The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1904-11-10

Winston Salem. - G.. Specialize
reservoir u the municipal water-works
located near the center OF Winston
broke at O'Clock Wednesday morning
causing the loss o. nine lives and the
injury Of four or five persons.
The dead are:
THE DEAD.
Mrs. Marlin Peoples
Mrs. Vogier
Mrs. John Poe and 12-year-old
daughter.
Mrs. Southern and son. John South.
ern.
Miss Octavia Bailey.
Lucille Malone.
Cornelius Martin.
The two last named are coiored.
The injured are:
THE INJURED.
Martin Y. Peoples, both legs broken,
Walter Peoples, injury 10 back.
Giliey Jordan. slightly bruised.
These are at the hospital.
ID. J.. Payne. a travelling man, OF
Greensboro, may recover, though his
condition now prevents his removal to
the hospital.
The north side of the reservoir which
Is 80 feet high. tumb;ed over, falling
upon the homo and barn Of Martin V.
Peoples. There were about 500, 900 gal
ions OF water In the reservoir, and the
mad stream rushed northeast to the
Southern Railway cut. and thence to
bel0's pond. distance of a half mile.
Ennr 4
several hundred yards
ID. l.. Payne, one Of the injured. said
he was awakened by the crash and
thought he was being swallowed by an
earthquake. Il cannot describe my ex-
pcrience while l was floating on the
mad rushing stream of water" said Mr..
Payne after his removal to a house
near the place he was found
The Winston aldermen met at once
and made arrangements 10 bury the
dead and care for the injured
The Winston reservoir was built in
1881, by company composed Of 60 cit
liens. Ten years ago it and the entire
water plant was sold to the city. Soon
thereafter 10 feet was added to the
height OF the reservoir. which was full
OF water when tho collapse came The
city has just had a large stand pipe
completed. 1t is full of water and the
town Is prepared to supply every de-
mand.
Despite the early hour, the news of
time, and within 80 minutes between
GOO and 1000 people surrounded the
spot. An hour later the entire city was
aroused and excited. Before the extent
OF the damage was known, and while
It was thought that perhaps the mem
bers Of the Peoples family were the
only ones who had lost their lives, cries
OF distress were heard farther down
the street.
The thousands of gallons OF water
that flowed from the reservoir formed
pond in the vicinity, and it was
thought that several people might have
been drowned in this. The city coun-
Gil met and decided to drain the pond.
in order TO recover any bodies that
might lie beneath the water.
The reservoir was situated about FIVE
blocks from the center of the business
district of the city and was surround
ed by a number Of residences and sev-
eral small stores. 1t is understood that
the structure had been condemned, but
the city authorities had failed to re-
move It,
SOME ACCOUNTING SCENES.
A description of the scenes at the
little branch near the railroad track.
where the dead bodies were found.
would defy the genius of a Dickens
Anxious relatives with tear-stained
faces, watching ,anxiously for some
sight Of the loved ones who had been
snatched from them to a remorseless
grave. The agonizing lool9of a brother
as he searched for some trace of his
missing sister was especially pathetic.
Il will never forget the look of a
mother as she saw the dead body of
her son. remarked a man who arrived
On the scene short time after the
fearful disaster. MY son, my son."
she exclaimed, and the coGsoling words
OF neighbors were powerless to lessen
the grief that she was unable to con-
troll. 1t was truly a horrible sight
y NEGRO'S STORY
A colored man. who lives near the
reservoir and who ruched to the door
as soon as the crash was heard, had
this to say Of the disaster:
When l heard the noise l thought
at first it was an earthquake | ran
to the door and looked up the street.
/ can't tell exactly how it looked, for
was scared too badly to take notice. !
1t seemed as If big river was coming
down the street. Parts Of houses and
rubbish OF all kinds were being carried
with it, and l saw several bodies being
washed away. I was SO badly scared
that it was long time before | found
out what was the matter. 1t was pitt
full to hear the groans Of those who
were being swept away l am not able
to tell anything else, for | had a hard
time getting out OF the way myself"
he concluded excitedly and in a man
ner to show that he had not recover,
ed from his fright