Morning journal and courier., 1884-02-16
THE WESTERN FLOODS.


A Shocking Disastsr-TwO Boarding
Houses Go Down with the Flood
Thirteen Lives Lost-PertlOus Expert
ences OF the Survtvors-Latest Aspects
OF she Situation.
CINCINNATI, Feb. 15.-A terrible disaster
occurred at the southwest corner of Pearl
and Ludlow streets in the flooded district
this morning about o'clock. The rear part
of two three-story brick buildings, occupied
by thirty-fve tenants and run by George
Oster and Robert Kyle as boarding houses.
fell in with terrible crash, burying beneath
the brick and timbers number of inmates
who, IL not killed outright. were held under
by the debris until drowned, the water at
that corner being several feet deep. The
police, soldiers and every one who could get
about rushed to the scene Immediately.
Two girls were taken from the second story
fright. They heard the building giving away
and tried to arouse the other ten.
ants. By the dim lights of lanterns the police
and tiremen worked with a will in their eff
forts to rescue those who were buried in the
debris. Those known to have been killed
II Kyle's boarding house are: John W.
Kyle, 10, a son of the proprietor; Libbie Cot
ter, 40, domestic; Maud Ellis, 10, domss-
tic; and James Ogden. 90. tsamster. In
Oster's boarding house these were lost. The
Woenhker family, including Barney, the
father 46, his wife so, Thomas Burke. his
son-in-law, Mrs. LENA Burke, his wife, and
their two children, William and Louisa, four
and two respectively. OF those who were
saved about fifteen were women and children.
During the entire day the vicinity of the
accident opposite the Oberly House was
crowded with people who not only filed the
street above the water line, but went out in
boats to have better view of the wrecked
buildings At casual glance the block ap-
pssred intact as the fronts on both Pearl and
London streets are still standing, but the
back part of the houses is gone. The rear
wall gave way and carried with the main part
of the building, breaking them across Thus
the front rooms we're split in two. The fact
that the front wall remained standing was
have been much greater loss of
life. By placing ladders against the
remaining wall the firemen were able to
rescue the people still on the upper floors
without difficulty. The property loss is
hard to estimate, but 1000 will probably
H.
Shadinger, whose loss is about $1,000. The
buildings were old and have been in a bad
condition for some time land young
Woehnker, the only survivor of the family
so suddenly taken away, threatens to bring
suit for heavy damages for this accident as
he considers it all due to the owners neglect
to make necessary repairs. Some very
narrow escapes from death were reported by
the survivors of the shocking accident. Ben
Woehnker, says he did not awaken
until the crash came and he found
himself going down into the water
With desperate strength he broke through
the lath and plaster with his fist and got
through the hole thus made. He was only
slightly bruised. W. a. Cox, who slept on the
third story with William Hahn was let down
into the water and Hahn was left. The room
parted in the center, precipitatlng Cox down
and leaving Hahn unframed. Cox says he
was asleep until he struck the water and felt
the bricks falling upon him. He managed to
climb upon the remaining part of the second
floor and got down a ladder. His head was
badly cut Louis Dairy jumped out a second
story window and was rescued by boat crew.
Sparks Flammert was awakened by Will Her.
bert, who roomed next door on the
third floor. They ran out and got
down to the second floor, when the
crash came. They were injured. George
Siegel and wife were on the same floor. His
room split In two, but they escaped him.
Nellie Wood, who first heard the cracking
that receded the fall. held light for Willie
Golfer and Jim Relford to escape
They crawled out a narrow space.
Other like cases were reporded. Ali the
bodies have been taken out of the wreck.