Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-08-19
GREAT DISASTER
VISITS sTAUNTON
Home of City Fire Depart
ment Sinking Private Res
idcnce Of Prof. c. L. Wilson
Abandoned.

1QCIlCe Vi FIOI. -. l.. WllSOIl
Abandoned.
About ten-o' clock yesterday morn.
ing, the people who were packing sp.
pies for Mr.. John Lanaes on Baldwin
street, heard a crash as if under theil
feet and suddenly buildings shook and
the pavement sank about four feet.
The alarm became general there about
and in moment or two, persons be.
gan to gather. The boys at the fire
house just by, ran out, the chief Of
| police arrived shortly after, and per-
sons living in house just over the
preak which proved to be the family
of Mr.. Horsley an employee of the
Gas Co., got quickly out. It was at
once discernable that a cave in had
begun, the depth of which could not
and cannot be ascertained. The break
was SO extended that it became GER
tain that something of no ordinary
character was impending. Those who
came at once stood in CONSERVATION,
as to what might be expected. Pro-
fessor G. L. Wilson who owns the
houses that were at once undermined
was upon the scene, and naturally
much excited. The chief of police
had ropes brought at once and with
City Manager Ashburner, who arriv-
ed in short time, stretched them
across the street on both sides to keep
back crowds, and they began also to
hold back the curious. The sinking
of the ground continued constantly
and in less than an hour it had sunk
ten feet and the radius of the cave in
was about 80 feet. Every now and
then dust would rise showing that
fresh caving was going ON. The
breaks at first opening were not sud-
den, after the first one. The sinking
was gradual but fast as shown by sur
rounding objects and especially by
a tree about 25 feet in height which
stood almost in the center of the first
brsSk. La less than two hours this
tree hal entirely disappeared. being
dragged under like QUE in quick
sand. About the time of the disaps
pearance of the tree, sudden and by
odds the loudest and quickest break
occurred almost under the fire depart
ment building. The dust rose from a
hole about four feet square at first in
tt pavement, in front of the engine
house. This was sufficient warning
for the department to go to work and
remove machinery and furniture.
This they did quite expeditlously.
Mr. Landes, who had some hundreds
of-barrels Of apples on the opposite
side Of the street, began to get busy
also.
Wagons came in rapid succession and
began taking them away to places OF
safety. By the time Mayor Wayt and
several members Of the city council
had been notified and were upon the
scene. The breaks of which there are
now two continued to grow wider and
their yawning more dangerous. The
large new public school building is
just across from where the first break
occurred ana has become involved.
The steps have begun pulling from
the building and these cracks are in
Icreasing in size. Some large cracks
are appearing in the rear Of Professor
Wilson's residence, some rs feet from
the original break and it looks as if
iG may be dragged down.
At about O'Clock the house (which
stood over the first break, the home of
Mr.. BaIsley fell in with crash and
now lies buried ont of sight It was
two story structure. 25 by So feet.
ALI along at intervals huge sides of
these craters would break and fall
with heavy detonstions showing the
crevasse to be deep. At 5 O'Clock, OF
thereabout, fresh crevasses,, opened di-
rectly in the rear of Prof. Wilson &
home, dest1 Dying his garden and en-
whole house, which is a fine brick
structure facing Lewis Street. Bald.
W in is sholt street at right angles
% Lewis and Central avenue and Au-
gusta. its length being from Lewis tt
Augusta. The house of Professor Viii
Oh is on the corner of Lewis anG
Baldwin. The crevasse runs diagonall.
across the squares formed by Lewis
Central avenue and Baldwin street
The houses most involved are the Cit,
fire company building, which is hang
ing one end over the crevasse, severa
store rooms property of Prof. Wilson
and his home. Should the break con
tinue across Lewis Street, it will in
yolye valuable residences.
, About five O'Clock water began ooz
ing up in the gardens of John Fallon
florist, and to run down over the gar
dens of those below him and between
} his gardens and the fire house. Mr.
} Ashburner Immediately put force O
workmen to digging sluice to turl
} this water into the main, Lewis Cree
} which flows through the town som
J 80 feet east of the break. This vii
: take off this water and prevent it
J flooding the gardens..and houses beloy
} Mr.. Fallon. The most acceptabl
} theory is there has been for Ion
! : time here deep sub stream whic
! flowed into some cavern and lost itsel
- 49, o.t of tho rroseut cravasae