The herald., 1896-05-05
A BIG BUILDING DEMOLISHED
Six People Killed and Nearly a Scors
Injured
VI the Five Story Block Not One Brick Is
Left Upon Another-Whole Fami-
lies Buried
Associated Press Special Wire

CINCINNATI, May 4.-This city and
vicinity has been greatly excited to-
night over the explosion of a large tank
of gasoline which completely de-
molished the five-story building at 430
and 432 Walnut street at s o'clock to-
night. After the explosion, the widest
reports were current as to the loss of
life. Before midnight it was known that
six were killed and eighteen injured, but
the work of removing the debris had
proceeded so slowly that the general
estimate of killed and wounded
greatly exceeded the number. The
building seemed to have collapsed in
such manner that the whole of the
debris was covered by the tin roof and
after waiting several hours it was found
that the only way to rescue the victims
was to remove the immense mass of
We're put at it, as many of them as could
work on it. The debris was being
shoveled by one force out into the street
and into the rear alley and all avail
able teams were secured for another
force of men to load it up and get it
out of the way This is found to be the
only practicable means of reaching
those who were on the lower floors.
All those who have been rescued have
been on the upper floors, except some
who We're thrown out in the street.
While this work was going on holes
WcTC cut luIOuS1 lOunQdIlOHS OIL duJa-
cent buildings and debris was taken out.
Three lives were saved by persons be-
ing rescued in that manner. 1t is
thought others will be saved by these
holes through the basement walls of the
DrachS and wife are among the dead:
adjoining buildings. The family OF
Adolph Drachs suffered most severely.
his 5-year-old daughter is dead and his
3-year-old boy is thought to be dying
holland David, a travelling man for
the Columbia Carriage company of
Hamilton O., and two others unidenti-
fled, complete 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 Huttleson, leg broken; Harry
Harwick, cut on the head; Fred Healy
arm and shoulder broken; Motorman
Stoffett. Joseph Sprague. porter; Con-
ductor Folliard, Fisher, Huron. William
Lath, William Loheide, H. E. Hunwick
bookkeeper; S. w. Wells, clerk; w. D.
Crosby, A. E. Cook, clerk; j. d. Ward of
Toledo.
Among the missing who are believed
to be in the ruins are r. A. Fricke of
Norwood. Joseph Worthner, barkeeper;
Louis Fey, wife and baby, also two serv-
ant girls in the families of Fey and
Drachs.
A most touching scene occurred when
fireman John Mccarthy found his
brother pinned under beam and beg
ging the man above to kill him. McCarty
said there were three other men near him
and they were alive. The most heroic
struck by debris and suffered d broken
| made up to midnight.
Herman Nolte, jr., was standing in
| front of an adjoining building when
| struck by debris and suffered a broken
| leg and other injuries.
| The shockwas so terrific that it was
felt all over the city, and not one brick
upon another left in the front and rear
walls of the building. while the adjacent
| 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 wrecked. but none of the
| passengers were seriously injured All
the horses in the immediate neighbor-
hood broke from their fastenings and
| ran away, and there was not only in
| tense excitement but the greatest con-
| fusion, the dust and dirt flying for a
| long time so densely that the work of
rescuing the victims proceeded with
great difficulty, although the police and
| fire departments rallied quickly to the
work. The saloons were said to be quite
| full of people. One of the bartenders
who was not on duty at the time and
escaped, lived in one Of the upper flats
| and was wild with grief because he knew
that his wife and four children werxip
the ruins.