New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-11

and landed In the alley, floor below on my thigh.
Colonel Arnold jumped ont OF the WINDOW ABOUT the
same time, going through the central window, In
which are the ventlator shafts. He would have landed
all right but for the fact that he struck on little
shed over doorway. This turned MN, ana le
struck the ground his head. Captain Miller fol-
lowed out OF the annex window. lie climbed down
on the spout and then to shutter. but slipped
and fell, breaking both legs
soon after | got out all right ! ran over to the
Atlantic Building saw the engineer. who brought out
a couple OF ladders. lie raised one to the second
story window The crowd on the third floor were al
the windows, about 10 jump or be pushed out. Ihey
would have been 10 get killed. We yelled 10
them TO wait minute. coorcd clerk tins was
Basil Robinson, IA colored youth climbed the tcie-
graph pole, and handed him second ladder, which
he tied to the window on the third story by thin
rope. The people then scrambled out fast and about
thirty were saved In that way. several OF the other
clerks In the third story escaped by jumping over
to the roof Of cigar store next door. about three
feet below TIE window After all tbs over
realized that had left a coat, hat and watch on my
desk. The building looked to be safe then and
climbed back and got my things, also catching about
half dozen watches and other things for the rest
OF the boys
Thomas Jones. OF Texas, Il third floor clerk. who
escaped with only slight bruises, said The sensa-
ton most peculiar Everything In the room
began to shake and then sink toward the centre.
Then gathered momentum. and In less time than
II takes to tell 1t we precipatcd to the lower
moor. When realized what was taking place threw
myself across the top of my desk. and believe that
is what saved my He. With u little effort was abe
TO eXuicste myself. and ] believe was one OF the
very first to get out of that section Of the building
On all sides l could hear the grOans and cries OF
my fellow clerks. and am really afraid 10 make
guess Is to how many now In the building
J. {. Mack, n clerk who worked on the first floor
CT the bulldog. escaped by jumping into old safe
vault. In speaking Of the matter he said j heard
crash. II seemed TO come from the front Of The
hpild I mod In Al fha Eunlt En
MessrS. Speeker Ballard, Edward, and Spencer, FOL
lowed me. greatly frightened. After the
crash We could hardly get breath FOR the plaster
dust. Then we heard cries for help from the front
of the building. We could not help them. We We're
probably In the vault for five minutes before dared
10 rush out. The tmc how ever, seemed us many
hours
{. 4. Fleetwood. who at work al his desk on
the third floor. gives the following account Of the
disaster: =" at my desk writing when heard
crash. i looked toward the font Of the building
and the floor sinking. Desks and men disappeared
together. going down into the chasm. 1t flashed
across me that the excavation being made IN the
basement had weakened the supports and caused The
floor TO cave. With the Others ! rushed to the back
# the building Great cxeite e INT prevailed end
floor tried to jump from the wiraows,
but stopped. We escaped 10y the way Of ladders
raised TO the frort windows