The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-05
SIX PERSONS KILLED.
A Big Cincinnati Building
Wrecked BY Explosion
Thg WHOLE CITY oHAkEN.
g People Whea the Crib CAAo
Tho Ruin Co0pieeo.
rns WHOLE CITY SHAKEN.

Cincinnati May A-Ihs Ave-stssy build
ing at 40 and e. walnut street. occupied
by Adolph Drachs' saloon on the first 1ocr
and by Diehl & Co. dealers In fireworks.
on the upper f1oors. was blown down az J
O'Clock tonight by . terrific explosion OF .
large tank OF gasoline that shook the wnods
city. After the explosion the widest re
ports were current as TO the ioss OF me
Before midnight Il was known that Sax per
sons were killed and eighteen injured. but
the work OF removing the debris had pro-
ceeded 90 slowly that the general estimate
Of the killed and wounded greatly exceed
ID this number.
The family Of Adoiph Drachs suffered
most severely. Drachs and wife are among
the dead. his 5-year-old daughter Is dead,
and his s-year-old boy II believed to be
diving. holland David, . travelling man for
the Columbia Carriage Co. OF Hamilton.
Ohio. and two others. unidentified. COM
plete the list Of those known to be dead
Among the injured were Sid johnson.
barkeeper for Louis Fey. arm broken: Billy
Cook, arm broken. Barbara Huttieson, leg
broken: Harry Harwick. cut on the head :
Fred Healy. arm and shoulder broken;
Motorman Stoffett. Joseph Prague porter;
Conductor Folliard, Fisher, - Huron.
william Lauth, william Lohelde. H. Z.
Hunwick. bookkeeper; s. c. Wells. clerk:
w. d. Crosdey. W. Z. Cook. clerk; ]. D.
Ward, Of Toledo.
Among the missing who are believed to
be in the ruins are r. A Fricke. or Nor
wood: Joseph Worthner. barkeeper: Louis
Fey. wife and baby. also two servant girls
In the families OF Fey and Drachs.
The building seemed to have collapsed IN
such a manner that the pile Of debris was
covered by the tin roof. apd after waiting
several hours 1t was found that the only
way to rescue the victims was to remove
the immense mass OF brick and timber. Ac-
cordingly men were put at work. as many
of them as could find room. The debris
was shoveled by one force out into the
street and into the rear alley. ana all avail
able teams were secured for another force
OF men to load 1t up and get 1t out OF the
way. This was found to be the only prac-
ticable means Of reaching those who were
on the lower floors. All those who have
been rescued had been on the upper
floors. except some who were thrown out
into the street. While this work was go
ing on holes were cut through the founda-
ton OF adjacent buildings and debris was
taken out Three lives were saved by per-
sons being rescued In this manner. 1t Is
thought that others viii be saved by these
holes through the basement walls OF the
adjoining buildings.
A most touching scene occurred when
Fireman John Mccarthy found his bro
ther pinned under a beam and begging the
men above to kill him. Mccarthy said
that there were three other men near him,
and that they were alive. The most he
roic efforts to liberate these sufferers were
made up to midnight. Herman Nolte. IT.,
was standing In front of an adjoining
building when struck by debris. and suf-
fered broken leg and other injuries.
The shock was so terrific that 1t was
felt all over the city. and not one brick
upon another was left OF the front and
rear walls of the building. while the adja-
cent buildings are badly damaged. The
glass was broken out OF street cars that
were passing at the time. and one OF the
cars was badly damaged. hut none of the
passengers was seriously hurt. All the
horses in the immediate neighborhood
broke from their fastenings and ran away,
and there was not only intense excitement
but the greatest confusion The dust and
dirt continued flying for a long time SO
densely that the work OF rescuing the VIC
tins proceeded with great difficulty, al
though the police and fire department rail-
lied heroically to the wreck. The saloons
were said to be quite full Of people One
OF the barkeepers. who was not on duty at
the time and escaped. lived In one Of the
upper fats. and was wild with grief be-
cause he knew that his wife and four chill
dren were in the ruins.