The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-23
GREAT Loss OF LIFE.
Two Walls Fall Crashing in
the Street.
CAUSED By AN EXPLOSION,
Over Fifty People Said to Have
Lost Their Lives
FIRE ADDS ITS HORRORS.
FIRE ADDS ITS HORRORS.
The Electric Wire Flashing Its
Deadly Fluid.

~ @s~SOoS
People Buried in the Rubbish Tho
Flames Licking Up the Lower Part
Of the Buildings-The Fire Depart
mont Delayed-A Heroic Deed.
NEW YORK, Aug. GA most disastrous
aud terrible accident occurred this after
noon at 1880 O'Clock in Park place between
Greenwich street aud College place. At
that time the streets were filled by the hur-
rying people and heavy laden wagons and
trucks. At first @ small, white vapor>
ish cloud burst from the ground
floor of Nos. 70. u and "A Park place, then
was heard dull roar followed by an erup-
ton. and a mass of brick. stone and timber
was hurled thirty-fve feet heavenward.
Not more than a second could possibly
have elapsed before the front walls of Nos.
70, 72 and "A fell
CRASHING INTO THE STREET.
Tho great walls rolled and swelled out with
au undulatiug motion, slowly at first, but
then more rapidly they gave way, and in
moment there was not stick or stone
standing above the first floor be-
tween the dividing walls. There
did not romaiu the slightest sens
blanco CT what had been three
seconds before an apparently strong and
brick, stone and timber fell outward half
the width of the street. AT first there was
no sign of fire.
The attention of those who were gathered
from all quarters was attracted by the
sound Of the escaping steam which was
spouting forth from pipe which had been
broken by the falling walls.
THE DEADLY ELECTRIC WIRES.
A number of electric wires had been torn
down. Fortunately the current had been
turned off from ell but one, but that one
wice lay in the middle of College place and
Park place, spitefully flashing out its dead-
ly electric fluid. The danger of the electric
wire caused the immense crowd TO surge
from one side Of the street to the other.
In the meantime fire had broken out and
was licking the lower part of No. 6S. At
least fifty men had clambered up on the
ruins, hoping to rescue come Of the unfor-
tunate people known to be
BURIED IN THE RUBBISH.
They were driven from their posts by the
fire, which was spreading rapidly. 1t
had burst out on the other side
of the ruins and ran rapidly up
the elevator of the shaft at the main en-
trance of the block of buildings of which
Nos. TO- G2 and "a were part. For time
the escaping steam fought the fire, but as
that died out the clement made more head
way.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DELAYED.
II the fire department could have been on
the scene at the time OF the explosion the
terrible effect of the fire could have been
prevented in large part. As it was, the
first contingent of the department
did not appear until FIVE min
utes after the explosion. The
delay was due to the blocked condition of
Murray street and Park place at Church
street. One hose cart cames tearing down
College place. The electric wires were
hanging down just above the horses heads.
HEROIC DEED.
The driver of the cart with his bare
hands fearlessly grasped the wire, which
had caught on his seat, aud flung 1t over
bis head. When the full force of firemen
did at last get to work the headwey of the
lire was soon checked by their skilled en-
deavors.
While the flames were bursting forth
rom the building and unrestre 'nedly leap
ing IN all directions, the crowd was Mortified
70 see q train on the Ninth avenue elevated
road gliding slowly directly by the burning
building. Trains continued to run all the
afternoon, although later only on the down
track
OCCUPANTS OF THE BUILDINGS.
There was q cheap restaurant on the
ground floor of No. "a, in which 1t was
thought there were about twenty-five per-
sons when the accident happened.
ln the upper portion of the building there
was large number of working people en-
pioyed by firm OF lithographers and in
otner trades IL Is not known how many
people were employed in the places, but it is
presumed that most of them who we're not
1ut getting something to eat were in the
For two hours the fire could not he suffi-
gently subdued TO permit the fremen to
make any effort to
EXTRIcATE THE DEAD AND WOUNDED,
ana In the meantime the widest sort OF
E1uJseVures concerning the number of pao-
SIe Sausnt IN the ruins few about The
Seau ana Injured psople were being ex-
~ ~uuineu Ir9m the debris in the street, tho
People Who had been passing in front of
'ne ouHlings when they toppled outward.
RECOVERY OF THE BODIES.
one of those who has been identified is
uanea ~. =. Barnett of johnson City,