Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-09
Many Houses With Sleeping DC.
cupants Carried Over Brink
OF Pit.
MANY WERE KILLED OUTRIGHT
Debris Took Fire From Overturned
Stoves-Ten Bodies Burned Beyond
Recognition Recovered.


ished in the landslide which carried
several tenement houses down in clay
pit here last night. Up to o'clock this
morning none Of the bodies had been
recovered.
Undermined by the shifting clay
that had been softened by yes
terday's snowfall. the several homes
with their three score Of sleeping oecu-
pants topp.ed over the brink OF the pit
and tunbled TO pieces. The houses
which were OF wood were set on fire
from overturned stoves and the debris
was soon mass of flames. Some 30
or more tenants escaped with more or
less serious injuries while a number
variously estimated at from Is to IS
are believed to have been killed out
right or burned to death.
The landslide occurred on Rutland
street in the east end of the town
where two blocks OF houses are sup
posed to have been undermined BIZ
workmen digging clay for brick maxi
Ing. The catastrophe occurred with
out warning and while the victims
were asleep. Seven houses went down
In the crash, They had stood on the
Drink or pit hunded feet deep and
when tne clay gave way were carried
u the pits bottom. Those who were
not killed IN the crash OF their homes
either escaped with many Injuries or
were burned to death in the ruins
which Immediately took fire. The land
slide broke the water mains. shutting
on the supply of water and greatly
impeding the work OF rescue. Unre-
sisted the flames spread to other build
ings and but for the timely arrival Of
hundreds OF volunteer fire lighters
might have wiped out the town. Those
known to have perished are:
THE DEAD.
Mr.. Nelson. furniture dealer.
BENJAMIN Nelson. his son
Mrs. silverman.
- Silverman. a boy.
A Jewish rabbi
Mr.. and Mrs Cohen.
Five Cohen children.
THE MISSING.
The missing include Mrs. Bailey.
Two Of the Mannion family.
Entire Lanny family.
Seven Hebew laborers.
The landslide came gradually at first
The ground, weakened by the rain and
snow of the last few days, showed crew
Ices near the edge of the street late I'm
the afternoon and In the evening por-
tlons OF the bank began TO give way.
The street Was not thickly populated.
for most of the former jewellers had
left on account OF fear OF Just what
happened
Many of the residents left their
houses early In the evening before the
final crach came. The Nelson's were
endeavoring TO move their effects. AM
the rabbi WAS assisting them. This was
also the case with Mrs. Silverman and
her son.
When the final slide came, 1t came so
suddenly that those who mad fingered
In their houses had absolutely no OPP.
portunity to escape. The bank caved
from 20 to 60 feet width at the top
and for a distance OF two blocks from
division to jefferson streets lengthwisc
A portion OF the south side OF Division
street likewise fell.
Those who lived I'm three houses at
the end OF the row and which did not
go down in the wreck, We're reused by
a frightful roar and crash above which
could be heard the shreks OF the vic
tins There was plunge, shivero
ing OF the earth all around and then
there was stiffness. When tho neghbors
rushed, half clad from their houses the
buildings close to them had disap.
peared. Only gap in the ciff side
told the story. II was very dark. with
no street lights. and those who had been
spared were so Wild with alarm for
their own safety that It was several
minutes before any general alarm was
given.
Before this could be done the frame
structure of the fallen houses had taken
fire from the scattered Goals and lights
in them and soon the whole Of the
wreck was burning fiercely, the flames
risng above the sides of the pit
As crowds hurried to the scene and as
the fire department galloped up sec
ond landslide occurred. In Ii several
persons who had ventured too near the
edge of the pit were nearly carried over
TO death. II was necessary TO move the
fire apparatus TO insure its safety, and
so uncertain was the earth that the
efforts OF rescue were greatly retarded
From below men entered the pit. but
could not get near the wrecks Of the
houses because OF the flames. The
whole pit grew so hot soon that those
who sought to attack the flames or rush
IN and IL possible save some who might
have survived the fall, could not APP
proach the wreck.
Large forces OF men who work in the
brick yards by day were mustered to
aid in the work Of rescue, but their
efforts were In vain All the tenants OF
the houses still standing were driven
out as the structures are in momentary
danger Of following the others into the
pit.
The frightened tenants were cared for