The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-10

utes. The iiremen rescued all those
who had not escaped by jumping from
the windows.
The last man taken out OF the build
ing alive was Capt Dowd, OF Indiana.
He was found near the southwegt cor
ner OF the building covered to a depth
of two or three feet with brick and
mortar. He had lain there for three
hours, but n falling beam had lodged
near him in such position as to break
the fall OF the brick and timbers and
When lifted up he raised his hand,
showing that he was conscious. When
he was lifted into tho Garfield hospital
ambulance the crowd saw that he was
alive and cheered again and again.
The ambulances were kept busy carry
ing away the dead and injured. The
faces of many OF the victims we're COW
cred with pieces OF cloth, an old coat, q
newspaper, or whatever else could be
had, but some OF tho mangled bodies
were carried out with their faces OK
posed to tho gaze OF the great thr0ng
that surrounded the building.
All during the long hours while the
workmen were working with all their
strength to rescue such US were not
past help, the mothers, sisters and
daughters OF those who had gone down
lowered around the front OF the build
Ing, and with streaming eyes inquired
OF all whom they met OF some tidings OF
their dear ones. Some could hardly be
restrained from pushing their way into
the building.
A look into the interior told a siCken-
ing tale OF how some were taken and
others left. Desks were seen toppling
over the brink OF tho broken floors,
others stood upright, but the chair
which stood behind 1t and Its occupant
went down with crash. Records and
papera were scattered everywhere, but
as fast rs possible they were gathered up
and saved. Many OF them were spotted
with blood.
SEEMS A MIRACLE.
That any one should have escaped
with his life seems the work Of mir
acle. AS they were brought forth they
presented spectacle that no one see-
ing it will ever forget. In many cases
the semblance to humanity was gone.
1t seemed as though the holpers were
carrying out nero bags OF matter,
smeared all over with blood, filthy with
dirt, dirt ground into them, blood on
their faces.
A wife could not havo recognized her
husband in that condition. With such
tenderness as rough and excited mon
could summon at such q time, they were
laid out upon stretchers and carried to
the ambulanCos that filled the street
from Il to + streets All the doctors
could do for them there was to clear
away some OF the dirt, plaster and filth
from the faces OF the injured men. In
many cases the dirt was ground into
the eyes, noses and months, so that
without such attention men might have
sufTocated. Many were unconscious
and could not have helped themselves.
With clang Of the bell, the ambulances
started off for the hospitals. These
were soon overcrowded. Drug stores
were turned into temporary hospitals.
People in the neighborhood OF the aCci-
dent opened their doors right gladly,
and the dead and the wounded were
hurried in,
DEEDS OF HERoisM.
When the accident was over, and be-
fore the rescuers could get inside to
them, there were injured men who
were caring for their worse injured
brothers. There were mon who did not
rush for the street to save their own
lives. Regardless OF the fact that more
walls might fall aud bury them onco
more, they stayed to succor men who
could not get away by themselves
When the first Of the relief corps en-
tered the building they were especially
struck by the silence that prevailed.
There were no cries to be heard from
beneath the debris II any cries were
made they were stihed by dirt and NOR
tar that made almost solid floor on
which one might walk. Nervously and
eXcitedly they tore away beams and
rafters that made a tomb. It was
horrid task; it was a dirty task. Men
worked like demons, with sweat pour
ing down their faces. The dust and
dirt lay thick on their faces so no one
could scarcely tell the color Of the man.
The trim uniforms OF tho men were
ruined and battered, but never for u
moment did they stop in their noble
work. Every moment tho throwing
aside OF wreckage exposed the bloody
and often mutilated form OF some one
of the victims. Occasionally one Of
them revived sufficiently to need but
little assistance to tho outer air, but
the majority of them, dusty, bruised,
with clothing torn almost in tatters,
we're carried into the clear atmosphere
and through tho sorrowing crowd to tho
Rmbulances and patrol wagons that
were in waiting.
AS tho bleeding and mangled bodies
were brought out groans and outcries
arose on all hands. Tho surrounding
houses, drug stores and business places
were filled in q short time by bleeding
and groaning men.
AS mangled body was brought out,
in nine cases out OF ton 1t would be sur.
rounded by weeping friends, The per-
sons who were evidently dead were laid
aside, while those who possessed life
were brought out.
Ono man was found stiCking head first
in the debris His legB wore seen first.
Soon thoy uncovered his legs, which
moved feebly, showing he was still
alive. As fast as human hands could
work those rcscuers did, and soon they
had tho unfortunate man out. Ho was
alive when ho was brought into the air,
but he died before ho reached tho am
bulance in tho street This was but
ono OF tho many shocking scenes at
tending tho most horrible and ineS.
cusablo accident that over occurred in
tho city Of Washington.
The general opinion is that tho accl-
dent was caused directly by the weak.