The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-05-12

occupied prominent site at the corner
OF Eight and Main streets It consisted
of a main building. 10 which an art
wing had been added Tbs morning
the building was crowded with children.
many of whom were nearly frantic with
grief over the appalling darkness and
the stiffness which preceded the tenn
pest. The winds swept midway
across Broadway from the west
and seemed to concentrate its force in
the descent upon the tower. which
yielded with a crash and carrying down
q heavy belt. plunged through the in
tervening floors to the basement. In
the main building. however, the effect
was awful. The falling floors precipitated
the terrified children to the basement,
where the masses Of brick and beams
crushed them TO the ground and buried
them from view. Persons near. hearing
the crash. made their way as best they
could against the beating storm TO the
scene. The gale quickIyi subsidized and
the work of rescuing was undertaken
by eager hands Owing to the prevail
ing excitement the first work was not
very effective, but the fire department
and police soon arrived and an organ
lied search was commenced. The dead
and wounded were taken out as quickly
as possible and carried 10 the natato-
rum adjoining, which was turned into
hospital. Here parents and friends
of the little ones soon gathered. each
searching for his or her own. ard utter
ing heartrending cries as they recog-
nized in the manned and bleeding forms
those whom they loved. Among
the first taken out several were
dead and one or two mangled
almost beyond recognition. their cloth
ing torn and their bodies covered with
dust and mortar. the deathly pallor OF
their skin showing in painful contrast
against the CRIME and bioodstains.
Many heroic scenes we're enacted dur
ing the rescue of the wounded children,
and rome of them seemed TO have
greater control than their elders. One
little girl. half buried in the debris, over
whom rescuers were busy, begged them
to leave her and help a boy beside her
because, she said. he was only years
old. The scenes in the natatorium, as
the little ones were brought in
and laid upon improvised cots,
the dead placed together upon
one side, were pitiful beyond expires
sion. A dozen dead were taken out
during the day, and their bodies sent to
the houses of surrounding families. and
several of the children belonged to
prominent families in the city.
At No. ITO West Third Street stood a
three-s story brick building in the middle
of the block, the third floor OF which
was used as an overall factory con-
Quoted by Hoar Bros; and the first and
second floors by the Graham paper
company. In the factory were about
twenty-five employees. chiefly girls.
When the storm broke out they started
TOR the cellar; the building fell with a
crash, being razed 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 miss
linz. A force of laborers is busy to
night, By Pickering lantern lights, up.
turning the confused masses OF bricks
and timbers. The County Courthouse
stands at Second and Main Streets, on
the hill, exposed to winds from north
and west. The building has always
been considered rather unsatisfactory.
and the roof has frequently suffered
injury from the high winds. The
storm struck the northwest corner to-
day, blowing in the roof and major por-
ton of the walls Of third and fourth
stories. The south wall, at the east end,
was blown into the street and Deputy
Sheriff Dougherty was caught and
killed. All the others succeeded in get
ting out of the building alive. The
prisoners were intensely alarmed.
but became quiet when the
crash had passed. Across the street
on the northwest corner OF Second and
Main streets, stood a two-story brick
building, erected in 1850 by the Santa
Fe Stage Company, one of the Oldest
buildings IN the city, from which the
otanac fnrpacrfv wara Qfarfad aRrnaa
the plains in the stage-coaching days.
The building has of late years been oc-
cupied by the United States Engineers.
Adjoining that on the left was three
story brick mill, owned by Smith &
Moffatt. This building was demolished,
falling Overland upon the adjoining one,
and both were wrecked. Frank Smith,
senior partner of the firm. was taken
bleeding from the ruins and died in a
short time. Mr.. Moffatt was badly hurt,
and three employees were taken out.
The second span from the north end of
the bridge across the Missouri River OPP
posite the city was blown into the river,
the piers being left apparently unin
jured. Great numbers CT telegraph
wires were carried down with the broken
span. workmen are busy tonight rails
ing the wires from the wreck, and il is
ton will be restored by tomorrow
morning. The bridge IS owned by
the Hannibal & st. Joe company.
The bridge owners say they expect
10 repair in ten days. Meanwhile. the
railroads will make temporary arrange
ments for transporting passengers and
freight. Wabash will send its trains
over the Missouri Pacific line, via Sc
dalia and Moberly.