Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-12
GIVING UP ITS DEAD,
The Remnant of the Storms
Wreck Yields 16 Bodies,
WITH POSSIBLY MORE.
Hard Work Recovering Remains of
DR.. Read aud Young Carroll.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS TO NOTE.
The Funerals of Some of the Victims Held
Yesterday Afternoon.
WITH POSSIBLY MORE.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS TO NOTE.
THE INQUEST AND ITS INDICATIONS

In spite of the continuous cold, raw air
yesterday morning the number of spectators
around the scene of the fallen ruins on Dia-
mond and Wood streets swere large as ever.
AT an early hour Mr.. Finn and his gang
of men, who had done such efficient work
during the entire night left the place. after
completely clearing out the cellar of the
Wiley building and the rear of the south
part of Weldin's store. These men had
discovered the bodies of five more victims
of the disaster viz: Albert Goettmann,
Charles McKeown, George Blendinger,
Leonard Schif'hauer and DR.. James L.
Read, the latter being taken out about 6
A. NJ.
Blendincer and Schiffhaur were dis
covered in the rear of the Wiley building
at about 80 o'clock in the morning. They
were lying closely together, wedged in an
almost inextricable position among the
debris. 1t took the men about an hour to
get them away from under the rubbish.
When the two men were at last gotten out
their bodies were so mutilated as not to be
recognizable, except for clothing and other
like differences. The police authorities
ordered them to be taken to the morgue,
where they were identified afterward and
removed to their respective homes.
TO FIND THE DOCTOR.
But still the body of DR.. Read had not
been recovered, and on account of the
prominence of that gentleman and his large
acquaintance in the city, the men were
anxious to get at the bottom of the cellar in
Weldin's store According to the elevator
bows story, the remains of the doctor were
supposed to be near the elevator. Mr..
Finn ordered an additional force of men
over to the Weldin building, and the work
was now concentrated on the one object:
"Let us find Dr. Read before we do any
thing else"
Fresh -vigor and an increased persever-
ance were called into requisition, and at
last their efforts were repaid by the recovery OF
Dr. Reads remains. He was found to be lying
near the elevator His face presented very
lifelike appearance. Nothing but cash on his
forehead disfgured his countenance. His
body was also but slightly mutiated Nothing
but his abdomen bore any marks of severe in
jurieS. His body was taken to Samson's under
taking rooms and prepared for burial.
The deceased was born in Philadelphia, and
early in life studied for the ministry and en-
tered the itineracy of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. In those days the denomination was
in its infancy. and he endured all the priva-
tions and hardships to which the itinerant min
listers were subjected. He came west shortly
after being received into the ministry, and was
appointed on the old Redstone circuit. He was
subsequently, stationed at Washington, Wheel
ing and at other places. After some years his
throat became affected, and in 1887 he was COM
PEELED to accept superannuated relation and
never again resumed active work in the minis
try During his long life, however, he fire.
quently preached.
After retiring from the ministry he located
permanently in Pittsburg, having been ap-
pointed local agent for the book concern of the
NJ E. Church. In connection with this he
opened a general bookstore, and for many
wears carried on business on Fourth avenue
near where the Fourth National BanF is now
located He also practiced medicine, and was
one of the first homeopathic physicians in the
city, It was Dr. Read who first introduced
homeopathic medicine in this city, and he
caused the preachers very frequently to take
up cudgels for the new medical treatment in
their pulpIts
THE MEDICINES FIRST NAME.
He opened up homeopathic drugstore in
connection with his bookstore, and homeo-
pathic medicine was for long time known
only in this city by the name of ''Dr. Reeds
pills" In 1869 he retired from the book and
drug business, disposing of his store in the
former line to James R. Weldin & Co.
The practice of medicine he continued, how
ever and he was still active a HOMEOPATHIC
practitioner even at the time of his death,
when he was 81 years of age. His wife died
some wears since, but he leaves behind him tive
children, Charles II. Read, of the window
glass works; DR.. ]. SAINT. Read. st. Louis; Mrs.
Simon Johnston, Mrs. William Mccullough
and Mrs. George L. Mccoy of Sheffield street,
Allegheny. He made his home with Mrs. Nc
Coy. and the funeral, which will be on Satur-
day will take place from Christ NJ. L. Church |
The remains will be inferred in Homewood
Cemetery.
found DR.. Read had gone, no one would trouble |
about the rest of the missing, it would have |
been a mistake. The Department of Public |
Safety detailed number of men to the scene |
of the disaster.
About this time it was rumored that man |
who had worked in Eichbaum's printing estab- |
lishment had been buried under a pile of bricks |
in a small alley which divides the Eichbaum |
and Wiley buildings. He was supposed to |
have been cleaning the windows on the second |
floor when the cyclone blew down the Wiley /
building and, as the walls fell. he might have |
been Knocked down. However, an entire |
cleaning of the alley from debris failed to find |
him.
Another rumor was afioat by which it was as |
certained that young Hebrew had been seen |
going into Thomas store for some leather, a |
few minutes before the accident occurred. /
Nobody had seen him come out again. and the |
conclusion arrived at therefore, was that he |
was also buried in the cellar. His name was \
given as John Schuck An investigation, how |
ever brought out the fact that, although the |
young man had been in the shop just before |
the crash came, he had left in time to escape.
ONCE MORE REVIVED.
Then the stories about the ladies supposed to |
be buried in the rear of Weldins store came |
up again. But that also had to be recorded as |
a production of some imagination. Several of |
the young men from weIdin's store who were |
questioned upon the subject, emphatically de- |
MED the possibility of such thing. Said one |
of these gentlemen:
There was not lady in the rear of the store |
when the accident occurred. Those who were !
in our employ had all gone to dinner, and the /
lady customers were all in the front of our |
store Everyone of the persons in the store a; /
the time of the disaster has been accounted /
for and none of them is missing"
In the meantime the work of removing the |
debris and the stock in Weldin's store was con- l
tinued, and several men were also occupied in |
clearing away the ruins of the north wall of /
the Wiley building, which tumbled into the |
rear of Thomas store. Since there were only |
two bodies found in the cellar of the Wiley |
building, where it was thought at least six |
would be found, the theory gained credence |
that some OF the men had probably tumbled
with the wall behind the Thoma building. But,
up to last night, no one had been discovered |
there.
During the forenoon the rumor suddenly
spread on the streets that boy had been found |
in the ruins, and that he was still alive. This |
story had originated from the simple fact that |
Dennis Carty, who since the accident had been
with friends, had been removed to the Homeo-
pathic Hospital Young Dennis and his sister,
Alice, were passing in the front of Weldin's |
store on their way TO school when the crash
came. and both had been badly injured. Alice |