The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-05-19

ised cots, the dead placed together
on one side, were pitlful beyond ex-
preston. A dozen dead were taken
out during the day and their bodies
sent to the houses of sorrowing fam
lilies. Several of the children be-
longed to prominent families Id the
city.
At No. ITO West Third street stood
a three-story brick building, In the
middle of the block, the third floor
of which was used as an overall fac
tory I; in the factory were about 70
employees, chiefly girls. When the
storm broke out they started for the
cellar. The building fell with a
crash, being RACED entirely to the
earth, and most of the affrighted girls
were caught in the ruins. -Four
have been taken out dead, a number
of others are wounded, and some are
still missing. A force Of laborers Is
busy tonight by the Pickering Ian
tern lights upturning confused
masses of bricks and timbers.
COURT HOUSE BLOWN DOWN.
The county court house stands at
Second and Main streets on the hill,
exposed to winds from the north
and west. The building was erected
nearly twenty years ago for hotel
purposes, but when completed was
purchased by the county for s2V,-
600 and converted into a courthouse.
The building has always been con,
sidered rather unsatisfactory, and
the roof has frequently suffered IN
Jury from high winds. The storm
struck the northeast corner to-day,
blowing in the roof and a portion OF
the north wall. The EAST end of the
south wall was blown into the street
and Deputy Sheriff Dougherty was
caught and killed. All others sue
ceeded in getting out of the build
ing alive. The Jail is located in the
basement of the building, and that
portion escaped injury. The pris-
oners were intensely alarmed, but
became quiet when the Crisis had
passed and they found themselves
unhurt. Judge Slower had been
holding court on the third floor and
had adjourned just before the storm
descended. A portion of the roof
in falling struck the chair the Judge
had just vacated.
FURTHER DEVASTATION.
Across the street stood a 2-story
brick building erected in 1860 by
the Santa Fe Stage Company, one of
the oldest buildings in the city,
from which lhe stages were formerly
started across the plains in the stage
coaching days. The building has
of late years been occupied by the
United States Engineers. Adjoining
that, on the west was a three-story
brick coffee and spice mill, owned
by Smith & Moffatt. This building
was demolished, falling over upon
the adjoining one and both we're
completely wrecked. Frank Smith,
the senior partner of the firm, was
taken bleeding from the ruins and
died in a short time. Mr.. Moffatt
was also badly hurt. The debris is
being removed in search of any who
NAV vet be buried beneath.
The second span from the north
end OF the bridge across the Mis-
souri,, opposite the city, was blown
into the river, the piers being left
apparently uninjured. A great num-
Der of telegraph wires were carried
with the broken span. Workmen
are busy tonight raising wires from
the wreck, and it is hoped commu-
nication in that direction will be
restored by Tomorrow morning.
The bridge is owned by the Hanni-
bal and st. Joseph Company and is
used by that road, the Wabash, the
Rock Island and Kansas City, st.
Joseph and Council Bluffs. The
bridge authorities say they expect
to repair the damage in ten days.
Meanwhile the railroads will make
temporary arrangements for trans
porting passengers and freight. The
Wabash will send its traing over the
Missouri Pacific line to Sedalia and
Moherlv