The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-10
he terrified workmen and then their

miles around. IL was beautiful sight
and could have been enjoyed but for the
awful calamity which accompanied it, In
the meantime the fire department was
called out, but its services were unavail-
ing. The building and cars were con-
sumed in fifteen minutes aud nothing left
but blackencd, smoking ruins under which
lay four human beings burned 10 a crisp.
Their names are John kaller, Albert
Lindberger, Sheridan Jones and George
Schaier. 1t was rumored that several
Others had been killed, but these are the
only ones who 1t was known lost their
lives. Aaron Dewalt, another employe in
the paint shop, had his arm broken. and
George Knapp was injured internally, no
doubt fatally. The loss to the railroad
company is fully $4,000
While thus was all going on, the storm
was travelling forward with fearful rapidity.
IL must have Travelled at the rate oi
100 MILES An HOUR.
1t struck some private houses and un-
rooied dozen private residences. The
huge sheets OF tin were carried half q
square away and deposited in lot. Then
the storm proceeded in its full fury. Di.
rectly in its path at the corner OF Twelfth
and Marian streets stood the Reading silk
mill, one Of the industries OF the city in
which the citizens took the greatest pride.
Here some 100 happy girls were working.
The building was huge structure, most
substantially built, four stories in
hight, and had basement besides. Ii
occupied an entire block OF ground. The
size OF the builing itself was nearly 800
feet in length and about $50 feet wide. II
was surmounted by n massive tower fully
100 feet from the ground. The funnel
shaped stOrm-cloud struck the building
directly in the center on It's broadside,
which faced the west II fell TO pieces,
~ II composed OF 80 many building blocks.
NEARLY 200 HUMAN BEINGS WENT Down
in the awful wreck Human tongue can
not tell the terrible scenes OF the hour.
The walls gave way. the floors fell down,
one ON top OF the other, and carried their
great mass OF human beings TO the bottom.
The bricks were piled up in the greatest
confusion, while amid the hurricane and
whistling, rushing roaring wind the terri.
ble cries lor succor were sent upto heaven.
Ii was a moment that tried mems souls,
and almost simultaneously with the fall Of
the building came the awful cries
for relief. Girls with blanchcd faces,
bruised and broken limbs. their clothing
tlttered and torn. dragged themselves
from the ruins 30 probably seyenty-iive
10 100 escaped or were dragged out by their
friends. These oil course, worked on the
upper floors and were thrown near the top
OF the debris. At some places the bricks
were piled twenty feet deep, and under.
meath are lying tonight human bodies by
the score. About go girls aud young
F..lt. las.
for the day. They returned TO
their homes before the storm came.
The most reliable estimate Of to-
night places the number in the building
when IL went down in the ncighbOrhood
OF l75 and, ~ before stated, 100 OF these
were rescued by friends or dragged them
selves out Immediately after the accident.
The alarm Tor relief was Immediately sent
out and in a short time thousands OF cti.
zcns arrived 10 help take out the dead aud
dying.
THE SCENE WAS 4 NARROWING ovk
and bcggars description. The mill Is sit.
uaied near the foot Of Mount Penn, high
mountain overlooking the city. When
the people arrived everything was cnycl.
opcd in darkness. Then huge boniires
were built. Which east dismal glare
on the surrounding scene. The fire com.
panics left the burning paint shop and rs.
sisted In the rescue OF the dead and the
dying. Tho entire police force was called
out: the ambulanccs aud relief corps aud a
thousand people were In among the debris,
carrying out bricks. pulling away timbcn
aud assisting wherever they could. all at
the same time, but their work was slow
comparcd with the demand for the rescue
Of the victims vi the disaster. Here a
Young woman was taken out all bruised,
suffering with cuts aud bruises. One
body noticed, NJ II was dragged out, had
iis head cut off. Others were in
various postures. tho living all sui-
fering from the most terrible wounds, and
some almost scared 10 death. The Associ.
nted Press representative entered what was
once the basement OF the building and
cropping his way through the debris noticed
five bodies Of young girls lying close to-
gcther. lie tried 20 pull them out, but
they were pinned down, aud Il wis impOs.
sible TO get them out. They were dead
and bcyond all human aid.
Up 20 1890 o'clock tonight probably tho
bodies Of n dozen dead have been taken
out, while the greater portion Of the ~.
mainder wore still under the ruins. The
work Of rescue will be pushed all night.
but II may b. Tar into tomorrow be.
fore anything like all the bodies are
taken out. The rcscucfs still have the
greatest hopes that some VI those inside
are still living. aud there IL every reason
for saying that In this persons who believe
that way aTa right. All s chaos and con-
fusion around the mill
ans ..N.aVUa ans N,tastgs
and the correct number Of dead IA merely
gucrwork. II may not be over forty, and
then again nj this hour there " a likoli.
hood that Il will reach sixty or eighty.
The silk mill was built about four years
ago. The builders were Reading capital.
isis, and the cost OF putting it up was
sG9. 900. The mill was leased to
Grimshaw Bros, Of Paterson, n. j.,
where they alGo operate similar mills, aud
/ they have been running u ever since. The
machinery they put In iho mil cost SIS.
600. This u a total loss. Whom the As.
socaicl Press reporter visited the scene oi
the wreck at II o clock tonight ho found
everything In the greatest confusion. Al
/ that time about dozen dead bodies had
been taken ont Among those who are
dead aro the following
TmE DEAD.
Henry Crockcr, foreman n the silk mill
and married. twenty-five years old head
crushed IN, neck aud arm broken, from
New London, Conn.
Laura kcnhnor.
Eva Leeds.
Lille Grow.
Katie bowman.