COLLAPSE OF TENEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21292, 22 December 1932, Page 15

COLLAPSE OF TENEMENT

NINE FAMILIES HOMELESS MOST TERRIFYING. EXPERIENCE. Nine families, comprising thirty-two persons, were rendered homeless by the collapse of a four-story tenement house m Leith one morning recently. Shortly alter 6 o’clock, tons of masonry thundered down into Market street, a poor part of the town, and a gap 15ft wide appeared almost from top to bottom of the house, which was 60ft high. How the occupants escaped without iniurv is a marvel. . They had a most terrifying experience, being awakened to find their homes collapsing around them. The interiors of the rooms were completely exposed, and in some houses beds were hanging precariously over the edge of the floor where the wall had disappeared. It was still dark and a wild rain-storm was raging. . . The police and fire brigade hurried to the rescue, and the people were all got out safely by the common stair. One man was making for the door when a huge block of stone fell in front of him. Ho was just able to crawl out. The last to leave was a blind man, who insisted on staying to put on his boots. , ~ , , The others were glad to escape half-clad, and were taken to the Market Hall, wheie arrangements were made to give them breakfast. The building is one of the oldest in the town. Owing to its condition the authorities barricaded off the street at the spot.