The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-06-05
Fatal Fall Of Crowded Tenement.


City, tumbled down shortly before
seven o'clock one day last week. -Four
persons were killed and eleven others
dangerously injured. The house was
owned by James Anderson, who with
his wife and five children, occupied the
FIRST floor. The othe occupants of the
building were Hugh McGuidy, his wife
and two children Michael Webb, wife
and two children Patrick Carlin, wife
and FIVE children, and John Coyne,
wife and five children. All these peo-
pie, with the exception of Anderson,
were in the house when the crash came.
The house was known TO be insecure
aud Anderson had made arrangements
to have it repaired the next week. The
list of the victims is as follows:
TIE DEAD.
Bernard Anderson, 10 years old,
smothered in bed.
Nellie Anderson, 8 years, spine bro
ken. .........
Mary Anderson, 8 months, smoth-
cred.
Michael Webb, Is years, head crush.
ad by falling timber instantly killed.
His body was found in an upright po-
sition, partially dressed, and he had
evidently just arisen.
THE INJURED.
John Coyne, 80 years of age, an in.
surance agent, head and body severely
bruised sent to ST. James Hospital.
Patrick Coyne, 16 years, injured
about the head and body.
Julia Coyne, 9 years, ankle broken
and severely hurt about the body.
Mary Coyne, - years, face and body
bruised.
Mrs. Bridget Coyne, 33 years, badly
shaken and brvised.
Hugh McGuidy, 2s years, a mould
er cut about head and face.
Mary Ann McGuidy, 26 years old,
wife of Hugh McGuidy, frightfully
bruised and suffering from nervous
prostration.
Maggie Anderson, y years, hand
and legs bruised and received several
scalp wounds.
Mary Carin aged 10 years, bruised
about the body and cut by broken
glass.
Julia Carlin, aged years, slightly
hurt about the head and legs and
head.
Lizzie Pussey, aged 26 years, who
was temporarily stopping with the An
derson family, suffered from nervous
pros.ration and was severely bruised.
HOW THE DISASTER OCCURRED.
The collapse was as sudden as it was
complete. Hugh McGuidy who was
on the top floor, said that he had just
sprung out of bed when he felt the
building rocking. He paid no atten-
tion to it, as it was not unusual, but a
moment later there was creaking
sound and the walls began to crack.
He remembered no more until he was
dragged out of the ruins. When Mrs.
Anderson heard the cracking she and
her five children were in bed. She
arose hurriedly and arousing her chill.
dren directed them TO leave. Before
they could do so the house fell in with
a crash. Mrs. Anderson, who had
managed to make her escape, stood on
the sidewalk while the debris was be-
ing examined, and when the. bodies OF
three of her children were placed in an
ambulance she fell fainting into the
arms of n friend. Her husband. who
is employed rs baker in the Hudson
County Penitentiary, was sent for, and
when he arrived the scene between
him and his wife was very affecting.
TAKING OUT THE VICTIMS.
The crash alarmed the people in the
vicinity and as the cloud of dust arose
from where the house stood the street
filled with people. From the heap of
broken and disjointed timbers came
cries and moans of distress. An alarm
was rung and the Fire Department was
speedily at the place At that hour in
the morning no fires had been kindled
in any OF the apartments in the house
and the ruins did not take fire, as it
was supposed they would. The fremen
did excellent service in dragging the
dead and injured from the ruins and
keeping the crowd back from doing
the injured ones any further harm.
Mrs. Webb was almost crazed by ex-
citement and grief.
"Oh, what did | care if the Lord
took me to Himself if he only spared
my poor darling boy Mike ?" exclaim-
ed she. Il am SO bewildered that
hardly think sometimes that | have
lost him but Gods will be done.
never thought was born TO meet any
atiiiction like this"
did you have any idea that you
were in danger T.
81 was first startled by the cracking
of one of the floor beams under the
front window, ran down stairs and
had just cleared the doorway below
when the whole place, thought, came
tumbling about my ears. Whether |
tainted / cannot tell, but the neigh
bors and firemen rushed TO our assist
ance. The last | remember about my
poor boy Mike was when he called out,
Mother, what is the matter? where are
you going as ! was rushing out. He
was then tying his shoes over near the
window where | heard the creaking,
Oh, | wish | had taken him along with
me. He was in the worst part of the
house, for the stove on the next floor
was just over his head Oh, God have
mercy on my sweet boy !"
THE HOME PAPER. An exchange
.-..I. :. 49,. l. -. 4 II L =