Los Angeles herald., 1891-08-23
when the front wall fell, but did not
recognize them. They we're all killed."
THE WORK OF RESCUE.

when the front wall fell, but did not
recognize them. They we're all killed."
THE WORK OF RESCUE.
As soon as the flames were under con-
troll, the work of recovering the bodies
of the unfortunate persons buried be-
meath the ruins was begun. The fire.
men worked like fends. After twenty
minutes work the dead body Of one man
was found, burned and charred 80 that
it was unrecognizable. Fifteen minutes
later another charred body was found.
just then a low moan was heard COM
ing apparently from under the feet of a
party of rescuers. After working for
nearly twenty minutes little girl, still
alive, but badly cut and burned, was
lifted from the ruins. As her rescuer
raised her up in his arms, she lifted her
eyes to a window on the opposite side of
the street and called in piteous tones:
"Where's my mamma" The girls moth
er, upon seeing her child. became go
frantic with joy that the efforts of per-
sons standing near her only prevented
her from jumping out OF the window.
As the tiremen placed the little girl in
hospital ambulance, she told them that
her brother and sister were both under
the bricks dead. 1t seems that she was
playing in front OF the building at the
time OF the explosion.
Another body, fearfully burned, was
taken from the ruins about 3 O'Clock.
Almost Immediately after, the bodies of
little boy and girl were found. They
were recognized as the children of Eu-
gene Heagney, a plumber. and were the
brother and sister mentioned by the
little girl taken out alive.
MORE BODIES RECOVERED.
At 8 O'Clock tonight an entrance to
the cellars and vaults under the side
walks was effected. The workmen
labored with great difficulty, as the
ruins are still hot, and in the cellar
there is five feet of water. Two bodies,
more or less burned, were taken out
near the front of the building.
A second descent into the cellar at
8 80 resulted in seeing three bodies,
which it was impossible to move, as
they were pinned by timbers and iron
girders, which if removed would bring
the ruins upon the rescuers.
A third trip was made at about 10
O'Clock. The body Of one man was
brought up. This body had scarcely
been disposed of, when a strange noise
was heard coming from the ruins. The
fremen who went to investigate it's
cause, returned with big black cat,
found floating on q plank in the cellar.
THE LIST OF VICTIMS.
Up to late hour tonight nine bodies
had been dug out OF the ruins, five OF
them unknown. Those recognized are
Patrick Slattery, Annie Heagney, John
Gibbs and William Berry.
The list of injured, so far as known,
is as follows William Smith, John
Wallroff, Louis Berherd, Morris Gottler,
John Link, Bernard Addlerrock, John
Sheehan, May Heagney and Frank
r All of the bodies recovered tonight
we're dug out of the debris which COW
cred the sidewalk in front of the ruins.
THEORIES OF THE DISASTER.
The building had frontage of about
15O feet on Park Place avenue and S5
feet on Greenwich street. 1t was con-
demned fifteen years ago by the build
ing department. There are many theo-
ries as to the cause of the disaster.
Chief REILLY, of the fire department., was
of the opinion that boiler had explod-
ed. Another believed that the boiler in
the restaurant had exploded and
caused the disaster. 1t was said
some chemicals had exploded
in the drug store. The most plausible
theory, however, ls that the wreck was
caused by the shaky condition of the
building, and the vibration Of the heavy
presses running in the lithographing
and printing establishments on the up
per floor. It is generally admitted that
there was an explosion of some kind.
The collapse is accounted tor in other
ways than the one mentioned. 1t is
taken into consideration that the build
ing was condemned thirteen years ago.
There was practically no mortar be-
tween the bricks. and when they were
looked at, after the smoke and fire had
subsided, they were found as bare as a
board. l5
SEVENTEEN LIVES SAVED.
Roundsman Taylor, of the fifth pre-
cinct, reports having gone to the scene
at the first alarm. Hearing cries for
help, he rushed to a neighboring hard
ware store, secured a lot OF axes, and in
company with a number OF citizens cut
hole in the debris. Seventeen people
were rescued. They were all more or
less painfully burned. Had Taylor not
heard their cries, they could not have
survived long.
The police have long list Of names
of persons reported by friends to be
missing, and it is feared many Of these
unfortunates are in the debris.