El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-09-25
Rear Of Cafe
TN171bLeS InAS
Patrons Dine
Women Faint; Crashing
Walls Sound Like
Explosion.

During the height of the dinner
hour at the White Cafe. 1o7 East San
Antonio street, at o'clock Wednes-
day night, the rear wall of the build
ing collapsed from the second story
Of the building to the basement and
tons of debris crashed into the busy
kitchen. Sixteen kitchen employees
were in the room at the time. One
was partially buried beneath the
avalanche but none seriously injured.
Two Of the men were slightly
bruised from falling bricks.
The damage is estimated by the
prOprietors at between $4,000 and
S25,o00. part OF which is covered by
insurance.
The first intimation of the fan was
when one Of the second cooks heard
crack as though the wall were
splitting. He stepped from the rear
door of then kitchen to ascertain the
cause Of the cracking and before he
could return to the kitchen the entire
wall had fallen upon the exact spot
where he stood.
sounds Like Explosion.
A heavy steel curtain over the
ranges stemmed the fail for a few
seconds. during which the other en-
ployes escaped into the dining room.
Heavy rains for the past three days
are said to have sOftened the walls
SO that they became a dead weight
upon some partially rotted timbers
which gave way
The crash came while the orchestra
was playing a spirited opera selec-
ton and when more than $50 persons
were in the cafe Men. women and
children rushed for the entrance when
the wall fell with an explosion SINH
lar TO that Of heavy charge Of ex-
plosive.
Two Women Faint.
The dash Of the kitchen men into
the dining room further increased
the panic and for atime il was
thought some would be injured in the
crush. Two women tainted but were
quickly restored A heavy partition
confined the accident to the kitchen.
Patrolman W. c. Boyle was the
first officer on the scene Of the ac-
cident and he Immediately summoned
the police and fire departments. Fire
chief John Wray caused the electric
wires into the building TO be severed
in order TO prevent danger of fire and
the police rOped off a section about
the building lest further falling of
the walls might injure pedestrians.
Traffic was supended in an alley at
the side Of the building
Hundreds View Wreck.
D. l. Lewis. who with his brothers
operates the cafe. said that the sec
ond floor rooms were also wrecked
were not occupied at the time. The
floor OF these rooms was left only
partially suspended and several desks
in these rooms were in danger Of
falling. The building is owned by
Felix Brunschwig Of Paris. France.
Myrtu COblentZ OF B Paso is the
local representative and the building
had been rented to George Theisen and
Frank Murchison for subrenting.
Percy ATcGhee. city building inspec-
tor. inspected the building following
the crash and VIII issue a statement
TO the owners previous to the con-
struction Of a permanent kitchen.
Temporary repairs were begun
Thursday.
Hundreds went to the cafe Thurs
day morning TO view the wrecka ge.
Large quantities Of cooked foods.
rendered useless by brick and mortar
dust and broken dishes and twisted
pans completed the scene.
Large steaks. pans OF vegetables.
pies. cakes and roasts all were scat
tered about in the wreckage-