The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-05-07

During the evening there was much
excitement among the guests at the Glib
son house. The excitement was more
| intense because it could not be learned
| for some time what caused the explosion.
| II was finally ascertained that the sa-
looms in the buildings had put in their
own plants for incandescent lights and
had just secured "A gasoline engine with
which to run the dynamo. The plant
| got out of fix and there was Hash which
communicated to the gasoline and caused
the explosion. The sudden collapse of
the building smothered everything in the
cellars, so that there was no fire. ..
The firemen were soon assisted by some
expert engineers who made openings
through the walls of adjacent buildings
and were recovering some of the victims
in that manner. The debris seemed to all
fall in one heap, and not scattered about
the street, making it hard to rescue dead
bodies. Although all efforts were made
to clear up the place it is conceded that
it will be impossible to ascertain the eX-
tent of loss of life tonight. The loss in
property is quite large.
Mr.. John II. james was just leaving
the Gibson house at the time of the eX-
plosion, and with his heavy grip was
blown into the door of an adjoining store.
He was knocked senseless, but after
wards recovered sufficiently to take the
train tonight for st. Louis on his way
west.
holland David, a travelling man with
the Columbus Carriage company, was
walking along the street at the time of
the explosion and was blown under
street car and killed.
Carl Grim, well known detective,
who worked up the evidence against Jack
son and Waling for the murder of Pearl
Bryan, is among those known to have
been in Drach's saloon and is now in
the ruins among the victims.
AT IL O'Clock there We're twelve in
jupd persons at the hospital. AS the
night passed the scenes about the wrecked
building became more distressing than
ever. Women whose sons and husbands
had not reached home by 10 or II o'clock
came down to the square, where they
were weeping and crying. There were
quite number of men among the weep
ing ones. Several men felt confident their
sisters were in the ruins at the time and
among the victims.
At 1870 the 3-year-Old boy of Adolph
Drach was taken from the ruins so badly
hurt that he is not likely to live. His
aged grandfather was among those who
had come to the scene and soon learned
that Mr. Drach's youngest child had been
taken out dead, his 3-year-old boy was
taken out seriously injured and that the
body of Mrs. Drach could not be eXtri-
Gated from the heavy timbers. The old
man broke down and is in very serious
condition.
1t was thought early in the evening
that Mrs. Drach, as well as her husband
was killed. The body of Mr.. Drach was
recovered and taken to the morgue Mrs
Drach was known to have been in her
flat at the time of the explosion and was
counted among the dead. but her body
was reached shortly before midnight,
and she was found to be still alive. She
was suffering intense pain, and all efforts
of the workmen failed to rescue her. Up
to 1890 they have been able to talk to
her for over an hour, while she remained
pinioned under a heavy beam.
Jack Mccarthy, Peter Burns and
Charles Tilley were taken out of the ruins
about midnight, but it is feared that none
of them will live. At the time of the ex-
plosion the electric wires of the arc lights
and troleys were torn down and there
was great demonstration of electric
| lights. This was one of the things which
caused the stampede in the Gibson house.
| 1t is learned late tonight that Il number
of people were injured in the stampede
on Walnut street, and some We're injured
| in coming in contact with the wires, but
it is impossible to get the names of any
who were not so seriously injured as to
be taken to the hospital.
Mr.. Nolan David of Hamilton, who was
killed by the explosion, married well
known young lady at Newport about two
months ago.
Mccarthy, Burns and Tilley were res
cued by digging through one of the walls
of an adjacent building.
1t is, however. impossible to rescue
Mrs. Drach. At 1870 tonight they fur
nished her something to drink and are
providing for her as best they can. her
| feet are under an immense beam ana are
probably crushed. 1t has been decided
necessary to amputate them III order 10
save her life All of the departments OF
the city are at work in the ruins. The
police commissioners are in charge, or
their department. together with Chiet
Deitsch and the fire companies with Chlef
Archibald. The street cleaning force are
removing the debris and hauling it away
and engineers are on hand experimenting
the handling of heavy timbers.
Carl Grim, who was supposed TO De
among the victims, turned up all right TO-
night and the detective will continue his
work in the Jackson case.
Workmen report at 12:45 that one OF
MIS-, lbruc0 = clllluItll wa wi
as they could hear it plainly calling
mamma" ,
They said the servant girl of Mrs;
Drachs, name unknown, was dead ana
living by Mrs. Drach's side. This does
not. however. increase the number of
those killed. as Mrs. Drach had been IN
cluded in that list.
Later-The workmen liberated Mrs.
Drach after l o'clock, also her little cnlld,
and they were taken to the hospital;
Her feet are badly crushed. but she ana
her child will recover. The dead Dody
of Mamie Kennedy, n domestic, was re-
covered at the same time and taken to
the morgue.
IF THE barry IS CUTTING TEETH;
Be sure and use that old and well-tried
remedy, Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup
for children teething. 1t soothes the
child, softens the gums, allays all pam,
cures wind collie and is the best remedy
for diarrhoea. Twenty-Five cents bot
tie.
MUCH DAMAGE DONE.
Forncy. Tex. May 4.-(Special) This
vicinity was visited by wind and cleo
trical storm Saturday night and some
rain. The barn of w. ]. Johnson was
struck and burned. with its contents ana
farming implements. One of his horses
was killed. About two miles distant
Mr. McKellar'S barn was struck ana