Evening journal., 1903-05-26
The Diamond State Car
Spring Company and
Davis Pressed Steel
Company Collapse
Waterman Bowers Heard
the Walls Cracking and
Got Ont in Time to
Save His Life

With a crash and rumble that startled
the esidents Of eighth street near the rail-
road from their sleep at $3.50 this morning,
the big works of the Diamond State Cur
Spring Company and the Davis Pressed
Steel Company fell to the ground. The
wrecked building Is lying a mass OF debris.
The cause OF the collapse was a sewer
which was dug directly along the cast side
OF the building by Ryan and Kelley. Penn
sylvanla railroad contractors. The sewer
was dug some time ago. but the city Of
hcisls required it to be taken up and
placed deeper. The pipes had been re-
moved and tho ditch dug to q depth OF ten
feet The work of placing the pipes would
have started today. The deep trench 80
close TO the works and the vibration OF
trains, which were passing almost con-
siantly, caused the accident.
Watehman Escaped.
Night Watchman Bowers heard the
building cracking about II o'clock and got
out. Each train that passed caused re-
newod cracks until the climax came at
$50. The roar was deafening and the
Etartled residents rushed into the streets
clad IN their night clothes. thinking there
was an earthquake. The ground trembled
for blocks with the falling OF the building.
Fortunate Accident.
II was indeed a fortunate thing the
building fell when Il did. Had the accident
happened during THE day many lives would
have been lost. Fifty employees worked in
the southeastern side, which is the part
most damaged.
7. 6. Davis, secretary and treasurer of
the firm had his office ON the second floor
directly in The corner which must have
fallen first. He would have been crushed
by the falling bricks above him.
Damage Not Known.
NJ. II. Davis, president Of the company.
when seen regarding the loss stated IL
would be utterly impossible TO make any
kind Of estimate for several Gays as the
condition OF the plant and the high priced
machines will not be known for some tlme.
one Of the worst damaged machines Is an
hydraulic spring machine, valued at s2
900, which Is utterly ruined and all the
other machines are shattered and famed
SO that many may have TO be replaced.
Part Of Building Standing.
Part OF the building is standing but Is
covered with tile debris. Workmen were
'h Ah' 0A'N' early Nilh morning clearing
away the wrcckage.
The nreproof safe, which was on the
second floor almost buried itself in tho
ground and the wreck train Of tho Penn
sylvania railroad win be necessary to lift
II out. The safe contained the checks OF
the employees, who will be paid today.
The sceno Is one OF devastation The
Iwrenched and broken shading and machin-
cry protrude through the wood work and
the idle employees stand about discussing
the accident. A big crowd watched the
men clearing the debris away. 1t will re-
quire many days TO do this work and many
weeks to repair the building.
Concern Busy.
Mr. Davis, president Of the concern
said: "The accident could not have come
at more unopportune time. We are
busier than ever before in our history and
} have several orders that were to be de-
livered within given time. The work OF
rebuilding Will be pushed forward as ran