Evening journal., 1889-09-20
QUEBE('S HORROR.
A Great Landslide Descends on
Thirty Tenements.
SCORES OF PEOPLE CRUSHED.
Seven Dead Bodies Taken from
the Ruins,

And Fifty More unfortunatSs Are Re-
ported Buried Beneath the Debris.
Tons OF Rock slip Down froIu Qnebcc's
Historic Citadel with Frightnh Re-
sulta--Fire Adds to the Horror OF the
socne-Tho military, Police snd Firs
Department All working Like beavers
at the Debris Pitiful Crlea for Assist
ance.
QUEBEC, Sept O-A landslide occurred
from the face Of Cape Diamond, below the
citadel, at 1850 p. m, crushing the houses be-
meath il and imprisoning the inmates below.
The debris was piled to height in some
cases Of twenty 70 thirty feet over the houses
which we're standing below.
Warnings DiHregarded.
The extent of the disaster IN likely, from
present indications, TO fall but little short OF
that which occurred ON nearly the sans spot
on May II, 1871, when eight buildings were
destroyed and thirty-two persons killed In
1852 several others were killed half mils
further up the street by similar avalanchs
OF rock still the warnings were diwegarded
and people continued 70 build and 70 take up
their habitations Immediately below the
overhanging masses OF rock that juta out
from the front OF the cape and IN the narrow
street that bears tho name Of Qusbec's foun-
der and that occupies all the space that re-
mains between the cliff aud river, save the
wharves.
A Terrible LShdslide.
Two fearful days Of rain and food sue
ceeding a month Of drs weather Hlled the
crevices Of the soil immediately below and
beyond the southern extremity Of Duiferin
terrace, and at T.e0 p m. an enormous mass
was detached from the clif and hurled as
with the noise Of many thunders, slowly and
majestcally at first, but rapidly increasing
IA momentum through its slide OF a couple
of hundred feet, over the retaining wall,
pushing half dozen houses out OF is way
and crushing most OF them beneath it
weight as though they had been 70 many
paper boxes
ParalyKed by Fear.
Some Of those who saw the slide wer,
standing at the doors OF their houses, anS
were too paralyzed to move out OF its way
Others ran to place Of safety, among then
John Berrigan, Patrick Meehan aud Patricl
O'Neill
Debris Thirty Feet high.
The debris Of rock filed up the marrow
Etreet to a depth Of some thirty feet and cu'
off all communication between the pOrtionl
of the city north and south OF IL. On tn,
wharves behind where the houses had stood
scattered timbers and the earth and rocl
that partly covered them were mingled with
huge piles Of coal that left little passagoway
between them and the river.
Police, Firemon and Military at Work.
The river policemen, whose station is clos
by, and the city police from Champlail
market we're among the first 10 rush 10 thl
relief Of this imprisoned the wounded and
tho dying sufferers As soon as an idea wa
obtained OF the extent Of the disaster TN
whole force Of municipal police was turnes
out 10 render assistance, and Chief Colone
Nohl applied TO B battery at the citadel fol
assistance A strong force Of the military
under command Of Maj Wilson, turned ou
to aid in the removal Of the debris.
Fire Adds 60 the Horror.
Fire broke out almost Immediately in SOM
of the ruins, but the brigade, when sum
moned, soon extinguished the flames and Sc
10 work to assist in the search for the deat
and dying. SO far as can be ascertained annie
the existing confusion the houses destroyed
contained over thirty tenements, bearing thl
numbers from l29 TO i59.
Frantic Cries for Help.
It was at once evident that considerable
loss Of life must have occurred, for some o
the buildings were completely buried beneatl
fearful mass Of rock and earth, though
willing workers set out 10 remove this debris
The first assistance was naturally given 10 tn
Imprisoned living, some Of whom could b.
seen pinned by rocks or broken timbers, Will
tho frantic cries for help could often be hearS
Of Others who we're buried out Of sight.
Fifty Persons stin Buried.
The dead bodies that were recovered up /,
this time were thoss Of Thomas Farrell an,
his two children, one child OF James Brodley
two children Of Stephen Burke, and Mrs. Ber
rigan's. 1t Is supposed that at least fifty per
SONS are yet under the ruins Tons OF rock
are falling and il is feared the whole boulde
forming the highest point OF Quebec win Civ
way.