Year: 1879

Four work men apd Three


BOys-The Work Of ExtricatiuE


the Victims - A MtracOiOus


Escape From q Horrible Death


Had Mason work the Cause OF


the Accident.


On Saturday evening few minutes
after five o'clock the neighborhood OF
Second and Jackson streets was start
led by heavy crash followed, by low
rumbling sound. Instantly houses
were vacated and ther. was general
rush for the spot from whence the sound
proceeded. The sight that met the eye
was one of confusion. Two thres-story
brick houses had collapsed and had
buried amid the ruins number OF the
workmen. Immediately hundreds OF
eager hands were earnestly engaged
in removing the debris. Above the
confused murmer of voices could be
heard the agonized cries and groans OF
those buried beneath the mass.


Those known to be in the buildings
when they fell were Allen Ruth, the
well known contractor and member OF
the Board of Health from the Tenth
Ward, his three sons anda workman
named Charles Sollaway. No one
doubted for moment but that some
of them were killed aud the rest fatally
injured. The ruin was 30 thorough
and the mass so apparently noticeable
that nothing short Of miracle would
have saved them, it seemed.


ExTGicATlsG THE VICTIMS.


The crowd continued together until
| in half of an hoar, the street was
crowded with people all of whom seem
ed to want to do all they could to in
convenience those who we're removing
the wreck. By the dint Of considerable
labor the roof was removed from the
heap. The body of Mr.. .sollaway came
to view first. He was buried in the
bricks with large mortar board over
his head. He was carried out and
taken to the residence of Mr.. Mccoy.
He vas perfectly helpless and apparent
| ly dangerously injured.


Mr.. Ruth was next seen jammed in
against the northern foundation with a
ioist across his back and hips doubling
him up with his head under one leg.
The other leg was pinned to the sharp
edging Of joist by heavy piece OF
timber. While the men were saving
at the ioists the voise OF one OF the boys
could be heard exclaiming "The lad
der's hurting me, papa; take away the
ladder 20 MIR. Ruth gave directions to
the men in their efforts to relieve him
self and the boys.


When taken outMr. Ruth was helpless,
having cash across his forehead. lie
was carried to one side and laid along
the side of fence. The first question
he asked was:--"Where ara my hosEf''
Being told they were still In the
ruins he expressed determination to
help extricate them and made a move
meut towards the building but he tell
backwards. 1t was thought his spine
was broken.


The groans and cries Of the imprison-
ed boys cculd still be heard. Wm.
Ruth Young man OF II years was next
taken out. His head was almost ELL
tirely scalped, the skin being only at
tached to the head by a small piece OF
flesh the sizs of silver dollar. lie
could walk without assistance.


As they were endeavoring to extricate
Charles Ruth, another of the boys, the
voice of a child was heard. The
screams came from the centre of the
ruins, a spot upon which the greater
mass of the wall seemed to have fallen
and upon which the workmen had
lbeen throwing the loose brick and
broken timber.


This was the first intimation the men
had of there being any one other than
those mentioned above, buried beneath
the walls, while a number at once be-
gan to remove the loose mass others
went on relieving the unfortunate VIC
tins. Charles was at last carried out
with hip bone broken.


Louis Ruth who had fallen near his
father fortunately was SO fixed after the
ladder was removed that he could crawl
around, He fell near his father. He
had several scalp wounds none ofwhich
are serious.


By this time the pile OF rubbish in
the centre of the building had nearly
all been removed. The voice of the
boy could still bs heard crying papa.
Il was not known then who the child
was and the excitement among the
neighbors gathered around was in
tense. By. the combined exertion OF
six or eight men heavy timber was
lifted slightly and the dirt. bsdraggled
bruised and bloody form of six year
old child of Street Commissioner,
Louis p. Lynch, was taken and placed
in his fathers arms.


The last victim extricated was Frank
Ruth, tbs Oldest son of the contractor,
he was slightly injured about the lower
limbs and otherwise bruised by the
falling brick and mortar.


The injured ones were taken home
on settees and physicians immediately
sent for. Drs. West, Springer, Morri-
son, Mckay and Thomas were soon IN
attendance.


THE APPEARANCE OF THE WRECK.


Even after the injured had all been
taken home people continued to gather.
AS the scaifolding was then standing
there was still considerable danger. The
buildings which are situated on. jackson
strset,above Second, had been completed
mn to the third story joist, and the
bricklsyers had run portion OF the
third story wall up. The houses had
two additions running back two stories
in heirhth which were completed, and
had been rooted in. When tho wall
collapsed all that was left standing
was the swaying scalfolding, the south


.IJa h,lg;no ont and the twO-stOry