Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-02

lHe LeOnarQS, was OF SuCne poor COLI
struction that even the comparatively
slight shock at the bottom was enough
to topple 1t over.
The men who think there was no ex-
plosion and that the brick building fell
independently owing to its weak brac-
ing say that the heavy burden of seeds
it was bearing would have tended to
press the walls down and give them
greater power Of resistance against the
force directed against them from with
out. They argue that even il there was
as explosion it could not have been
strong enough to produce the result
Capt. Joseph Mccormick, of engine
company AZ. was in the second group
of firernen to arrive. He went with his
men to the rear of the burning build
ing in Eagle street, the little lane in be-
tween Randolph and Lake streets.
There he was directing the hosemen'
throwing water into the ruins, when
suddenly he saw a part of the wall Of
the big brick building beginning to fall.
1t came crashing to the southwest,
pushing the frame buildings to the
ground. He had only time to jump into
the rear door of the meat market fac
| ing OH Randolph street and owned by
Arnold Bros. With him was Tom
Breen, of engine company 81, who was
bruised by falling bricks, but not badly
enough injured to make it necessary
| for him to leave the scene. Capt. Me-
Cormick was of the opinion that the
brick building fell as the result of an
leXplosion, and from his position he was
4 inclined to locate the source in the car
lriage shop.
| AS soon as the flames were partially
under control from the streams of
water directed on them from the rear
and from the eastern side in front the
| firemen of trucks and 4 began to
search in the ruins of the milling COM
1 pany's store for the body of Hanson
Land for others who We're supposed to
4 have been lost. Marshal Campion took
charge of this part of the work, and
tore away lart of the debris.
ON the portion of the eastern wall of
the feed store, which was standing at
Ian angle of about sixty degrees,
propped up on the mass of wreckage
below, could be seen hanging an over
coat which had belonged to Hanson. 1t
was supposed that he must have been
working near by, and so the search was
first made under this spot.
Hanson's body was the first recov-
ered ii was about o'clock when the
tiremen found it. lying not at the east
but at the west side of the site of the
store. with the head toward the west.
1t was lying face down, with one of the
/ feet burned off. and was identified by
Edwin b. Harris, Mr.. Hanson's son-in-
law. who had come to the scene.
Hilton, the missing bookkeeper. who
/ had been employed by Hanson, worked
| in the same room with him, and was
Ialso cut off from escape when the
building Went down. OF those who We're
IN that room Taylor, the customer, is
/ probably the only one who escaped, and
/ ne got out only by running before the
/ others believed that there was trouble.
4 Patrick Peyton. who was taken to his
home at 726 Grand avenue. was in the
hover part of the feed store. He was
hurried. as he says. by an explosion
bodily from the store into the street.
Most exciting of the experiences of any
siof the men in this building VAS that OF
4 A. j. Kelly Hansonis weigher who
went up through the roof and landed in
Union street.