The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-01-24
MAYOR ESTIMATES THE
DEAD AT THIRTY-FTVE
Man Rescued from Ruins of
Building That Collapsed
Says so Are Caught.
Store Crowded With Bargain Seek
ers COllapses in Texas and
Then Catches Fire.


MCKINNEY. Tex. Ian. 23.-Thirty
five persons are believed to have been
killed here today when a building now
occupied by the Cheeves brother de-
partment store collapsed. The ruins
immediately caught fire. Eight bodies
have been recovered. Thirteen were
hurt.
Efforts to get an accurate state
ment as TO the number of persons in
the store when the walls crashed in
were unavailing. Nernie Graves, said
TO be the only occupant OF the store
when the crash came who escaped
unhurt, stated positively that fifty
walls fell. Mayor Finch estimates
the death list at So. Other estimates
are widely different. Smouldering
ruins prevented rescuers from digging
FAR into the debris tonight.
Cracking OF timbers and swaying OF
the building were quickly followed by
the collapse. Excitement attending
the accident vas increased by the fall
ing of a two story building adjoining
the department store.
Rescue work was impeded by the
lack OF mechanical facilities and
practically the entire male population
Of Mckinney Joined in fighting the
! fre and searching the smouldering
r'Iins. Two persons reached by the
rescuers lived only few minutes af-
ter they were taken from the ruins.
. An emergency hospital was hastily
constructed in a nearby building.
The dead
Rosa Welch.
Miss Katie Milliqan.
Miss Bessie Wade.
Russell Height, years old
N. r. Presley. clerk.
Mrs. Mary Stlff. clerk
Miss Eva Searey. clerk.
The last two died after being re-
moved from the wrecked building.
Fifty Are Trapped.
Nernie Graves. the only person
known to have escaped fromsthe build
ing unhurt. said he believed fifty per-
sons were in the store when the build
ing collapsed. Six hours after the
crash only 2l persons had been ac-
counted for. dead. 13 hurt and
Graves. II Graves reckoning of the
number in the store is correct. 1t is
feared the death list will be increased
as hopes Of removing any more en-
trapped victims alive is dwindling.
One Of the victims. y. X. Presley,
directed the firemeD how to release
him. although he could not see them.
He was dead when they reached him.
]
alive but died within an hour She
begged 10 be killed. as the flames
were slowly choking her to death.
Capitalist Caught.
l.. W. Bush. a capitalist Of McKin~
ney. Is believed to be pinioned be-
meath the wreckaRe. Presley told
those endeavoring to rescue him that
Bush was on the opposite side OF tho
counter from him when the building
fell A few minutes after the depart
ment store fell the twostory building
adjoining cracked and swayed. The
four inmates barely escaped
Clearing away the smoulderinR de-
bris was impeded by lack OF mechan-
ical facilities. Nearly the entire male
population joined in the rescue work.
digging In relays. The estimated loss
was about $4,000 including dam
ages TO the Odd Fellows lodge rooms.
on the third floor So far as can be
ascertained. the lodge rooms were
empty and the loss OF life was con
fined 10 the department store. which
occupied two stories. Mckinney has
5000 inhabitants