Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1904-11-04
APPALLING DISASTER
WALLS OF FouR.sToRY BUILDING
2 COLLAPSE AT MEMPHIS.
TEN PEOPLE BURIED BENEATH RUINS
All Of Whom MiraculousIy Escape
Save Negro Porter, Whose Life
Was Crushed out-Bullding in the
Heart Of the City, and the Crash
Witnessed by Hundreds of People.

Memphis, Tenn, Nov. with a
crash and a roar of deafening volume
the four-story building, situated at
No. 10 Madison street, this city, col
lapsed yesterday morning, There
were number of people in the build
Ing at the time. All escaped with
slight injuries, with the exception OF
the negro porter of the Bank Saloon
who was entombed in the debris,
meeting death almost instantly.
The catastrophe was spectacular in
its sensational suddenness and in its
awful environment. The collapse was
due to the weakened condition of the
west wall, caused by the withdrawing
of the supporting walls which had
sustained the building through so
many years.
The building was occupied by the
Continental Savings Bank, by Stotts
& Dean and Hugh H. Higbee, real es.
tate and rental agents. The loss to
the owners is sweeping. Only a heap
OF dust-covered ruins mark the site of
the building.
The wreck of the building was in
measure anticipated. The walls
showed systems of weakening some
days ago. A crack etched itself across
the northwest end of the building and
attracted the attention of the owners
of the same, who gave warning to
Seats & Badenelli, who had leased the
building, and they in turn took every
precaution to warn their tenants.
The crack grew in length, and Sun
day became alarming tin its dimen-
sions. Yesterday the tenants were
again notified that the building was
unsafe, and they were to this extent
prepared for the accident which oc-
cured.
1t was $40 when the frail fabric
gave way. The street was crowded
with people. The building itself con-
tanned many human lives. There was
a grinding of torn timbers, a wrench
ing asunder of supporting beams, a
clatter of falling brick, and the crash
followed.
The Dead.
Winter Parker, negro cook in Bank
Saloon; crushed by falling falls; lived
at 46S Shelby street. body turned
over to Thompson & Gustafson, un-
dertakers.
The Injured.
John M. Dean, of Stotts. Dean &.
Co.; received scalp wounds: taken to
his home, 1853 Spring avenue; will
recover.
Barney Earle Kyle, office boy for
Stotts, Dean Co.; escaped with only
slight bruises; taken to his home on
Barton avenue in ambulance; was
playing in few hours after mirac
ulous escape.
Clarence Henochsberg, teller of
Continental Savings Bank: severe
bruises on shoulder, right limb and
forehead: under care of physician at
MS home, S65 Vance street; will be
able to resume duties in a few days.
Rescued Uninjured.
Frank d. M. Schas, president of
Continental Savings Bank.
Frank Baum, cashier of Continental
Savings Bank; lives at S99 Poplar
street; although caught in the crash.
he crawled out without sustaining a
scratch, and spent remainder of the
day at the scene of the tragedy. look
ing after the banks property; re-
ceived scores of kilograms during day
from other banks expressing congratu-
lations at miraculous escape.
j. w. Stotts, president of Stotts.
Dean & Co.; was on second floor of
building; heard the wall cracking and
gave the alarm; lives at 235 Union
street.
Albert Kornick, brickmason from
st. Louis, Mo-; caught in cellar un.
der bank; smashed three partition
walls in fight for liberty; his life was
saved by means of his hammer