The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-04-30

THIl-A DELP1IA, April 2o.-l Special
Tho search for the victims of the Cen.
trail Theatre fire began at : o'clock this
morning. Upon the belief that the bod
les would be found close to where tho
stairway on tho right, leading up from
the rear of the stage, was located, work
was begun al that point. The rear wall
OF the theatre and the still higher wall
of the Times building, leaning threaten
ingly over tho workmen, great caution
was necessary in digging around the
base of tho theatre wall lest it should be
shaken down upon the crowd of men la
boring at it's base. After two hours
and half OF slow, laborious work tho
searchers had the melancholy satisfac.
ton OF uncovering part of body Half
an hours moro work brought tho body
completely into view.
Tho charred and blackened mass of
flesh and bone bore SO little likeness to
human being that it could not DO told
whether it was 4 man or woman.
There was little moro than the trunk
of the body left. The hoad was gone.
both arms burned of 70 tho elbows and
both logs to above the knees, and all
the clothing was burned away. Whom
the workmen attempted to raise tho
trunk the baked flesh came away in
their hands. The utmost care was nee.
essary to prevent the body from break
ing open when it was raised, but 1t was
finally deposited III waiting collin
without suffering further mutilation.
Beneath the spot where the body was
found some burnt pieces Of clothing and
protruding from piled of bricks was an
arm. few minutes rapid work served
to show that the arm was connected
with body and the work OF uncoverine'
it was proceeded with. The body of the
first of the unfortunate peoplo found
was taken to an undertaken establish
mentwhere it was found to be that of a
woman. The clothing found beneath it
was identified by the wardrobe woman
of the thearter as that of Mrs Flora
Lonella.
AS fast as the bodies are removed they
Will be taken in charge by the coroner.
and when all the missing members Of
tho comp aDy arc found, their friends
will he given their bodies for burial
Geo. S. Thatcher, who was in tho an.
dience and who was reported as missing,
returned to his homo late last night.
Enough of tho ruins of tho Times
building have been removed to allow n
partial examination to be made Of tho
press'room. The double ceilings of the
room, in which SO much dependence
was placed in event of just such an &C.
cident that has occurred, were found to
have been crushed in by tho falling
building. Two of the presses:were com
pleteiy covered by debris and, it is
feared, damaged beyond repairs. Tho
third press is not so much damaged and
may possibly be fit to use again. Tho
two destroyed presses cost S43 900 each.
The search for tho bodies stoppped at
noon because Of the danger that tho
overhanging walls might fall on tho
seGrchers These will be taken down
at once and the search resumed.
Thomas Acheson, aged 81 years.
burned while making his escape from
the burning theatre, died to-day at the
Pennsylvania Hospital. Acheson is tho
first of those severely burned to die
although several others are in dan
gerous condition, it is believed they
will all recover.
New York Reporters to Join the Union
New York, pril ga meeting of
reporters on the dai y papers Of this city
was held yesterday afternoon in the AS
tor House. The object of the meeting
was 20 form an organization i'll connec-
ton with the International Typopranh-
ical Union, whe eby the reporters would
expect to get better wages and less
hours and escape some Of the grievances
which they now complain they are sub.
iected to by managing and city editors.
The meeting was addressed by James
Mckenna. first vice president Of the In
ternational Typographical Union Chas.
j. Dumar, ex-Presidcnt OF Topographic
cal Union, No. Il, and Edmund Boards
10y. a committee was appointed 10
draw up constitution and bylaws and
apply for charter in conformity with
the rules and regulations of the Inter
national Typographical Union.
Vessel to Shoot ST. Lawrence Rapids
CHEsTEE, Pa, April 20.-The twin.
screw steamer Columbian, being con-
structcd for the Richelieu and Ontario
Navigation Company, was launched
from Roach's shipyard yesterday after.
noon sac has nodded length Of ia
aud length over guards Of $50 feet,
with wolded width ot ~ feet and "a
width of 4 feet inches over guards.