West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-04-03

occasion. The managers of tho Louisville
Hotel furnished stretchers aud beds, aud as
fast as the bottles were taken out they were
carried into the hotel. Doctors were sent for
and every attention given Go the wounded and
dying.
The greatest fatality was at Falls CITY
Hall, on the south side OF Market street, near
Twelfth. Tho hall was full OF people. Two
meetings and n dance we're I'm progress. Tho
building was blown down all IN n heap, and
about 80 people were killed aud wounded
The musicians were playing, and
twenty-five on thirty couples were ON
On the third ioor were two large halls The
front was used by the Jewel Lodge OF tho
Knights and Ladies' Of Honor, the back bN3
Humboldt Lodge, n German order OF odd
Fellows. The top floor was used by the Fslla
City MaAons
Besides the dance which was going on the
Jewel Lodge and Humboldt Lodge were both
in session. The people In the lodges wcrd
ranged around the walls of the room i'm u
single rank There were fully 100 Knights
and Ladies' OF Honor present. In the Jewcl
Lodge two-thirds OF them were women and
girls. IL was the regular fortnightly meet
ing of the order. Several men were Co bS
initiated. There Were fully 300 people in the
building Twenty members of the Humboldt
lodge were present
The wind struck the building from behind
IL seemed 10 lift itup dlniost bodily and lay IL
down in heap. The crash was terrific, and
tho rear and front walls were blown com.
petely down, Houses ON both sides were left
standing, As 10 fiOw appears, tho hall Is "a big
mass OF bricks tinibcfs and plastering.
The top Of the building was 50 heavy that
when 10 fell 70 crushed ont all sppca
of rooms, and made the wreck that 10
left almost as solid as the ground. Not
u soul escaped from the building till after
it had fallen. William Jenkins was one
OF the first TO get out OF the debris His
back was badly hurt. lie was not too
badly hurt Co talk. aud told a thrilling story.
III was Just initiated into tile Knights of
Honor. The meeting had been called 70 or
der, the minutes read, and some little pro.
limnary bIisirtess had been transacted
There were about hundred of the members
present, more that half0 ~ them ladies. We
were Just getting ready tdintiete some new
members. l heard terrific blowing
and bowling of the wird. IL rocked
the building slightly. 1 became
frightened aud told the people
around me that We had better get out
but they were all smiling and appeared not
90 loo frightened. Thought NJ one time that
| would get up and So ont myself. thought,
though, IL would look coWnrdly, so I stayed
with the rest. Suddenly the storm seemed
To grow stronger aud the wind yelled like 4
great human voice The window i'm the rear
was blown out and the flying splinters of glass
were scattered all over the hom'. IL had
hardly fallen when the plastering OF the fear
wall began to crumbe and crack and toppld
off In great patches. The crealSing in thJ
house alarmed the hssdmblage and all
started for the door. There was such rusli
that the doorway was blocked and few got
out. These few never reached the street.
There was darkness then. All the lights
went out, and felt the floor sink
ing under me. IL sank slowly, and
10 was several seconds before it struck
with n jar, and ioists, beams, plaster.
ing, and everything came falling down upon
us all 10 was terrible moment when the
floor was going down. The women screamed
wildly, One woman / never knew caught
my wrist and / caught a wOmans arm
and we three went down together. | hap
peDed TO light on my feet. / was hedgod
In by the falling timbers but my hands
were free. ! felt a lot OF people i'm all
sorts OF contorted positions all about me-
There was n little open space beyond; / could
feel into II with my hand. In fifteen minutes
was rescued. i happened 10 be near the
surface
In tile light Of tho bonfire the crowd
fell 10 work on the building. The smothered
cries OF the wounded could be heard from be-
meath the ruins A great many OF them were
near the surface and were quickly exhumed
Fifteen dead bodies were recovered I'm the
first half hour and nunibcr Of wounded
rescued. The surrounding stores were turned
into morgues and hospitals. number ot
wounded were taken into Schreutzo's drug
store, where they we're ministered 10.
AZ ~ o'clock the opening mp OF
City Hall caused draught 20 pen.
etrato the ruins, whereupon tho smoul
dering fre broke out with tremendous
fierceness, II spread rapidly, and forced tho
workers 70 desert the pile. As soon as the
| fire gained headwsy the groaus Of the inn
prisoned people becauie slirieks, and 80 Rrea5
was tho horror OF the moment that the
like wild men. The terrible sufferings
which they were unable 10 alleviate
drove them b. despair Several lines
OF hose were soon throwing water ON
| fore work could be proceeded with, and then
II was carried on with much more difficulty
than before, on account Of the heat.
The coming of the night did not prevent
the bands Of brave rescuers from continuing
their work, but they seemed 10 work more
| silently though no less arduously and TO
lake on the gruesOme appearance
| pf ghOula As each remnant Of
| the piles ~ wreckage was lifted ~ was
with the anticipation ~ uncOveriug 20 view
the lifeless form Of sOne human victim OF
that awful storm. la the presence Of such
/ awful disaster even whisper sounds 80 loud
/ that the uttcrer hesitates half expecting to
sec the dead aroused from his eternal sleep.
As The night wore on. the work became
/ more awful Then the advantage Of light
and IT. fear-dspolling quantities were denied
/ the workers for ell the electric wires were
/ torn down by the storm and left the city tO
be enshrouded in the deepest gloom still
/ tho untiring and strong hearted workers
| continued 10 Dig iu the storm-made graves
| Of the deal
Hundreds Of thousands Of dollars worth Of
! goods lay upon the business streets at the
/ mercy Of thieves. 10 seemed almost imposs.
| bie 70 find stOrehouses for this vast
/ amount ~ merchandise At many places
| towering walls Of brick we're Oscilnting in
! the air ready % descend at any moment.
! These points Of danger were guarded by the
/ police and n military company called the
/ louisville Legion. who drove the surging
/ crowds bnck % the point u the bayOuet. 40
/ the entrance Of the various dead rooms
| stood breathless mob camorIng Tor admit
| touce but 10 wasinvariably refused unless DO
| be ~ identify some relative or friend
a well-attended meeting of the Louisville
! Board Of Trade was held at noon with the
| intention Of discussing some measure for the
| relief ~ the sufferers President William
| Cornwall. Jr, presiding. a Relief Commit
| tee ~ fifty members were selected by The
| President aud consented ~ serve 10 was
| decided that four members should De as.
| signed ~ each block and that all parts Of
| the wrecked district be visited An cstl
| mate ~ the damage was ordered 10 De made
| and help extended 20 the poor people in o.
destitute condition. 10 was requested that
those having teams should close their bust
ness and use every effort ~ assist those need
| ing help. An executive committee ~ seven
was selected o. secure homes for those VIII
| ere homeless Within n few minutes after
the passage OF those resolutions 9i5. 600 bad
been subscribed
! The damage to property in Louisville sill
amount 70 81 800 900