St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-18
Belle Starts Journal Proves
an Exciting Narrative of
Criminal Events.
Wilson, the Train Wreeker,
Escapes From the Dead
wood Jail.
North Carolinians in a State
Of Mind Over a Prospect
i've Race War.


this morning A number of workm EN-
rushed out just in time to escape being,
crushed under the mountain of wreck
age. The Owings block is the ruin. 1t
was beautiful Gothic structure. four
teen stories high, situated at the corner
of Dearborn and Adams streets, just
opposite the postoffice in the center of
the business district. The ten lower
stories fell in, one after another, leav-
ing the walls and four upper floors and
the roof standing in "a decidedly
shaky condition. In the tenth story the
tile flooring was defective, OF was dam
aged by the natural settling of the build
ing. Without the slightest warning the
greatmass of tiles and girding formin G
the injured floors crashed to: the floor
below, and the two together. acting like
huge pile-driver, pounded way for
themselves to the bottom. About 100
workmen have been steadily engaged
in the building, but to-day being Sun
day less than a dozen were on hand.
All were in the, basement when at 8 80
an ominous cracking and,
TREMENDOUS CRASH
was heard. No one slapped to inquire
the cause, but rushed pell nell into the
street. They were not a moment too
soon. A succession of .thunderous re-
ports, then one prolonged mighty din,
and each scurrying. trembling work.
man was enveloped in great, uprising
cloud of dust and broken plaster. Grad
ually the air cleared and few of the
! harder spirits ventured back inside.
Where before story rose above
story east of the central skylight
in mathematical precision, and with
every appearance OF colossal strength
and durability, now mounted a fantastic
heap of debris, while the space 1870 feet
above was empty, save for the bent and
distorted iron beams that here and
there projected from the walls. The
superintendent and contractors were
summoned. and took survey of
the wreck. Neither seemed to
have any idea of the cause of
the accident, or if he had any, he
carefully kept his opinions to himself
and Joined in the lf-congratulations
of the wOrkmen that the accident did
not happen the preceding day, when
scores of men were at work. Chief
Swenie, of the fire department, visited
the scene, and, after looking over the
structure, decided that it would not be
necessary to
PULL DOWN THE WALLS
at once, as, though they seemed to be
out of plumb, there was no immediate
danger of their falling in. The build
ing; which was rapidly approaching
completion, was considered one of the
finest in the city from the standpoint of
convenience. strength and architectural
magnifeenee. Its upper stories were
of pressed brick, the three lower
of stone. The roof was completed
about three weeks ago. The. in
terror was entirely of tile, sup
ported in place by massive iron girders.
Work has been pushed as rapidly as
possible, and the contractors have at,
times literally filed the structure with.
workmen.. Yesterday three iron tanks
intended to hold water for the elevator,
power arrived at the building. One of,
these, weighing 1920 ponnds, was,
hoisted to the twelfth story,
while another, about 800 pounds
lighter, was placed In posi-
ton to be elevated tomorrow.
To the east of the shaft extending
through the center of the building the
walls and floors Of tile had been COM
,,IotoJ o,d ,x,orly had l,oa,, baru,, ~, 49,
iron staircase. The immediate cause of
the collapse was undoubtedly the giving
way of the
TILE FLOORING
at the tenth story. This, the ruins show,
fell to the floor below, knocking out
more tiling. which fell through, gaining
in weight until the fifth story was
reached, when the falling mass tore
away the iron beams on this and the
floors below, bending them out of shape
and shaking the walls of the founda-,
ton. 1t is presumed that the settling
of the building caused the first
break. The tiles. of which the floors
are made fit together like keystones and
depend on each other for support.
Any extension of the space confining
them would tend to allow the entire
mass to drop out. In the fearful series
of conclusions this tiling was ground !
into dust. High up on either
side great patches are torn out
of the interior cross wall. Its
displacement from plumb is
not particularly noticeable: to