The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-08
DISASTER IN DANVILLE.
SEVERAL PEOPLE CRUSHED BE-
MEATH n FALLING WALL.
The City by the Dan visited by Destruc-
tive Conflsgration, which Results In
Heavy Loss-Names OF the Victims.

DANVILLE. VA, March Especial
At l rs this morning fire broke out In the
Summerfield building. on Main street,
near the head OF Craghead. This build
ing was krown as Wright's Hotel, the
upper portion and one of the lower rooms
being occupied as such until two weeks
ago. when Mr.. Wright closed the house.
Two of the lower rooms of the building
were occupied as stores, one being the
Boston Shoe House, by Aaron Summer
field. and the other the wholesale grocery
and commission house Of Jennings &
Watson. The fire. which is Of unknown
origin. was lively one, and In twink
lirg almost the entire building was a
seething ass Of flames. The magnificent
building was soon Quilted and only the
walls we're left standing. The adjoining
stores. Brydons drug store, on the south,
and j. II. Ferrell's Sons grocery on
the north, were seriously damaged by
water smoke and falling walls. as was
also Brown Bros photograph gallery,
which was over Brydon'S drug store.
This morning the work of removing the
damaged goods from the shoe store and
Jennings a. Watson's grocery was being
done under the supervision Of Mr.. J. -.
general CoflE ACT DdI.dBeT OF Int
Southeastern Tariff Assurance AssOcia-
ton. He had a force Of men at work re-
moving the goods from the two stores
At o'clock the high walls on the south
side Of the building fell with a terrific
crash. The Boston Shoe House was at
this end Of the building. The falling OF
the wall and the rumor that a number Of
men had been killed created a vast deal
OF excitement, and hundreds OF people
al.
aster. Immediately the work Of searching
for the wounded and dying was com
menced.
William Powell (colored), laborer, was
taken out with his right leg broken.
Simon Wilson (coored). left leg broken.
Smith Buford (colored), stomach and
legs mashed. He will die.
John Lawson (colored). died a few mo-
ments after being taken out.
Sam Best, a white lad. was removing
goods from the front window when the
crash came. and sought TO escape by the
front door. but was caught by the fall
ing wall; his left leg was broken at the
ankle and a terrible scalp wound inflicted
He may recover
Later a coloreu man named James
Motley was taken from the ruins dead
and terribly crushed.
The most remarkable experience was
man, who was experimenting the work
Of removing the goods. He was standing
near the wall Of Brydons drug store
when he heard the rumbling of the fall
Ing walls. He guessed in an instant what
ii meant and with rare presence OF mind
he crouched near the Brydon wall Thus
1t was that the falling bricks and timbers
fell over. but few falling on MIN. How
cver he was confined in this rather warm
nUah hnn 4Ha
bricks and debris could be removed. Be
fore he was reached friends on the out
side conversed with him. and Mr.. Ficl;lln
displayed rare GOODNESS. He was not hurt,
but was In a most uncom Portable position
He expressed great concern for those
who were in the building with him, and
told the workers where to look for them.
Finally he was taken out and strange
as IL may seem his injuries were slight.
He was carried TO his home on jefferson
street. and his wounds and bruises
dressed. His right arm was badly hurt
and seems to have a muscular paralysis
Otherwise nc is not injured, and II is
believed he will be out in day or two
The remaining walls were condemned
by the city authorities. and this after
noon were pulled down. 1t is believed
that one more man is under the ruins
The falling walls crushed in the drug
store Of Robert Brydon as though 1t was
mere egg shell. and his stock is "A total
wreck. The grocery store of John w
Terrell e. Sons was also crushed in. and
their stock is damaged perhaps % per
cent. The insurance on the building was
$500. value $4,000: Boston Shoe House
insurance. 5000; Jennings e. Watson's in
suranCe. 5000. loss $1,000: r. Brydon's
Insurance. $500; j. r. Ferre & Sons
insurance, 5000.
The hotel building, which was erected
twenty-one years ago, was a brick struc-
ture with a marsard roof, five stories
high, and was an ornament TO that sec
ton of the city. 1t was erected at
cost of $4,000, while 500 more has been
spent In rCmodelling and repairing. II
was owned by Aaron Symmetrical