The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-24
DEATH In THE WHIRLWIND.
MEN AND WOMEN UNDER FALLEN
WALLS IN WASHINGTON

The Hai.sntshsd Walls or Metserott',
Music Hail 60 Down Before the Storm
Scores OF Buildings Unroofed and the
White Mouse Observation-Disclosures
Shattered In Pcnnsylvania-Heavy Loss
IN Other States North and South.
WASHINGTON. Nov. GA tremendous vino
and rain storm. amounting almost to hurri
cane. passed over this city about 12h p. NJ.
doing great deal OF damage. The worst &C
cident reported was the blowing down Of the
walls Of tho new Metzerott Music Hall In
course OF construction on Twelfth street. N
W.. just below street. ..
The streets Of the city were practically de.
serted at the time OF the accident, and the first
intimation the public had Of any immediate
result OF the great storm was when the fire
alarm was rung and the engines and hook and
ladders and patrol wagons went tearing up to.
ward the corner OF Twelfth and streets.
Chief Paris Of the Fire Department and his
men went to work immediately to clear away
the wreck and prevent any danger Of fire. The
task that confronted them was q herculean
one. The back buildings OF a half dozen
stores on street we're buried beneath the
walls OF the fallen building. The only way
was through the fronts Of the stores that face
on F street or across the great sea Of
tangled beams and girders that lie where
the auditorium Of the music hall was to
have been. The roar Of the two stores
lilo and 1.112 F street were found to be in
the worst plight Tho first OF these was occu-
pied by George White. women's tailor; the
second by A. GUIDE Il Bro, florists. The par
titions between the two stores in the rear were
demolished. Inside all was wreck and ruin.
and the fronts Of both buildings were COM
pletely blown out by tho conclusion OF air
from the rear.
At first 1t was not thought that any one was
buried beneath the wreck. but as soon as
neighbors began to come in the flremen and
policemen learned that when the walls fell
four people. and perhaps more. were in tho
shop in the rear Of Whites store. There had
been no warning Of impending disaster. The
people had not left the room. They must still
be in the ruins.
With renewed efforts they went at the work
before them. and after few minutes we'll
directed labor with hooks and crowbars. they
brought to light q young woman. one OF the
sewing girls. She was near the front She
was taken to the open air. and was found to DO
not seriously hurt. Her name is Clara Green
berg. She does not speak English very we'll.
but with the prompting Of Dr. Marmion she
managed to say that the boss and two girls
were still inside"
At Il 80 q second girl was found Her name is
Ida White. she Is about 81 years Of age. and she
was badly bruised. At 2 o'clock the dead body
OF Mr. White was removed from the wrecked
building Tho fact that It was noon and most
OF the men were away at lunch prevented
greater loss OF life. The walls OF tho building
were at their most vulnerable stage. the build
ing having progressed SO that the rear wall was
very high and without the support to be gained
from their completion.
At 80 o'clock or little later the men who
were at work near where Ida White was taken
out discovered signs Of another body. In a
few minutes the flying shovels had uncovered
him was the face peering up from out OF the
hole that had been dug. It was badly bruised
and battered. It looked CHASTITY in ray Of
sunlight that fell upon it.
1, In az the haste and hustle there was enough
among the fremen to cover
the body was completely unearthed. DR..
Marmion felt for the dead mans pulse. It
l. George White had a moment Of life after the
Slowly the body was taken ; up from its esrthy
Sisrmion. Dr. Thomas Mehun. and DIT Dr. p. &.
battered, and many OF the bones OF the head
On the Twelfth street side the ruin was COM
IN two. and the heavy iron Orders were bent
street side was demolished except a portion
81 the first story. The south wall stood IL
short distance above the first floor. and tho
When the crash came two bricklayers were
At work on this wall and were left clinging to
he scaffoidinE. They were rescued shortly
A colored hod carrier had q, marvellous es-
the he Hf DOWN YIN the t
ground below. Hewas somewhat bruised. but
'? The s in{erior of Metzerotts store is perfect
,uin. and the wreck is complete. Smany fine
ranas HnS organs being smashed Ito to sTnters.
He heard the report Of the falling walls. and
ran for his life. reaching, tho fore part OF the
been caught and Killed. for the debris is piled
'ySr thStspot It least twenty fest. - :. ~,
,eard the report Caused by the falling walls.
M aqe Hs Rad Ms of and
Of tho front was bun brick. with
Il was estimated that the hall and gallery
you'd seat 1000 people. In connection with |
pacioqs lobby. into which the main staircase
vas to lead. |
At the south end of the hall. located In the |
building where Mr.. Metzerotts F street store |
8 at present there was to be large banquet |
Dom, to be used In connection with balls and |
In addition to this there was to |
re on the lower floor another hall large enough |
or meetings Of smaller societies. to DO used. |
8 Mr.. Metzerott's Twelfth street store wing Is
t present, for rehearsals.
One OF the features Of the construction was
he iron beams In the brick walls upon which
he roof Of iron and terra Gotta was to rest |
he cost OF the building was placed at about
Coroner Patterson arrived on the scene OF
he disaster about ] rs o'clock. and ut once
egan his official work. by inspecting the
uinB.
He had not been there moro than three quar-
nrs OF an hour before the body Of George w.
White was discovered.
When the body was finally brought out to
he street and placed In an ambulance, Cor
ner Patterson summoned from the spectators
Jury and sWore them In in the presence Of
he corpse. He then took the Jury In through
he buildings on + street, to the place where
ne fremen were working on the debris.
The body was then taken to an undertaking
establishment, subject to the Coroner's order.
he jury will be brought tomorrow togsther
nd hear the testimony.
Coroner Patterson In his inspection OF the
uilding seemed to pay especial attention to