The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-20
FOUR BUILDINGS FALL
UNEXPLAINED COLLAPSE IN DE-
TROIT'S WHOLESALE DISTRICT.
Structures Were Four Stories High
and Were Filled with Goods
Loss Estimated at S152,OOO.

DETROIT, Jan. 19.-Four buildings, each
four stories high, located in the heart of
the wholesale district of this city. collapsed
at $50 o'clock tonight, without any ap
parent cause and all that remains
is a heap of ruins. The buildings were a
part of the block bounded by jefferson
avenue and Shelby and Griswold streets,
and were occupied by five concerns, and the
loss on their stocks, which is total, is es-
timated at sl52,O0O. The loss on the build
ings amounts TO $50500.
The buildings joined each other at the
corner of Jefferson avenue and Shelby
street The first and second floors of the
building on the corner were occupied by
the Maddocks Glove Company, manufac-
turers of gloves and mittens, and the two
upper floors were used by the Imperial
Cap Company, manufacturers of hats and
caps. The loss on the stock of the glove
company was estimated by Mr.. Norman
Maddocks at $4,000. and he estimated the
loss to the Imperial Cap Company at s15, 600.
This latter figure could not be verified to-
night.
Adjoining the Maddocks Glove Companys
building was the brokerage firm of F. B.
Neuhof & Co., who carried large stock
of commission goods. Mr.. Neuhoff said his
loss. ike the others, was total. and amount
ed to $1,000. with about $1,000 inusrance.
In the same building with this firm was To-
Gated a stock of commission goods, which
he carried for Hills Bros, of New York,
and which, Mr.. Neuhoff said, was valued at
$1,000 The Michigan Produce Company
also occupied part of this building, and
its loss was estimated by Mr. Neuhoff at
about $500. The third and fourth build
ings were occupied by Croze Bros, limited,
wholesale grocers. ]. F. Croze said he was
unable to give exact figures, but stated
that they carried about $4,000 worth of
stock, which was fully insured.
No one seems to know what caused the
collapse of the buildings. On Sunday night
that district is practically deserted, and
the few who were in the vicinity say that
the buildings seemed to fall into heap
without apparent cause, making noise
like the rumbling of distant thunder. There
are evidences OF explosion about the
ruins, but no one heard sound of such an
explosion. The walls of the rear part of
the Maddocks Glove Company's buildings
are still standing to the height of two sto-
rieS, but the roof of this part of the build
ing lies turned bottom side upward in the
middle of Shelby street, and a large iron
smokestaok lies on the sidewalk on the
opposite side OF the street, mashed against
the buildings there as If driven by force.
Experts from the Detroit Gas Company's
office made examination of the ruins,
but said they were unable to find evidences
of gas explosion.
II was fortunate that the wreck occurred
on Sunday night Had it happened during
business hours the loss OF life would have
been appalling. as there were approximate
ly 200 persons employed by the various
firms They would have been caught I'm a
veritable death trap and crushed and
burned before they could have been res
cued. The buildings collapsed into a heap
and in a short space of time the infiam-
mable material caught fire from the fur
naces used for heating the buildings. There
were no watchmen about the premises;
consequently there will be no loss of life
No one was injured.