The Oskaloosa herald., 1885-07-09
FALLING WALLS!
A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE FROM a
FALLING BUILDING.

FALLING WALLS!
A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE FRoM A
FALLING BUILDING.
At about half past z o'clock Wednes-
day morning the new business building
being erected by Hasve England on
est Main street collapsed
WI A TERRIBLE CRASH
ne walls crumbling even with the
ground, most of the debrIs falling into
the cellar. The building was of brick,
20x80. two stories, was under roof and
being plastered. At the time of the
! collapse, Mr.. England and one man, a
carpenter by the name of Sinclair, were
engaged in the building, the former. in
the basement and the latter in tie
second story. Mr.. England heard a
warning sound above him and although
in the extreme south end of the base
ment he succeeded in reaching the
north exit. the falling building follow
ing him up so closely that had he been
A SINGLE SECOND LATER
he must have been crushed and only
escaped as 1t was by the front wall fall
ing back into the cellar instead of out
ward. Sinclair was less fortunate, he
being buried in the center of the ruins,
and every one at first supposed he must
certainly be killed, but friendly timbers
| formed an arch over him and saved him
from serious injury though consider
ably bruised and cut about the head
and face. His escape was most mir
aculous and had his position been
changed six inches either way he must
have been crushed to death.
THE LOSS
falls heavy upon MIR. England who was
having his work done by the job, and
straining himself financially TO erect
this building and get his property in
shape to bring in an income. As to
THE CAUSE
of the catastrophy we refrain from Of
fering an opinion IS there seems TO be
different theories offered and we do not
wish to do any or an injustice. The
heavy rains of Tuesday night and
Wednesday morning doubtless aided
the existing causes, and hastened the
fall.
AN AWFUL RAIN.-The worst rain
that has fallen here for many years COM
menced at little past eleven o'clock
Tuesday night, and continued almost
uninterruptedlY until six o'clock
Wednesday morning. 1t came as twol
storms, the first being very heavily
charged with electricity, with such peals
Of thunder and binding lightning as is
seldom heard or seen save i'm the tropics.
Some of the explosions were absolutely
terrible, but so far we have heard of no
damage being done by lightning. The
second storm was accompanied by high
wind, and sheet lightning that illumin-
ated everything. With this storm
came the heaviest rain we have had for
many years. 1t came down in an un-
broken sheet for hours, until the streets
were rivers. The total amount of rain
fall is variOusly given at from four to
eight inches. Ordinary wooden ckets
were filled, but we have no record from
a regular gauge. The small creeks all |
jumped out of their banks, and Skunk |
rose one foot an hour for several hours. |
We fear the damage will be great in
the county.
AN OREGON ExHIBIT.-In the sew
eral articles on the Northwest which |
are to appear in these columns, it is |
possible that the products of Oregon,
Idaho and Washington Territories will
be spoken of in such manner as to at |
tract great attention. In order that
there may be corroborative proof for
all that we may say touching these
matters, we arranged, while in Port |
land, with the Oregon Board of Immi- |
grafton for an exhibit TO be made at
our coming County Fair, and at the
State Fair, of their products of the
field, forest and orchard. The expense
attending the exhibit will be cheerfully
borne by one who owes much to the |
hospitality of the great hearted people |
of the Pacific Northwest. They have
country that produces wonderful
crops of grain and fruit. Our people, |
loving their own State with strong af- |
fectiOn, want to see just what they can
and do produce, and will give the ex-
hibit such a reception and examination
as will prove satisfactory to all con-
cerned. The officers of the County and |
State societies have promptly promised |
to give all possible aid in the direction
of placing the exhibit where The multi |
tudes can best see and examine it. It'll
will be a great attraction at both fairs. |
THE FACT.-In recent conversation /
with editors from many portions of
Iowa, and a very general comparison |
of not1s, we find affairs in the inland |
towns of Iowa 10 be about like this:
Based on the general prosperity of the
places Des MOines, Cedar Rapids and |
0skalOosa rank as the first three, with /
Marshall, Waterloo and Ottumwal
making the second trio. In point of
Few buildings 0skaloosa ranks third,
as above. Cedar Rapids having the in
huence CT railroads in large measure to
help it out, while we content ourselves
with help from that source by in
direction. We found this also TO be a /
fact: Every one recognized Oskalooss
as a first class town, and gave large
credit TO many things, but chiefly to the
great atdevelopment of our coal resources.
We may rest assured that in the esteem
OF the people OF the State this city
stands i'm the front rank Of second class
yet llrst class cities. Pulling together
for its future development, uni sdly,
will do wonders for us in the near
future. Towns never stand still; they
either progress or retrograde. For
years we have kept up the forward
march, and for years yet we will do the
same, until large city, prosperous in
its every avenue, shall mark this pres
ent spot OF thrift, industry and push.
Our -MALssH"-Company f, Third