Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-03-02
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And Numbers of Others Injured by
Falling Wali--Two Chicago Families
Smothcred.
CHICAGO, Feb 2S-Ry the falling Of the
walls Of John Works. burned dry goods
store ~ IlaStead avenue and Niiloteehlh
street at 80 o'clocK this morning, seven
and perhaps eight people We're instantly
killed and four others seriously injured.
The killed are: John Smith, ~ Years
Dolle Smith, aged ~ years. Baby smith,
y wears; Pnttie Smith, 4 years laullha
Rauti, 10 years; +, kuntz, As years; Mrs.
Mary kuntz, ~ years.
Injured L. Kunt2 lr., Patrol Sergeant
lioughrun, Mrs. Amelia Smith.
Probably fatally: Police officer Wal
Missing: W Joseph Smiths
bartender
The catastrophe was caused by the high
wind colnpsing the walls Of the burned
York building These had been standing
since the fire which last winter DESTROYED
the store and contents. AT this time tie
walls were soaked with water, when,
however, coated them with ice and held
them together. II was feared that change
Of temperature would weaken the wall ~
the thawing ont of the ice which held
them together. Last night these fears
were realized. Yesterdays warm rain
melted the ice and the east wind shook
lile Wills. lHeN ltil, bNINillB wv ItAaSH
with their sleeping inmates
The two houses destroyed were the
saloon Of John Smith, ut No. IGl llastcad
avenue, and the lewrlrv store OF A. M
kuntz, at No. 7G3. Both were frame build.
ings and both were occupied On She second
stories by the families Of the owners Of
the places Of business below. That all in
the buildings We're not killed seems almost
u miracle, but while two were taken out
alive one Of them, Mrs. Carrie smith, wife
of the saloon keeper eau scarcely survive
the day. The other one 10 escape was Fred
kuntz OF the jewelers. family. aged q
years. lie, with his bed, was carried
through the door to the basement. n door
was thrown across the bed and supported
against the wall served TO guard the uCcu-
pant of the bed minjury by the Falling
debris. Young kuntz was rescued and
found but slightly injured.
THE WORK or REscriSG.
The work Of rescuing the imprisoned
people, aside from the great danger to the
iircmen. was attended with much dilh-
Guilty. It was unknown in what portion
Of the buildings the missing families had
been sleeping, and the tircmcn who We're
on the spot almost before the sound of the
| crash Had died away. were without any
| guide in their work save their own in
stincts. Designating the smoke and the
| licking Tongues Of flames that appeared
| here and there amid the debris, they dug
along the base of the York wall, at q point
| which appeared to 10 about the centre Of
/ the kgntI store ,Ihcir labor was finally
rewarded by u shout from beneath the
| bricks and broken timbcrs. They dug
steadily on, but could not locate the voice.
"nEEE AN"
| AT last however. came tho cry Hero
| am" and at the same Instant 4 hand was
/ tn / nj m
| hand OF young kuntz. His rescue was
! then but Il matter Of Il few minutes. After
/ being rescued he told the bremen where
\ his father and mother had been sleeping
/ He was then removed to the county hos
| pital. The fate Of smiths bartender whose
| full name is unknown is mystery He
| occupied n room OH the second story Of the
Smith house, but as his bed when found
| in the ruins showed no trace Of having
been occupied it is thought he may not
have been at home at the time Of the acct
dent.
GANG or 100 At WORK.
Superintendent of Streets Burke put l5O
men at work on the ruins early this morn
ing. The work of cSCavatiug is difficult,
arises from the debris Il is absolutely i'm
posi- bic that any Of those buried in the
debris can be alive,
THE RARTESDER's MANGLED BopY.
The hope that the bartender, George
Mesttertc, might be still alive was ,ltspcled
this forenoon when his bniy terribly mt
tilated, was taken from the ruins, At II
o'clock the police gave Oilt the following
list of the Killed and ininltI. which il he
lieved TO be the correct Que The killed,
William kunt2c, Mrs. Mary KuntIe, John
Smith Tor Schmidt. Lizzie Smith. Hattie
smith, Panina Morton, George Mcstcrle,
The injured, Mrs. Smith, Annie smith
Erred knnt2n