The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-08-29
. Games n Dull Roar. Followed by
Falling of the
Walls.
,,rendin~ Scenes of Sorrow Dur
ing the Search for the
Bodies.
TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE.
inc buildings, Explosion and Fire
Work Havoc and Death.

TW loNhs
ous and terrible accident occurred
afternoon at 1890 in Park Place be-
Lpn Greenwich street and College
be-, At that time the street was filled
hurrying people and heavily laden
Ions and trucks. First a small vapor
cloud burst from the ground floor of
20. - and "A Park Place, then was
nd a dull, deep, sullen roar as if some
lister was trying to break his
de, The roar was followed by a dis
tion and a mass of stone and timber
hurled 80 feet heavenward. The
Is of terror of men and the almost
han screams of horses were only a
accompaniment of the terrible
he which instantly followed. Not
he than a second could possibly nave
bsed before the front walls of Nos. 20,
and "A fell crashing into the street.
those who saw the sight it was hor-
ly attractive. The great walls slowly
ed and swelled out with an undulat-
motion until-s slowly at first. but
In more rapidly-they gave way and
a moment there was not a stick or
jnc standing above the first floor be
Zen the dividing walls. The walls Of
\ standing buildings were jagged as
cks were torn out in places. There
not remain the slightest semblance
what had been three seconds before.
harcntly a strong and well constructed
ildjng. The mass of brick and stone
timber fell upon the sidewalk and
he'd half the width of the street.
Al first there was no sign of fire. The
@tention of those who were gathered
bm all quarters was attracted 10y the
lind Of escaping gas, which was spout
! forth from IA pipe which had been
bken by the falling walls. y number
electric wires had been torn down.
brtunatcly the current had been turned
from all but one but that one wire
IN the middle of College and Park
bee and spitefuliy flashed out its dead
electric fluid. The fear Of the electric
res caused the immense crowd to surge
I'm one side of the street to the other.
the meantime the fire had broken out
ID was licking tho lower part Of No. GS.
least fifty men had c%lambered up on
+ pile of ruins hoping to rescue some
the unfortunate people who were
Sown to be buried in the
fins, They were driven from
(eir posts by the fire. which was spread
K rapidly. 1t had burst out of the
bier side of the ruins and ran rapidly
the elevator shaft at the main en-
Rnce to a block of buildings of which
bs. 20, y and 7G were a part.
For a time the Kissing steam fought
e fire. but as that died out the ele-
ent made more Roadway.
Z III the fire department could have been
the scene at the time of the explosion
e terrible effect of the fire would have
zen prevented in a large part. AS it
hs the first contingent of the lire de-
artment did not make its appearance
htil five minutes after the explosion,
|he delay was due to the blocked con.
ition Of Murray street and Park place
nd Church street. TO those who were
the slowly creeping flames. the
clay was "A terrible strain. SUDDEN!
be fire Durst out in darkly colored
ames from the third. fourth and fifth
tories Of that part of the building on
lark place next to Greenwich street
his part of the building was occupied
y Lindsay's type foundry. The floors
other parts of the place were satur
ted with oil or some other in
ammable material which fec
le flames generously. A murmul
IN through the throng that the build
e was lost and the multitude shud
cred at thinking of the fate of the oc
Ipants of the ruined and burning par
the building. When the full force OF
remen did at last get to work the head
ay of the fire was soon checked 10y
skilled endeavors. AS interest il
explosion and falling walls IN
subsidized horrible conIectures
ere circulated as to how many were IN
lred in the ruins.
Working people, as we'll as those en-
aged in offices and warehouses. general
get their luncheon at noon or 6
tile later. There was a cheaI
,staurant on the ground floor Of "A il
'hich it was thought there were abou'
twenty-five persons when the accident
ccurred. In the upper portion of the
uilding there was a large number O
people employed by the firm o
thographers and other trades. 1t il
ot known how many people were EN-
loyed in the places, but as Saturday il
.cognized as a half-holiday, beginning
I l p. M, it is presumed that most o
hem who were not out getting some
hing to eat were in the buildings. 4
eep feeling of horror spread
the throng as the estimates o
he number of victims were passed from
louth to mouth. For almost two hour
his was almost the only subject Of in
uiry. 1t was on the lips of every one
the whole of those long TIVE
ours the fire reigned supreme. 1t coulC
OF be sufficiently subdued to permi
he firemen to make any effort to extri
ate the dead and wounded. The mum
of dead was variously estimated a
rom 90 to 200. Policeman Back said h,
Iauled three men out of the kitchen il
he basement under the Hudson restau
ant. He entered the basement througl
plumbing shop. Back said that h
aw at least fifty person
buried in the basement
ONE of them were alive and calling