The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-08-08
STORE COLLAPSES, AND
MANY MEET DEATH.
Continued from page One.

Up TO 1880 o'clock three persons had
died in the hospitals thirty injured hav-
ing been sent 10 their homes or the hospi-
tails and II was estimated that fifty still
remained in the ruins. II is believed that
all OF those now in the hospitals will re-
cover.
DID GOOD WORK.
Edward j. Horan. a clerk, escaped with
out scratch. After placing about 30 girls
I'm a neighboring store he took their
names and stood at the doors and when
Tanic stricken relatives arrived. he gave
the information that In many cases
brought Joy TO anxious households Mr..
Horan said that when the crash came not
a half dozen customers were within his
vision. He and the other male clerks az
once began 10 help drag out the impris-
oned girls.
An extraordinary number OF persons
were found caught in the debris in such
way that although scarcely injured they
could not have escaped. This is account
ed foT by the nature OF the material
which covered them. number OF the
rescued were taken out almost suffocated
by the clouds OF lime dust.
Every contractor who had men employ
ed in the city suspended work and offered
assistance, and soon the laborers were ar
riving by the wagon load They promptly
began removing the debris In the rear Of
the store a score OF employees were found
imprisoned in the cellar, where they had
been thrown from the floor above Most
OF them wer conscious and several d.
rected the work OF rescue The fire es-
capes at the back OF the building saved
many.
SLOW COLLAPSE.
The building collapsed slowly. First there
was a cracking and then as they saw the
floors settling beneath them and the
~plaster dropping from the walls, men and
girls rushed shrieking 10 the windows End
climbed out 10 safety on the escape. The
catastrophe came when few shoppers
were out. Thus far only one person has
been taken out of the ruins who is not an
employe.
This is Mrs. Richard O. Bassett, wife OF
a well known attorney Her injuries are
serious. Because many OF the girls went
home Immediately after the accident II is
impossible 10 get anything like a complete
list OF those missing.
MEMBER OF FIRM HURT.
Robert NJ. Chalmers. recently admitted
n member OF the firm, was caught in an
upper hoor and went down with the
debris. He was dug out from beheath
n mass OF plaster, beams and broken
he was frightfully bruised. so far as
now known the injured are residents OF
Albany.
The strangest experience of all was
that OF w lliam Garrison, the elevator
man. and Edward Haswell both OF whom
escaped uninjured. Both were in the
elevator near the fourth floor at the time
OF the accident. The cables supporting
the elevator broke. but the machine fell
nn1 "a N nc hna hN1 1ax
across the shaft and held the elevator In
a position where the two young men
could see the terrible sights before them.
COULD GIVE NO AID.
They could hear the means OF the girls
pinned beneath the debris but were un-
able 20 go 10 their assistance. Haswell
and his companions climbed from the ele-
vator on the third floor and finally work
ed their way 10 the second story on the
front OF the building. Workmen on the
third floor saw them and let down a rope
with which they climbed TO the street in
safety
At 1880 almost a fatal panic was caused
by the falling of n portion OF the debris
which had hung suspended from one of
the upper floors. A cascade of plaster and
bricks poured down and two hundred per-
sons who were in the uninjured part OF
the store made a mad dash for the door
One man tainted and fell off n window.
landing on his head, and injuring himself
severely.
Those engaged I'm the active work OF
rescue remained where they were The
rubbish soon ceased falling and the panic
abated No one was injured but a mum,
her were bruised and battered In the rush
for safety.
The dead are:
Nellie Burns.
Bertha Cunningham.