The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-27

Cincinnati. September 23.-Schoo
closed today at Pleasant Ridge, sever
miles north OF Cincinnati, with the
first quarter OF the session. when nine
possibly ten. school girls were suffo.
Gated in a vault during the forenoon
recess and a score of others narrow.
iy escaped the same horrible death.
During the rest of the day this sub.
urb was wild with mingled excite.
ment. sorrow and indignation, and
tonight those openly charging the
calamity to official negligence are
making serious threats, among them
being many women.
The large building is used for a
nigh school as we'll as for all lower
departments. All of the victims were
from primary grades. On opposite
sides of the spacious ground in the
rear Of the school building are two
outhouses. When reces was given,
about thirty of the smaller girls were
In the clubhouse assigned to them,
when suddenly the floor gave way,
precipitating them into the vault be-
low. The vaul is IL feet deep and
walled UP with stone. like a well.
There was in it four feet Of water.
that would AVE teen over the heads
of the children falling in it singly,
but those falling foremost filled up
the vault partially, SO that others
We're not entirely submerged. The
girls fell eight feet from the flooring,
and the struggles of hos who were
on top kept at least nine underneath,
until they were dead.
Two frame sheds of these vaults
were about 20 feet square, without
windows and only one narrow door
way, so thai only mt girl escaped from
the door. She ran into the school
building and told the teachers what
had happened. The principal and
others rushed to the rescue. The
screams Of the girls were dimly heard.
while within the vault. and they were
most of them unable to speak when
rescued. The teachers were soon re-
inforced by the entire population of
the town. the police and fire depart
ments rendering most effective'service.
- tAhN Neotk ~ SS
to be sure that the rescue was COM
plete.
Among the first to come TO The relief
of Principal Sirinerman were Rev. I.
D. Lambert. Of the Presbyterian
church, and Frank S. Johnson, of the
Herald and Pres5yter, Of Cincinnati.
James Smith, aged IA, n of the
pupils, climbed to the roo of the
school house, united the flag and ran
to the vault. Ely means Of this i'm
promptu rope several were rescued
Marshal Wood hal great difficulty in
Keeping the crowd back and from in
1erfering with the rescuers. The i'm
portunities of friends especially of the
weeping mothers, were almost beyond
the control of the officers. Doctors
u. G. Senour and p. J. Shank, with
their assistants. used the SCHOOL build
ing for A hospital and a m6rt;ue until
dead and rescued were taken
to thelf hehtes.
Frank s. Johnson said:
"f was standing across The street
talking 10 DR.. Lambert when a little
girl came crying for help. We found
Principal Simrarman saving lives.
The smaller girls were being forced to
the bottom by the movements and
terrific struggles Of each other in thc
vault. Up the ladder climbed the lit
tie ones, drenched, gasping for breath
and fainting as soon as taken out into
the fresh air. AS fast as they came
within reach OF the door. those who
stood at the doorway reached down
and lifted then, frIm the ladder AND
passed them cut to waiting friends
1t was not possible to go down into
the. vault at first. for the reason tina
I one would impede the little ones wht
y1-- olfpahfn1 CT FlnAllv the las
| girl that could get to h ladder go
| out. and then the men went in ant
| rescued those who remained"
William J. Card, OF Mccullough ant
| Sons. in Cincinnati had three daugh
ters in the place, of whom Charmial
and Fausta lost their lives Rotha
the twin sister OF Fausta, narrow
escaped death. When the crowd o
girls rushed into the place Rotha wa
Knocked out of the door into the var
lust before the collapse OF the FOO
occurred.
Reports about the floor having give
way last year are denied by the schoe
trustees.
A corrected list Of the dead follows
Loretta Finke. aged II. daughter {
Henry Finke. OF the Schroth Packin
Company. Cincinnati !.
Emma Steinkanp, aged IL, daugf
ted of John SteinkamD.
Amelia Hesse. aged s, daughter
Herman D. Hesse, dairyman-
Il. Martha Buhr. aged s. father dea'
mother, Ella Buhr-
,, Edna Thee, aged 10. daughter
John Thee. blacksmith
Hazel Glover. aged s, parents dea
! lived with grandmother. Mrs Wo
Fausta Card. aged H.
Chairman Card, aged 9. both daugl
ters of William Card, OF the firm
, Mccullough an6 Sons. Cin-irnait.
Lillian withaE, aged Is. Taught