A halt was called
aud the grimy laborers stood slont mo-
mont while attentive lsbOrers bent low TO
catch the faint sounds.
"Bo.s. q ores some OF them alive; let's
at it sgsin!"
And again the willing hands, many
bleeding from contact with the bricks, re-
newed their efforts with redoubled zeal.
Captain Vernon was in charge OF the police
arrangements for the FIRST three hours, and
his men succeeded In keeping the ground
clear Of all but workers, while volunteers
were plenty. Commissioners Edm0nds aud
West, Health Officer TownShend. Building
Inspector Entwisle, and Mr.. J. 7. Follous-
bee, part owner OF the building. were
carly on the ground, but did not in any
way interfere with the progress OF the
work. Judge Edmonds sent for stimu-
lants, which were served out 10 the work
frs rs occasion demanded.
Every now and then the demand for
silence would fall with dramatic effect
upon the busting workers. who seemed
for the moment transformed into statues.
Then the difficult task Of talking with the
imprisoned people was resumed, and dreo-
tions were received for their release, but
these could not be utilized TO much beneht.
II was cheering, however, for both work
ess and walters to hear that life still ex-
listed under the apparently dense heap OF
dust and bricks. The secret was soon die
covered. The floors Of the first and second
stories bad been preserved intact TO large
extent, the cellar ceiling being supported
BY heavy posts, and that OF the first floor
by corresponding but lighter ones, which,
however, bad partially given away, allow
After = large quantity OF rubbish had
been cleared from the top OF the floors
under which the sufferers were imprisoned
news was brought around from the front
that Mr.. Belden had heard his wife's voice
while exploring the portion OF the cellar
thxt had not been filed with falling bricks.
Chief Cronin called for six tremen, and,
with Captain Vernon and Republican re-
txI 10 hn al 40
floor where the lady's clothing could be
seen through the broken floor OF the dining
room.
Are vol hurti" called the Chief.
81 don't think / am, but oh, take me
out. Give me some water" came back the
voice Of Mrs. Belden. Water was passed
up 10 her and she could move herself sutl-
GENTLY TO drink it. Then saws were called
Tor and the flooring cut away SO that
she could be got at. About 1910 o'clock
Chief Cronin pried open riiter that was
living across the PROSTATE form OF Mrs
Belden, and the lady reached her hand
through the aperture, and SAID, "llere /
am" Chief Cronin told her TO keep
quiet and that she would soon be saved.
Mis-. BelGen was lying on her back pressed
against the side OF the wall. About Il foot
above her was door suspended in q slant
ing position. which probably saved her life.
Officer O'Ncil and Chief CronIn, assisted
ly the fremen, showed the door gently.
They then attempted 10 get her out, but 1t
Was found necessary to cut her clothing
from her body. A sIreteher was brought
into tie cellar, and after blanket was wrap
ped GROUND the lady she was placed on 1t.
when taken out she complained OF pain in
her lower limbs and chest, and was breath
ing wi(h difficulty. The left side OF her
face was bruised, and over her leit eye was
long cash extending for about two
inches. Dr.. TOwnshend made hurried
examination, and then Mrs. Belden was
placed in the police ambulance and taken
10 The National Hotsl, where sha was cared
for by DR.. Townshend aud other phyN-
clans. she retained consciousness all the
time, and seemed TO be In cheerful spirits.
She could not talk very audlbly, and her
physicians refused la allow her to converse
about the affair. Mrs. Belden is rather
stout, iinslooking lady, about thirty-hve
years old.
Tie first seen OF Ernest Shook from his
position under the pio was the blood on
his face. He called for water three times,
which wa. given him. The portion OF the
dfJriS covering the upper portion OF bis
body was torn away, and be was caught by
the shoulders and dragged out. The right
side az bis face was torn and his right eye
was closed One OF lis legs was fractured,
although he complained Of the pain In both.
Tho ,vei.bt ~ The dfLyis on his cheat is