Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-01-06
A FLOOR GIVES WAY.
Thirty Persons Killed and Many
Injured at London, Ont
BIG QUANTITY OF TOBACCO BURNED.
Thirty Six Bulldogs 1t Farmvli!e, Va. de-
stroyed by Firs-Commerce, Tex. Near
~ Wiped Out Workman Decspi-
tAted-- Accident 10 Cotton Gin.


LONDON, Ont, Jan. A-Thirty per-
sons are known to have been killed
and many were injured by the col.aps
OF q floor in the city hall last night.
Last night closed the municipal cam.
paign, and the hall was crowded to
hear the addresses Of the successful
candidates. How many were injured
will never be known, as those who
suffered but slightly at once made for
their homes or were cared for by
friends Both Of the city hospitals
are full, and many Of the injured are
at their own homes, The building
was crowded to the very doors, prob
ably 1000 people being jammed in its
narrow space. There was lull in the
proceedings when the audience called
for several of the newly elected alder
men at once, and there was some delay
in securing speaker to address
them. In response TO numerous calls,
r. NJ. Toothe was pushed forward
to the platform on which the speakers
stood. As he reached IL there was an
ominous cracking, and the raised
platform on which the mayor and new
ly elected aldermen were seated
seemed to pitch forward to the floor.
There was a sagging of timbers and
the next moment l5O people were
hurled 20 feet to the floor below A
large safe stood in one corner of the
hall and, with huge steam coil
weighing half ton, came crashing
down on the heads OF the victims. Fol.
lowing the crash there was avid rush
for the doors. At the south door,
where the majority of the crowd had
entered, there was a terrible panic.
Those in front were thrown down by
the on-coming rush, shrieking and
fighting for the door and safety. Only
half Of the rear door, a space of prob
ably three feet, was open, and in the
mad rush no one thought to open the
other half and 500 people struggled
through the narrow space, the strong
bearing down the weaker.
BIG QUANTITY OF TOBACCO BURNED.
FARMvILLE, Va, Jan. 4.-Fire broke
out late Sunday night in the storage
warehouse Of Duval, Robertson & Co.,
commission merchants, and before it
was subdued destroyed SO buildings.
The loss is estimated at $i5O,OOO, on
which there is an insurance Of about
one-third that amount Among the
buildings destroyed were lS tobacco
factories, large warehouse, many
small dwellings and workshops. Hun
dreds of laborers will be temporarily
thrown out Of employment. 1t is esti-
mated that at least 100000 pounds of
tobacco were consumed, including a
great quantity of the finest grades sold
in this market. The origin of the fire
has not been ascertained, though there
is belief that it was incendiary.
A TEXAS TOWN NEARLY WIPED OUT.
COMMERCE, Tex, Jan. 4.-The big
gest fire in the history Of this city oc-
Cured last night, in which the entire
east side of the town was swept away.
The fire broke out in the Aresley build
ing at midnight and spread rapidly.
The post Office, Odd Fellows building,
Thornton & Coley, grocers; W. F.
Sayle, hardware and saddlery; j. B.
Cook, furniture; Upton Bros, grocers;
Barker & Rutland, insurance and real
estate; w. L. Irwin, meat market: R.
B. Cummins 4 Co.. grocers; R. G. Hill
4 Co., hardware, and P. V. Stewart,
neat market, were burned. Most of
he stocks were lost and the buildings
,otally ruined. The aggregate loss is
estimated at 100000, with possibly |
$50, 900 insurance.
A WORKMAN DECAPlTATED.
New YORK, Jan. Awhile at work |
IN the underground cable and trolley |
ystem at Fourth avenue and Twenty
Third street the head of James Kee-
ran was severed from his body, pre-
by the sharp metal shoe Of a
rolley car The decapitation was per.
ormed as neatly as If a keen-edged
snife had been used. The accident oc-
,urred while the finishing touches
we're being made on the underground
'ystem at the crossing of the two
.horoughfares. Keegan was alone at
he time working in a dark chamber
covered with planks. No one had
been stationed to warn the young man
# approaching cars, and the only
light in the dark hole filtered down
through the cable slots.
FATAL ACCIDENT IN A COTTON GIN.
GUTHRIE, Ok, Jan. AT a cotton
rim located at Anvil, Lincoln county, |
John Bovarnick was caught in the
'hafting and hurled against the wall
with great force, fracturing his skull
nd hrao lin 70 HE or,,,e IT,, ,,,,1I J,o