Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1890-03-30


The loss of property on Market street,
between Tenth and Eleventh was
greater on the whole than that between
Eleventh ana Twelfth, where Falls City
hall fell; but in comparison to the life
lost at the lat ter place it sinks into in
significance.
G. w. Becker's large three story brick
trent had the facade blown away. The
store and residence of Isaac Slaughter,
1908 Market street, was totally demol-
ished in the rear. Four children who
were sleeping up stairs were protected
from the falling wall by the head OF
their bed.
Blown Out OF the Window.
Mrs Slaughter, who was sleeping in
the front room. was lifted from her bed
and blown out OF the window into the
middle of the street. One arm was
broken and some internal injuries are
feared. The four-story brick store of
Nj. j. Doyle was left a complete wreck.
All the other buildings on the square on
both sides of street, were unroofed and
most of the upper stories utterly gone.
Even after the force of the wind had
been broken the remnants lifted street
car from the track and blew it fifteen
feet.
Between Tenth and Eleventh no one
was killed, but a few wounded. The
stores and buildings between Eleventh
and Twelfth, opposite the Falls City
hall, are comparatively unhurt. On the
south side the damage was greater, but
all the force of the cyclone seemed CEN
tered on the Falls City hall.
The Killel In Fails City HALL.
Probably the greatest loss of life oc-
CURED at the Falls City hall, which was
in the center of the tornado. in the
lower rooms of the hall were fifty or
seventy-iive children, with their mothers
and other relatives taking dancing les
sons. There were at least l25 persons
on the lower floors and seventy five
more attending 4 lodge meeting on the
upper floor when the terrible wind
swooped down upon the building. The
entire structure in less than five MIN
utes was a ShapeieSs mass of brick and
mortar, burying 200 helpless victims, of
which number few escaped uuinJured.
Conservative estimates place the loss OF
life at this point 1T 100, while other re-
ports Indicate the numb Der nearer 200.
Immediately upon the burst OF the
cyclone the fire bells sounded and the
police were at work. Within ten min
utes posse appeared at the Falls City
hall wreck.
Digging Out the Victims.
When the force of police appeared at
the Falls City hall the walls OF the adj
Joining hou were first propped, and
then began the work of cutting through
the heavy slate roof that covered all.
At first work was difficult aud labor
ious on account of the anxious multi
tude that thronged the wreck. Difficult
was the task to clear the ruin, OF women
who were fonnd digging at the slate
with their fingers, craZed at the groanS
beneath. each of which they thought
assembled from their dying. Every one
did NOBLE work.
After an. hour of ceaseless labor the
first victim, Mrs. Sarah Kelly, was UNI
earthed. Her body was touni sitting
in an upright position, her head bruised
and arm broken. She said at the first
quake a mad rush was made for the
entrance. Women were knocked down
and trampied on in the mad attempt to
escape Seeing the overwhelming Jam
at the door. several remained behind.
The last she saw of her friends was Just
before the floor gave way and the cell
ing fell. i
The work was continued, but none OF
those whom Mrs. Kelly said were near
her could be found.
Ten Found in Bunch.
The excavation was then moved from
tI,e rear Of the building TO the front.
where it was supposed the greater
crowd was gathered. As soon as the
roofing was removed and the mass OF
brick beneath. the first sight that met
the ewes was anything but hopeful.
Ten women, locked in each others
arms, were drawn out OF the debris. Mr.. 4,
James Hasson. whose wife had been at
the lodge meeting, was foremost In the
work. and the first person whom he
drew out OF the ruined building was his |
wife. who died in his arms. He laid
her by the side of the others who were
dead and continued to work for the liv-
ing.
inside of the next hour thirty men
and women were drawn out dead, but
with no wounds on their bodies and II
IS thought all met their death from sui
The gas pipes had broken. |
which caused the lights to go out and
which saved the ruins from fire for the
time. but flooded the debris with d
vapor almost as deadly as the fire
might have proven.
At 10 o'clock the opening up Of
portion of the debris of the Falls City
,aIl caused draught to penetrate TIL
ruins, whereupon the smouIdering fire
broke out with tremendous tierceness.
L spread rapidly and forced the WORK
men to desert the piles. AS soon as the
ire gained Roadway the groans of the
imprisoned people became shrleks, and
% great was the horror of the moment
hat the watchers were frantic and
screamed and ran about like wild, the
terrible suffering which they were UNI
able to alleviate driving them to de-
spair. .,
Several lines of hose were soon throw
ne water on the flames, but 1t was
more than an hour before the work
,ould be proceeded with, and then 1T
vas carried on with much more dlfn-
,ulty than before on account OF heat.
1850, ~ r1rrr IrIrTTnFS