The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-11

LockpOrt, ~. f.-fuu
Details.
IN READING, Pa, Jan. l0.-Thereis mourn.
ing and sorrow in many households in
Reading today. A pail Of death hangs over
the city. Fathers and mothers, brothers
and sisters. relatives and friends are grief
stricken over the wreck Of last night. Over
100 spirits are hushed forever in death rs
a result OF the wreck and ruin wrought in
this city by the storm. The cyclone left
the entire city in darkness, which was only
relieved by the electric lights and huge
bonfres which shed their lurid glare on
the scene of death. All night long brave
and willing hands assisted in the work Of
the rescue OF the dead The disaster is
fully as bad as reported in these dispatches
last night. The list of fatal cases will fully
reach 100 and may be more. The hospitals
and undertaking establishments are filed
; with victims. The physicians are all busy,
and many private houses have been opened
for the accommodation Of the injured.
When the first gray streak OF early
morning appeared ii portrayed beautifully
.asmiing sun, and everything was directly
in contrast with the fury Of last night
To-day all is again bright and glorious in
the heavens, as though hooking the work
|of last night. The Polish Church disaster
= oi several months ago WIS one Of the most
horrible accidents that has startled this
k.gmmunity, but tho loss of life by that
1aiil cave-in sinks into comparative insig-
niGcauce when placed in parallel with the
awful visitation OF last evening.
WORDS OF SYMPATHY
and heartfelt tokens OF coincidence will
doubtless not be wanting but they will be-
meaningless expressions II unaccompanicd
with some substantial offer Oi assistance 10
some OF the families vino have been so
suddenly aud heavily stricken. For the
purpose Of offering this needed aid, Mayor
kenuey, at o'clock this morning, issued
the following proclamation:
81 hereby earnestly appeal TO the PROBES.
sional, business and other citizens, who
may be able 10 respond, to meet nj the
courthouse this afternoon nj 1870 o'clock
10 devise Ways and means 30 aid the in.
iurcd and assist the families OF those who
persisted last night in the fall OF the silk.
mill and at the Philadelphia 4 Reading
painlshop. The fearful cyclone that struck
this city nj $50 o'clock last evening has
brought sorrow and want 10 many OF our
people who are In such circumstances ~
10 be- unable Ia meet the emergency, and
the occasion calls loudly for Immediate
action. Quick to respond 10 Others in dis
tres, do not fail TO do speedy Justice to
our own grief stricken people.
The work of rescue was greatly retarded
from the singular manner in which the
silkmill collapsed. II did not blow over.
but was badly crushed down, falling ia
upon itself. Not ycstigc Of the walls aic
remaining above the stone foundation.
The raiters and tmbers Of the flooring pro-
jcciei in all directions. As the building
va. steam heated the ruins did not take
Gre, otherwise not one Of the nniouunatcs
.. build possibly have escaped death In the
most appalling form.
TnE ONLY EYE WITNESS
10 the disaster 10 lar ~ Is known was Mn.
\ Gcrmill. residing on Mulberry street.
at about twenty minutes Of six
o'clock, she said H. a reporter. 81 heard
an awful crash, and, thinking il was the
new house which l. being put up along
side Of n. | ran to the front door. great
cloud OF dust hung over the silkmill, aud
could hear crashing 81 timbcn and the
roar Of falling walls. The next moment
Eaw the mill grrat heap Of ruins-irom
the midst Of which came such awful moan
ing aud gfoaning aud terrible cries ~
never want 10 hear again. Not a soul did
see come out Of ihc mill, aud Il seemed
many minutes 10 me before anybody came
20 ,ho spot. ! stood there IN the door like
one struck dumb until my husband came
running from his work"
Teams Of every description, omnibuscs.
funeral coaches fire wagons, hospital vans
and private vehicles were pressed into ser.
vice and were running rapidly 10 and
from the scene oi tho disaster MI night
long. bearing bodies OF the wounded.
diving aud dead to their homes. or TO the
different hospitals. From the statement
II some Of those who escaped from the
building, II appears 10 have come down In
m instant. There was loud crash OF
breaking timbens, and persons In the mill
vi rushed toward the main doors. A good
many Of them succeeded In getting out,
ghilc four girls saved themselves by Jump.
ing from the second story windows.
Tho first rumbling noise was followed
Instantly by the falling Of the building,
ihe uppersiories going first, with shuman
'oad. Had Il not been for the fact that
p-i, few Of tho hands were on the third
and fourth floors at the time, scarcely
liir would have been saved.
NR. GEonGr GRESHAM,
ono Of the prophelors Of the mill, who was
n the Office at the time aud barely escaped
with his life. having received several se-
we're wounds on the head, stated that there
were, 10 the best Of his knowledge, about
US persons principally girls aud boys, IN
the establishment az the time Of the oc-
curfcncc. Up 20 3 o'clock this monirg
large majority u the victims were stlii m
the ruins George Crinsbaw, just before