Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-09

Associated Press nlsuatch by Special Wire,
Haverstraw, n. Y. Jan. o.-At least IA
persons are believed TO have perisbed In
the landslide which carried several houses
down IN clay pit here last night. Up TO
. O'Clock this morning none OF the bodies
had been recovered. but it was believed
that all the missing were dead. A large
iorce OF men was kept at wor, In the
search for bodies. Undermined hv the
shifting clay, that had been softened bv
yesterdays snowfall the several houses
with their three score of sleeping occu-
pants, toppled over the brink of the pit
and crumhled 20 pieces The homes
which were OF wood. were set afre bv
overturned stoves and the debris was
soon q mass of flames. Fifty or more
tenants escaped with more or less serious
injuries, while at least IA are believed To-
have been killed outright or burned to
death.
The landslide occurred on Rutland
street, in the east end of the town. where
two blocks Of houses are supposed 10 have
been undermined hy WofEmen digging
clay for brickmaking. The catastrophe
occurred without warning and while the
| victims were asleep Seven houses went
down in a crash. They had stood on the
brink of a pit 100 feet deep and. when the
| clay gave way. were carried to the pits
bottom Those who were not killed in
the crash Of their homes either escaped
with many injuries or were burned 10
death IN the ruins, which Immediately
took fire. The landslide broke the water
mains, shutting OF the supply Of water
and greatly impeding the work of rescue
/ Onresisted. the flames spread TO other
buildings and. but for the timely arrival
OF hundreds Of volunteer fro-hghters.
might have wiped out the town.
those known to have persisted are.
Mr. Nelson. a furniture dealer.
Benjamin Nelson, his son.
Mrs. Silvonman.
silverman, a boy.
a jewish rabbi
Nr and Mrs Cohen.
Five Cohen children.
The missing includes
Mm Bailey
Two members OF the Mannion family.
The entire lanny family.
Seven Hebrew lahorcrs.
The landslide came gradually al first.
The ground. weakened hy the rain and
snow of the last few DAYS. showed creviccs
near the edge of the street late yesterday
afternoon and portions of the bank began
to give way early last night The street
was not thickly populated for most Of the
former dwellers had left on account OF
fear OF Just what happened Many of the
residents left their houses early in the
evening, before the final crash came The
Nelson's we're endeavoring to move their
effects and the rabbi was assisting them.
This was also the case with Mrs. Silverman
and her son. The final slide came so sud-
denly that those who had fingered in their
houses had absolutely no opportunity to
escape. The bank caved in from 20 to 60
feet within at the top and for a distance of
two blocks. from Division TO Jefferson
Streets lengthwise. A portion Of the
south side of Division street likewise fell
Those who lived in three houses at the end
of the row and which did not 90 down In
the wreck were aroused by a frightful
roar and crash, above which could be
heard the shrieks Of the victims There
was a plunge, a shivering Of the earth all
around and next there was stiffness.
When the neighbors rushed. half-clad
from their houses the buildings close 10
them had disappeared Only a gap in
the cliff side told the story. IL was very
dark, with no street lights, and those who
had been spared we're so wild with alarm
Off their own safety that IL was several
minutes before any general alarm was
given. Before this could be done, the
frame structures of the fallen houses had
taken fire from the scattered Goals and
lights in them, and soon the whole Of the
wreck was burning iercely, the flames
rising above the side of the pit As crowds
hurried TO the scene and the Fire Depart
ment galloped up, a second landslide
occurred. In il several persons who had
ventured too near the edge of the pit were
nearly carried over to death. IL was
necessary to move the FIRE apparatus tc
insure is safety, and so uncertain was the
earth that the efforts of rescueiwere greatly
retarded from below, men entered
the pit. but could not get near the wreck.
of the houses, because of the flames. The
whole pit soon grew so hot that those who
sought to attack the flame or rush in and
il possible, save some who might have sur
vived the fall, could not approach Ia,
wrecks. Large forces of men who work
in the brickyards by day we're mustered
TO aid in the work of rescue, but ihcil
efforts Acre in vain. All the tenants o.
the houses still standing were driven out
as the structures are in danger of follow
ing the Others into the pit. The frightened