Chicago, IL Buildings Collapse During Storm, Apr 1892 - The Dead

Seven In All Dead

Chicago, April 2.-Today the people reported last night as dangerously injured in the terrible disaster at Halstead and Hearce streets, caused by the collapse of a seven-story building in a whirlwind, appeared to have a fair chance of recovery. Sven is the total number of those dead. They are EDWARD MOTT, aged 2 years; HORACE MOTT, aged 5 years; DAVID HULETT, aged 6 months; WILLIAM GOWAN, aged 10 years; MISS MARY WALSH, Joliet, Illinois, and MRS. JAMES GOWAN. The bodies of SAMUEL BARESDALE , MISS WALSH, MRS. COWAN and the latter's 10 year old son, WILLIAM, are still in the ruins.

Aspen Weekly Times, Aspen CO, 9 Apr 1892

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Miss Walsh's Remains Found

Chicago, April 2.-One of the injured in the blowing down of the seven-story building last night, 8-year old ALICE HULETT, died to-day. It is charged that the Hulett building was four stories higher than it should have been. The permit issued to the owner, S.W. YOUNG, was for a three-story structure. In behalf of the owner it is asserted that the strength of the building was fully up to the municipal requirements. Just before 3 o'clock the first of the corpses buried under the ruins was reached. The body was so frightfully crushed that identification was well nigh impossible. The remains were thought to be those of MISS WALSH.

Nearly two hours elapsed after its discovery before the debris was sufficiently removed to allow the body of MISS WALSH to be carried out of the ruins. Her left arm was crushed to a pulp and her face was swollen and disfigured. Just before her body was removed the foreman who had been digging in the kitchen, discovered the body of MRS. GOWAN. She was clad only in a wrapper and had evidently just risen from her sick bed and was endeavoring to escape when the crash came. Her breast was fearfully bruised and the lividity (sic) of her features indicated that she died from asphyxiation.

In about half an hour and near the place where MRS. GOWAN'S body was found the remains of SAMUEL E. RISEDALE were found. He had evidently been caught under the heaviest part of the wall. His head was crushed almost flat and his left arm reduced to a jelly. Almost touching RISEDALE'S body on the left was found the body of WILLIAM GOWAN. He was badly crushed, but the appearance of his features indicated that he was smothered to death.

As soon as taken from the ruins the bodies were removed to the morgue and were later viewed by the coroner's jury. After an examination of the bodies the jury adjourned until next Friday, when witnesses will be heard.

Aspen Weekly Times, Aspen CO, 9 Apr 1892