The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-05-09
TIE LOCAL NEWS RECORD.
ALMosrA FATAL coRNlcE CRASH
The shaky 0utside Finishings of Bank
Building Tumble on the Heads of
Luckless Pedestrians-Cr Crime
Notes Temperance.
A Cornice Crash.

A terrible accident of that character
hat causes ones blood TO chill occurred
yesterday morning about 10 O'Clock
which seriously injured and came very
near killing three pedestrians. IL was
was the fall Of the heavy cornics work
of the City National bank and rear
buildings between Elm and Pacific ave-
nue. facing on Lamar street. The cor
nice, consisting of brick mortar and
heavy tin $50 feet in length, began
alling at the north Jena of che
building, and ripping almost tho entire
length of the buildlng, fell with
mighty crash, that was heard for blocks
around, AT the time Mir. James
Thatcher was standing ut the north end
talking TO Mr.. Hodges. Re heard the
giving away of the c0rnice, but thought
IL elsewhere, but suddenly realizing his
perilous situation, he thrust bis arm
through window or glass door, in
front Of which he was standing, and
thrust his head inside tho
building, but not before he
was struck by falling brick
and tin and seriously Injured. His mead
is Very badly bruised, aud ne sustained
two severe gH-hos, ode on the right side
and tho other on tho back OF his head.
His hands and lett leg v ere also cut and
bruised. MIR. Hodges, who vas talking
with him at the time, escaped by dodg.
Ing around the corner OF tbs building.
The other two Injured we're ladies,
Mrs. b. u. Andrews aud
Mrs. V. b. Curtis, who boards
WITH her at 52l Caruth sureet. They
are both wives of lumber dealers. They
were walking along the street together
at the time, directly bea cath the corniCe,
and sustained very psinful and serious
injuries. Both received severe scalp
wounds ana besides the severe shock
were more or less bruised. Mrs Curtis
has q severe cash just ahvoe tho right
eye and another 90 her lips which dis.
who saw them when the crash
came rushed with others e
their rescue and they were
taken TO DR.. Beaumont's office near by
where their wounds were stitched and
dressed. Mr.. Andrews was present but
Mr.. Curtis isnot ia the city. Friends OF
the unfortunate ladies' did all they
could to alleviate the suflerings. They
stood the pain with great fOrtituda md
were subsequently removed 20 their
homes and whom last heard from were
resting easy. The shock TO them was
very great, and while their condition is
not regarded AS dangerous, yet 1t will
be some time before they recover.
Mr.. Thatcher's wounds were dressed
by DIR. Hamilton. IL ls a wonder, on
viewing the mass of brick, mortar and
tin tina, fell, that all three were uot
killed outright. rhe only thing that
saved them was the fact that they were
close to the wall of the building,aDd the
bulk of the material fell oyer and be-
yond them, o. else they won d
have been buried beneath the
wreck. A large crowd gathered on
the scene 10 view the wreck, and many
were the criticisms passed upon the
shaky building, portion of which fell
some TWO years ago, and which was
atterward repaired. The condition of
Mrs. Andrews, who had to be transport
ed to her home on a cot, is critical. The
fall of the cornice broke number of the
wires of the Western UBion telegraph
office, VIII CHI occupies the second
floor of the building, which damage has
since been repaired. A rumor was
afioat that an old German woman who
peddles vegetables had run into q swag
electric light wire on Pacific avenue,
which was fastened on the top of the
north end OF the cornice, and that the
lorce of the collision pulled it down. A
force was at work yesterday afternoon
clearing away the debris. There are a
Va anu tsIt-
cially cornices, in the city that re-
quire rigid inspection, and il is
the duty OF the city engineer
TO inspect and condemn the same. There
is no use in iplastering up the mattor
for IL is well-knOwn tact That thore are
buildings standing in Dallasthat should
be torn down. The sad accident of yes
terday should be q warning to the city
TO have all buildings inspected and
builders to steer clear OF cheap, shoddy,
ginger bread workmen. Had this acct
dent occurred directly after the arrival
OF train at the Texas Il Pacific deplt,
close by, there is no telling how many
people would have been buried beneath
the ruins. The building, which is a two
story brick, is the property of the City
National bank. The damage is about