Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-06-29
Building Wrecked.

s"b NhNNhCus
Yesterday morning at about l0:45
o'clock and during the heavy rain, the
large two-story brick building on
lower Main street, formerly known as
the Waverly house and extending
from an alley ON the south to the
Southern drug store on the north, a
distance of fifty feet, fell with crash
aud is total wreck, though, most for
tunate to relate, no lives were lost.
Until quite recently the entire build.
ing was occupied, and in fact only the
evening previous the most OF the ten
ants had vacated. For some two or
three days past the building has
been con sidered by the occupants as
unsafe, though nothing was said about
IL to the authorities. In fact Mr.. H.
b. Daggett, the owner of the north
half, had cautioned the occupants
about remaining In there and told
Messrs. Mosely Il Dygert, who occu.
pied his lower floor as saloon, that
he would not be responsible for any
damages to their goods.
A Mrs. Meyers who, with large
family OF children occupied the upper
floor Of the south half, which belonged
to Mr.. Thomas Roche, and rented fur
nished rooms, was by the most per.
sistent effort Oh the part Of DIR. Mat
kin and Others prevailed upon to
move out Saturday evening very late.
She insisted upon remaining until
this morning, but they told her she
must not, for the house was almost
sure TO fall before then. Had she re-
manned there with her children only q
few hours longer, horrible cstas-
trophe would have been to relate,
for, from the building vacated by
her, there was no chance for escape
when the crash came as the outer walls
of this building toppled over with a
sudden crash, followed by the middle
and then the far walls. The crash OF
the outer wall of the south building
alarmed the few remaining occupants,
who rushed for the outside. AT the
time OF the crash Mr.. r.. l., Arm
strong WAS asleep in the front room on
the second floor of the north building.
Mr.. r q. Mosely, of the firm of Mose-
ly u Dygert, went up to the room for
something, heard the noise and
awakened Mr.. Armstrong. Both
realized in an instant what was com.
ing and sprang for the window, which,
as they describe it, closed together
like a hinge from the force of the 9th er
walls against it. They started for
another loom to reach window, but
tou late, for instantly the ehtire build
ing in which they were fell, and they
were buried amongst the debris. Their
cries soon attracted crowd, and will
ing men were soon moving and
cutting the rubbish and limb srs
from aoouL them. They were in plain
view, but securely pinned by the roof.
ing timbers and IL was some little
time before they could be eXtricated
from their torture, but TO the aston.
ishment OF all, not a bone was broken
or, in fact, other than few BE we're
bruises, neither OF them were hurt.
The only serious accident befell MIR.
Ed Maddox, who, with City Clerk
Early, occupied the front room over
the Southern drug store. He was
asleep ia his room at the time, but
sprang out the front window upon an
awning, which at the same Instant
gave way, and both fell together some
distance into the street He was inn
medistely picked up and carried, un'
conscious, to place of safety, as 1t
was thought at the time that the drug
store building would also fall. Doc
tors Matkin, Slauter and Mullens
were at once summoned. Upon the
application of restoratives he regained
Consciousness, and, upon q thorough
examination, he was pronounced not
seriously hurt. No bones were broken,
though he sustained heavy fall and
was, in consequence, badly stunned.
Mr.. Early, who was in the room
with Mr.. Maddox at the time, made
his escape out the back way and was
not hurt.
Another party was in the wrecked
building, but ran out just as the house
came down and was not injured.
A Mr.. Thomas Mcmahon OF Hills
boro was passing through the alley be
tween this and Chris Rintleman's sa
soon and made the very narrowest
possible escape. He heard the rum
bling but continued walking on, bu
had he hesitated in the least 20 inves
tigate the causes he would have beel
caught under the falling walls, which
only missed him few inches.
The causes OF the wreck are directl.
attributable to water standing unde
the house, which the owner had bee
repeatedly notified of and cautione'
about. AS result Of the water unde
and around the foundation the wall
have been repeatedly breaking of late
aud 1t is only surprising how the builc
ing has stood this length of time.
Mr. + b. Daggett, the owner OF To
north half, informed our reporter tbs
10 was arranged on Saturday Detwee
him and Mr.. Roche TO commence II
pairing the houses this morning.
The loss on the buildings will M
exceed $1,000. The building north
and adjoining the fallen building
and occupied by @. N. Klauber as
drug store has been condemned al
will have 10 come down or be put In
thoroughly safe condition. Mr.. Klsl
Der moved his stock immediately aft
1 A..