The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-05


o'clock. The walls were hardly COM
plete, and the continuous rain yester-
day morning boat upon them till the
green mortar was soft, and when the
wind camo over they went with ruin
and rout.
The north wall went first and was fol-
lowed by tho south wall, bursting upon
the livery stable on the north side and
crashing it like a bundle Of reeds.
l.. Is. Herring, stable boss for Rogers
81 O'Bricn, who had lately rented the
stable, was killed outright. lie was in
the stable at the time, and before he
had time TO escape was buried beneath
heap of bricks and heavy ioists from
the falling building.
c. w. Lovelacc, also an cmployc of
Rogers & O'l'ricn, was buried beneath
the ruins and sustained injuries to the
right hip, and tho big toe of the right
foot was badly crushed.
Two horses wero killed and n mulc
sustained fatal injuries. Lovcace was
buried beneath the ruins with horse,
which kicked him in the face while ne
wrcstled with tho death agony.
Whom the crash came there were
about twenty horses in the building. c.
l.. Miller who formerly owned the
livery stable, and who lives at ais
Henry street, or just two doors away in
Il double tenement which adjoins the
wrecked building, rushed out Of the
house closely followed by the family.
NJ H. Jones, who boards near by, ran
at once u the scene OF the wreck, and
hearing the groans OF man beneath.
went TO Williams livery stable Just
across tho street and turned in an
alarm to the fire department for assis-
lance.
The fircmcn quickly responded and
aided by number Of citizens who l. ad
gathered, began the work of rescuinr
the unfortunate man, whose cries for
help could he heard in tho ruins below.
Never did men work with more vigor.
Soon Lovelace was dragged out and car
ricd to Charles Millcr's house A phy-
stefan was sent for, and the man placed
on bed up stairs.
Lovclace told his roscucrs that an
other man was in the ruins, and was
probably killed, as he had not heard
him cry for help.
The party continued their work, and
soon found the body of l.. Il. Herring
crushed and mangled in horrible
manner. He was dead when found
and the body was borne to the vacant
house next door TO tho wrecked build
ing.
DR.. Butler had in the meantime ar
rived, and dressed Lovelacc's wounds.
His hip was badly hurt, and the toe of
his right foot crushed, but the wounds
were not considered serious.
E. A. Thurman, one Of the owrers of
the building, was on tho third story at
the time the crash came, but tho east
wall did not fall but stood firm. Thur
man realized his pcrilous position and
slid down some timbcrs and landed
safely on top of the ruins. He was
much frightened and ran out of the
house as fast as lie could.
The eastern wall Of the building and
portion Of the side wall adjoining it
remained standing, but in a warped and
dilapidated condition. The livery
stable was crushed through the center
and damaged throughout. II was built
OF frame work and tho roof and sides
covered with thin sheet iron, or galyan-
lied roofing.
Herring and Lovelace were attending
the horses when tho crash came. Both
were on the north side next to tho
wrecked building, but Herring was in a
moro dangerous position, and received
the full force OF the crash. Lovelace
was about fifteen or twenty feet from
him and the weight Of the falling debris
was kept of. his body BY n horse by his
side. The horse was crushed to death
and Lovclaco recognized that the pros
crvation OF his life is due to the dead
horse.
large crowd soon collected and be-
an tn 4 no l..
was on hand shortly after tho occur
renco and had tho coroner summoned.
Capt. O'Brien was present looking after
his stock. and said there were about
twenty head in the stable, all Of when
had esca BED with the exception OF tho
two horses and one mule.
With great presence of mind several
persons ran into stalls among the terri
hcd horses and cut them loose turning
them ont into the streets. Most of them
ran to the other stable from which they
had been moved a week ago on account
of insufficient room.
Euilding Inspector Clarence Coleman
was soon on tho scene, and began max
ing an examination of the walls which
were left Standing and tho material
used. Several persons picked up pieces
OF the mortar which was used in the con.
Struction OF tho walls, and carried il OH
with them. A glance az tho mortar
demonstrated the fact that it was not
all sand, but Il great deal OF river loan,
with very little lime in it.
The building was began about three
weeks ago by T.. a. Thurman and NJ.
A. Johnson. They did not let the
work to contract, but choose to furnish
the material tn mselves and have the
work done by the day.
When Coroner Gray came he viewed
the body, and decming that an inquest