COLLAPSE OF A STORE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2686, 6 September 1905, Page 58

COLLAPSE OF A STORE.

A despatch from Albany, New YorE, dated August 8, says: —"The middle section of the big department store of John Myers and Co. collapsed! early to-day, carrying down with it over 100 persons, caught in a chaos of brick, plaster, and wooden beams. Between 20 and 30 men, women, and children met death. Anything like a complete list of the dead is - impossible until the workers have reached the bottom of the debris. With a few exceptions the dead and injured were employees of the firm, a majority being girls. The building was old but always considered safe^ Workmen were making extensive) repairs. A gang of Italian working men started to remove a pillar, which supported the main floor. Evidently they failed to brace the floor properly, fott scarcely had they loosened the iron post | when the whole three floors above cam© tumbling) down for a radius of 50ft about the pillar. The building did not take fire, but when darkness came it was estimated that nearly 50 persons remained in the ruins, and that not more than half of these could survive tho weight pressing upon them. '.The property loss is estimated at from 200",000dol to 300,000dol."

Messrs Parata, Moffatt and Co., of tha Colonial Land Agency, advertise a list of very desirable farms for sale. Those in search of | property will, cla well tq write for further in* 1 foro&liojii