The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-01-16
The Storms Deadly Work at
Reading and Pittsburgh.

PIrrsBuRen, January 9.-There was an
awful catastrophe at 1890 this afternoon.
The high wind that struck the city at
that hour completely demolished the
large brick building in process Of con-
structiou in Diamond alley, Immediately
in the rear Of Weldin & Co.'S store. The
building was as far up as the seventh sto-
ry. The building is complete wreck,
and as it went down it crushed in its
fall the barber shop Immediately mex, to
it. The force Of the crushing building
was thrown against Wcldin < Co.'S store
and pushed out the front into Wood
street. The whole street in front of J. r.
Weldin & Co.'S is full OF debris, At least
Eve men are killed, and ten TO fifteen in
jured.
There were at least twenty men work
ing on the new building. The rear ofall
the stores on Wood street as far up as the
hat store Of Paulson Bros. were wrecked.
Six or seven were in the barber shop.
There were at least fifteen printers in the
rear of Weidin & Co.'S, ON the second
floor, and many Of them were badly in
iured AS fast as the injured could be
dug out they were carried on stretchers
and taken TO the various hospitals one
man on the top Of the new building fell
into the basement his skull was fractur-
ed, and both legs broken. Among the
injured were Alf Lambert, ofNo. 373 Wy
lie avenue, who was working in Watts
printing Office at the time his leg is bro
ken and badly crushed by falling brick.
lie was removed TO the Homeopathic
hospital. Charles l. McHenry, Il years
of age, living ON Clifton avenue, Allie
gheny, was cut and bruised all over His
right leg was broken, and he is in very
bad condition he was taken home.
Weldin Brothers we're the owners Of
the building and it was almost complet-
ed, only one more story remaining u be
added there is nothing left standing Of
the building but the rear wall and part
Of the side toward Market street toward
Wood street there is nothing left but a
mass Of broken brick and shattered tim
/ bers; the entire front is lying in Dia-
mond street, and the whole scene pre-
sents one of the most complete wrecks
! ever seen.
I The barber shop of Fred Schumacher,
at No Al Diamond street, was completely
/ wrecked. 1t was here that the work of
rescue commenced, and every momentor
two fresh localities where persons had
/ been caught we're found. All over the
wrecked section crowds Of eager, willing
hands were at work, all classes and con-
ditions-the gentleman in broadcloth
and silk hat working side by side with
the laborer and mechanic. Ali distinc-
tons Of class were lost sight Of and hands
that had done no manual work for years
eagerly seized the broken timbers and
bricks and carried them away, and when
a victim was found he was carefully car
ried to place where his injuries could
be attended t.
Physicians we're soon on the ground
and such temporary relief as could be
given was administered to the suffering.
As fast as possible they were put into
ambulances and patrol wagons and taken
to the hospitals, while several were taken
to the hospital ward at the Central police
station. Within FIVE minutes after the
alarm struck from box Il the streets in
TIE vicinity of the wreck we're filed with
an excited, struggling mass of people.
As soon as the iremen arrived at ths
scene they commenced active operations
in getting the people out of Weldin's
building. In the back part Of the store
buried in the ruins, wa Weldin Mason,
son Of Lee Mason, the proprietor of the
store At first it was thought he waskill-
ed but after some OF the debris had been
removed he was heard to cry For Gods
/ sake, get me some air" A hole was
opened up and enough air was let through
to relieve him. Later on he said he
would be able to get cut il the rest of the
building did not fall on him. Elmer
MCowan, and his employe, were under
the other portion of the store. His
means could be heard for some
time and az last the fremen got near
enough TO give him some air. He said
he was gradually being crushed to death
but later on he was relieved and said he
could stand it for little while.
A brick layer whose name could not
be ascertained, was pulled out of the
wreck in the back part of Weldin's store.
He was 80 badly injured that he will die.
/ He could not understand anything that
was said to him. Charles Petticorl, the
assistant book keeper at the store, was
I Just going into the back office to talk to
( weldin Mason when the catastrophe oc-
Cured. He escaped with several bruises.
I However, the fright was 80 great that he
/ tainted, and was taken 70 Prati's book
store, on the opposite side Of the street.
where a physician attended him.
Maggie MCGOWAN, printer employed
on the East End Bulletin, was so over
come by fright that she tainted. and had
to be taken out Of the second story win
dow by Editor Mueller. Oaen Donnelly,
a brickliyer, was helped from under
pile Of bricks back of weldin's store, BY
some spectators. lie was so badly fright
ened that he entirely lost his presence Of
mind He was finally quieied and taken
to the Baltimore x Ohio ticket Office, and
later removed TO the Merry Hospital. lie
will probably die.
Il was looking out Of window when
I it fell,' said a pale-faced, intelligent look
ing carpenter, who was working in the
upper story of the Germania bank build
/ ing. on the southwest corner of Wood and
Diamond streets. Il was at work near
the window, and when the terrible burst
Of storm came went TO the window and
looked out. / had scarcely reached the
window when it seemed to me that the
big new building across the street was
moving. ] started to rub my eyes with
my hand, when the great pile Of brick
'oppled over, and | saw / was not dream
ing, and that there was nothing wrong
with my eyes. The whole of the build
ing went over at the same time, rs well
as could Judge. One wall did not 90
{ Iaf,,ra the other huf the frout sities and