Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-04-11

As soon as the people had in some measure
recovered from the shock produced by the
convulsion and its attending horror, they
went to work heroically 70 rescue the victims.
In every piled-up heap OF debris hum an
being might be heard moaning for aid, and
the search was prosecuted with ylgor, though
under great disadvantages. Inc lamps
had all been extingulshed, and tnac
portion Of the CITY was in darkness. The
streets were filled with all kinds of lTnpedl-
ments. mass of wires, roofing, fences,
loose boards stones and innumerabie other
things The police and fire departments
were early on the scene. All night long the
work was prosecuted and many bodies were
recovered and many wounded cared for.
Every house was thrown open and be-
came a temporary hospital, and there
was consequently no lack of accommodations
The solemn faces and gloomy looks of the
spectators showed how thoroughly they were
affected by the terrible catastrophe. As each
tOdy was removed cries from brother. sister
other relatives added to the horror OF the
occasion. The managers Of the Louisville
Hotel furnished stretchers and beds, and as
carried into the hotel. Doctors were sent for,
and every attention given TO the wounded and
dying.
The greatest fatality was at Falls City
Hall on the south side of Market street, near
Twelfth. The hall was full of people. Two
meetings and dance were in progress. The
building was blown down all IN a heap, and
about $50 people were killed and wounded.
The musicians were playing, and
twenty-five or thirty couples were on
the floor when the storm came.
On the third floor were two large halls. The
front was used by the Jewel Lodge of the
Knights and Ladies Of Honor, the back by
Humboldt Lodge, a German order of Odd
Fellows. The top floor was used by the Falls
City Masons.
Besides the dance which was going on the
Jewel Lodge and Humboldt Lodge were both
in session. The people in the lodges were
ranged around the walls of the room in
single rank. There were fully 100 Knights
and Ladies of Honor present. In the Jewel
Lodge twO-thirds of them were women and
girls. 1t was the regular fortnightly meet
ing of the order. Several men were to be
initiated. There were fully 300 people in the
building. Twenty members Of the Humboldt
Lodge were present.
The wind struck the building from behind
It seemed to lift it up almost bodily and lay it
down in heap. The crash was terrific, and
the rear and front walls were blown COM
pietely down. Houses on both sides were left
standing, AS it now appears, the hall is big
mass of bricks, timbers, and plastering.
The top of the building was SO heavy that
when it fell it crushed out all space
of rooms, and made the wreck that it
left almost as solid as the ground. Not
a 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. He was not too
badly hurt to talk, and told thrilling story.
Il was just initiated into the Knights of
Honor. The meeting had been called to or
der, the minutes read, and some little pre-
liminary business had been transacted.
There were about hundred of the members
present, more than half of them ladies. We
were just getting ready to initiate some new
hQTc orS UI0O
and bowling Of the wind. 1t rocked
frightened and told the people
around me that we had better get out,
but they were all smiling and appeared not
to lie frightened. l thought at one time that
[ would get up and go out myself. [ thought,
though, it would look cowardly, so l stayed
with the rest. Suddenly the storm seemed
to grow stronger and the wind yelled like a
great human voice. The window in the rear
was blown out and the flying splinters of glass
were scattered all over the floor. 1t had
hardly fallen when the plastering Of the rear
wall began to crumble and crack and tOpple
off in great patches. The creaking in the
house alarmed the assemblage, and all
started for the door. There was such rush
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 l felt the floor sink
ing under me. 1t sank slowly, and
it was several seconds before it struck
with a jar, and joists, beams, plaster
ing and everything came falling down upon
us all. 1t terrible moment when the
floor was going down. The women screamed
wildly. One woman [ never knew caught
my wrist and [ caught a woman'S arm,
and we three went down together. I hap
pened to light on my feet. [ was hedged
in by the falling timbers but my hands
were free. | felt a lot of people in all
sorts of contorted positions all about me,
There was a little open space beyond: [ could
feel into it with my hand. In fifteen minutes
was rescued. l happened to be near the
surface"
In the light of the bonfire the crowd
fell to 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 in the
first half hour and a number of wounded
rescued. The surrounding stores were turned
into morgues and hospitals A number of
wounded were taken into Schreutzes drug
store, where they were ministered to.
At II o'clock the opening up of a
portion of the debris Of the Falls
City Hall caused a draught to pen
citrate the ruins whereupon the smoul-
dering fire broke out with tremendous
tierceness. 1t spread rapidly, and forced the
workers to desert the pile. AS soon the
fire gained Roadway the groans Of the i'm
prlSOned people became Shrleks, and so great
was the horror of the moment that the
grew frantic and ran about
like wild men, The terrible sufferings
which they were unable to alleviate
drove them to despair Several lines
OF hose were soon throwing water on
the flames but it was more than an hour be-
fore work could be proceeded with, and then
it 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 to work more