The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-06-06
FROM DANVILLE.


A Five-stOry Brick Building Blown
Down and Six People killed-A
Young Lady From Lynchburg Com
mits Suicfde-Sam Jones and his
Wonderful Preaching.
DANvILLE, VA, June 3, 1889.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF:-Thursday after
noon about 2:3O o'clock the large brick
tobacco factory of Mr.. J. G. Penn, stu
ated on Bridge street, was blown to the
ground by severe wind storm. The
factory was nearing completion; was Sd
feet wide, 200 long, s stories high in real
and ) in front
When the building fell in the fire alarm
was sounded and soon the streets in the
neighborhood of the scene were thronged
with people, all anxious and eager to do
what could be done for the unfortunates
who had been caught under the brick
and timbers. The dead and mangled
bodies were taken from the ruins as rap
idly as possible. 1t was the most shock.
ing scene ever witnessed in this city. AS
the dead and wounded were rescued they
were placed in adjoining factories until
they could be removed to their homes in
Danville and North Danville. Nearly all
the physicians in town were soon with
them.
The following is a list of the killed and
wounded:
Robert Pruett, W. NJ. Young, carpen.
ters, killed outright
Buck Hooker, cOlOred, labOrer, killed
outright
&. B. Jones, D. n Collie, Henry E
Cakes, all carpenters, died "a few hours
after the accident occurred.
W. H. Crawley, r. O. Soyars, E. W
Young, and Tom Carter, the latter col
Ored, all badly injured, but not now con
sidered dangerously SO. Some of them
have broken bones but it is thought will
recover. Others, whose names are not
mentioned, slightly hurt
The brick-layers and hOd-carriers had
finished their work on the top story and
had not left the building more than 10
minutes when the crash came. But for
that fact the number of killed and
wounded doubtless would have been
counted by the Dozen The brick-layers
when leaving their work noticed the walls
were sprung. Some of the carpenters
were in the fifth and sixth stories and the
wonder is that every human being in the
building was not instantly crushed to
death by the brick and heavy timbers.
They were scattered in all parts of the
building bracing the walls when the
tumble came
Most OF the men killed leave large fam
lilies. Mr.. Cakes had only been in Dan
vile few months and was to have been
married on the 9Th inst. The young lady
he was to marry attended the burial Sat
urday and it is said was about frantic
with grief. He was converted at the late
Sam Jones meeting. Those of the men
killed were buried Saturday
A few months ago, Miss Bertha Mays,
young lady from Lynchburg, pretty
and attractive, came to North Danville
and found employment in the Riverside
cotton factory. She boarded with Mrs.
Tanner in North Danville and soon won
the affections of Mr.. Chas. Lacy, a young
man who keeps small grocery store on
that side of the river. They were to have
been married about a week ago but the
night before the day appointed for the
marriage, from some cause unknown. the
young lady took the train for her home
in Lynchburg, leaving the disappointed
young man to bewail his fate. It is said
he furnished her wedding trousseau in
order to hasten on the marriage.
She came back to Danville last Thurs
day and wished to renew her promise of
marriage, but the young man did not
readily consent to this. She then went
to her boarding house, spent the night
and the next morning went to his place
OF business again. Finding him out she
went and procured phial of laudanum
and partook of it freely for the purpose
OF ending her life. She was found. taken
to her boarding house, and on complaint
the police took charge of her and every
possible effort made to arouse her from
the stupOr but to no effect. Doctors
were on hand and men and women did
everything in their power to revive her.
The electric battery was applied and she
was put through the walking process.
She died at II o'clock Friday night. Her
mother was notified by telegraph.
BY subscription a sufficient sum of
money was raised to have the body pre-
pared for burial and on Sunday morning
the remains of the unfortunate girl were
sent to Lynchburg.
Her mother is a poor woman but q
highly respectable dress-maker in LYNCH
burg
This is a very sad case and has been
the subject OF much conversation Many
rumors are af1oat and perhaps there are
some facts connected with this affair that
have not been brought out.
| notice from last GOLD LEAF the sug
gestlOn that Sam Jones be induced to
visit Henderson for ten days meeting.
| am sure If he could be gotten all would
be highly pleased with him. | confess
that before he came to sDanville |, like
many Others, was prejudiced against him
from what l had heard and read, but
that feeling was soon removed. Danville
is Just charmed with him and he has con-
sented to come here again next spring.
He preached % sermons here to from
!, 900 to 5000 people at each service and
the result of his work was over 1000
professions. He speaks in a converse
5Ional tone and yet 5000 people can
lear him as distinctly as 100. He is the
most fearless preacher ever listened to
md speaks just as he thinks; does not
tand much on creeds; his religion being:
Quit your meanness." To give an
dea OF the man quote an extract from
letter of DR.. John E. Edwards, written
o the Richmond Christian Advocate. He
avs:
Sam Jones is sight the like of
'hlch never saw before and new exDect
"oo aSaIH. 1Here was Sucn an I'M
lense preponderance in favor of what he
aid and did that the little points of dis
ent and objection We're as nothing. He
a grand mana most wonderful man.
lie Is not amenable to any known stand
rds. He made me laugh and crv by
nrns till became as limp and pliable as
dish rag. He sometimes took the
reath out of me SO that | came in be-
md time on the amen Such an occa- !