The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-18
THREE KILLED, TWO WILL DIE.
FOUR MORE REPORTED MISSING
AND BELIEVED TO BE IN THE
RUINS.
HALF THE CITY IN DARKNESS
Wires-Firemen at the Work
of Rescue

EAU CLAIRE, WIS, Aug. l.-At 4
o'clock this afternoon the four-story
music hall block, which was being
reconstructed, collapsed. About thir-
ty-f1ve workmen were at work in the
building at the time Three are dead,
two will die and two are missing. Ten
or more received permanent injuries.
The dead are:
H. C. OLSON. foreman for the Madison
Street Manufa curing company,
WILLIAM DEAN, foreman for the Phoenix
Manufacturing company.
NICHOLAS ROACH, a laborer
The latter two have not been
found yet, but it is known beyond all
doubt that they are buried in the
ruins. James Dean, a laborer, who is
now at the Sacred Heart hospital, will
die. He had two ribs and both legs
broken, besides receiving internal in
juries. John Thorson, a laborer, is
also at the hospital His back is
broken and he cannot recover.
Smith Bros, of West Superior, who
had the contract for the masonry work,
had eight or ten men at work in the
basement. Two are missing and it is
thought that they are buried in the
ruins. Their names are unknown. The
building that was being reconstructed
is on the principal corner of the town,
Kelsey and Barstow streets. 1t has
been condemned for years. Peter
Truax and Alfred Kahn are joint own
ers of the property. The Madison
Street Manufacturing company had the
contract for the reconstruction Of
Kahn's portion, the Phoenix company
was doing the work for Truax The
Superior firm had the contract for the
masonry. A twenty-inch brick wall
that divides the two sections was be-
ing underpinned preparatory to low
ering it fourteen inches. The con-
tractors, it is said, had failed to suf-
ficiently brace the wall and it began
to crumble at the base. Six workmen
in the basement on Kahn's side had
time to reach a place of safety. The
two missing Superior men are sup
posed to have lost their lives on the
opposite side of the wall. The falling
walls carried telephone, telegraph and
electric light wires down and for a
time communication was cut off, The
street car system has been effectually
stopped and half the city is in dark.
ness, owing to the destruction Of the
electric light wires. The fire depart
ment and police force will continue
the search for the missing bodies un-
til all are found. The following named
were seriously injured:
JAMES DEAN, laborer. three ribs and both
legs broken; will die.
JOHN THoRSON. laborer, back broken;
will die.
GUS MEYER. serious internal injuries;
may die.
H. B. WALTERS, severe cuts on head and
body
OLE SOLBERG, serious internal injuries.
BERT MALLUM, leg broken, badly cut on
TOM WILEY, fireman of No / company,
severe cut on foot.
CHARLES AGAIN, badly crushed.
JOHN LARSON.
OLE JOHNSON.
BRADY MEDRUM.
WILLIAM BERG.
w. e. EVANS.
WILLIAM ARNOLD.
: LUDWIG BERG.
The crash was heard blocks away
and sounded like a terrific explosion.
attracting many thousand people, Five
men who were on the roof scrambled to
an opposite wall and perched there un-
til taken down by the fire department
which had been called out
After the police had made a clearing
there was no further danger
and the work Of rescue began.
The first body to be recover
ed was that of Halvor Oleson
of this city. John Thorsen Of Little
Black, Wis, was the next; he is dying
at the hospital. He leaves a wife and
children. James Dean of Eau Claire
was next found buried under tons of
timber and stone. He was taken to the
hospital. His recovery is doubtful.
At midnight the men are still digging
for the bodies of VIM. Dean and Mich
olas Roach, buried deep in the base
ment Dean is a contractor and prom
inent citizen. Both Dean and Roach
have families. Part of the front wall
is still standing but is liable to col
lapse.
An inquest was Immediately ordered
but owing to the excitement it was
continued until Wednesday.
At midnight four men who came
from Superior and were at work on the
building are reported to be missing,
and are believed to be in the ruins
Their names are not known.