Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-09
INSTANTLY KILLED.
A cHesTsRFIELoIAN CRUSHED TO
DEATH BY'FALlING WALLS.
An Extremely Sad Ca,s-widow and Sight
Children Left-Nsrrow Escape OF
Others-Remarkabie Accident.
Especial telegram TO the pispstch.l

PgrxRsBURo. Va. April S.-Mr. William
HOLMAN. a citizen of Chesterfield county,
was instantly killed in this city this after
noon about q quarter before o'clock.
Mr.. HOLMAN was the owner OF a nice
truck-farm near Swift Creek, which be has
successfully cultivated for some years.
while at tho same time doing occasional
work in this city. Among those for
whom he had done service at differ
emit times was Mr.. Beverly A. Tray
lor, q well-known builder mere, VINO
had accepted the contract for rezlng the
walls of the recently burned buildings at
the corner of Sycamore and Bolllngbrook
streets, formerly occupied by william L.
Spotswood as drugstore and Marx
Morse as restaurant.
Mr. Traylor sent for MIR. holman to as
sist IN the. work of tearing down these
walls, ana operations we're commenced To-
day.
CRUSHED BENEATH BRICKS.
Mr.. HOLMAN assembled ladder 10 the
third-story window and threw small
rope tied 10 a rock over the wall. by which
means he was enabled to draw mp
stronge. rope with which to pull down the
walls The smaller rope. however, got
caught in o creyice IN the window and
necessitated an effort on the part OF MT.
HOLMAN to free it. He assembled to do
this, when his attention was attracted by
cry of alarm from the spectators In the
streets. who discovered that hewall was
swsying by the pressure OF the LADDER
against 1t.
A THRILLING SoIENT.
The wall first swayed in and then out.
and approaching his danger. Mr. holman
started down the ladder as rapidly as
possible. The people IN the street were
almost petrifed with fears for his safety.
He had hardly descended below the
second-story window, when the walls
bulged out and great mass OF bricks tell
on the SycamOre-street front. mr. holl-
man was struck. borne down. and buried
beneath the mass. and the only evidence
of his location was discovered from his
protruding foot. People rushed i'm
mediateiy 10 his rescue, but slight tremor
of the body was the only sign OF life that
was shown. lie was practically dead be,
fore he struck the pavement. and his head
and face were terribly crushed.
NARROW ESCAPES FROM DEATH.
Mr.. Beverly Traylor. who was superin-
tending the work. and cOlOred man
whom he had employed were standing
near the ladder When they saw the wall
about to fall they ran and barely escaped
being buried. Inc Orlcks Iell NJ tHcii itoV,
and the colored man was struck and
bruised by some OF the bricks.
A crowd of fully two thousand people or
more gathered about the spot and viewed
the scene and the CHASTITY body. No III
quest was deemed necessary.
AVERY SAD CASE.
Mr.. HOLMAN was a native of Bremen,
but bad been living here for many years.
He leaves a widow and eight children on
his Chesterfield farm. from whom be
parted 10 good spirits this morning with
the hope Of returning to them IN the after
noon. Tie leaves too sisters and number
of relatives in this city. He was brother
in-lsw OF Mr.. julius Liebert, one OF our
best-kpown German citizens.
REMARKABLE OCCURRENCE.
The fall OF the walls snapped many Of
the wires OF tho Western Union Telegraph
Company which ran adjacent. but nearly
two hundred yards away with q number
OF large poles intervening. Tho great pole
in front of the Southern Hotel was
SNAPPED in twain by strain upon the wires
caused by the falling walls. Ii snapped
with o startling report, falling against an
adjoining building, breaking windows and
doing other damage.
The deceased was 4S years old, served for
ten years IN the British marine service,
and had been the father Of fourteen chill
dren, SIX Of whom are buried IN Chester
field.