Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1890 — CRUSHED BY A CHURCH. [ARTICLE]

CRUSHED BY A CHURCH.

An Appalling Disaster In Brooklyn Thursday. An appalling disaster occurred in Brooklyn Thursday morning. The" heavy winds -Wednesday nigfatahook the new Presbyterian Church to' its foundation, and at 4:30 Thursday morning one of the walls fell with a crash on a three-story frame building adjoining, and brought with it death and destruction. The ruined building was occupied by the Mott and Purdy families. They numbered nine porsons. Five ox them are reported dead. Two were carried out of the ruins so seriously injured that their death is only a question of a few hours. The tenants in the little frame hous adjoining were alarmed Wednesday night by the manner in wuich the church walls shook and rattled. Tneir own dwelling was considerably shaken, and it was with fear and trembling that they retired. Twice during the night some of the inmates were aroused by the roariag wind, but every one was in bed and asleep when the disaster occurred Thursday morning. The heavy brick wall of the church fell suddenly with a crash and in a neap that bore through the cocKle-shell structure adjoining like a battering ram. The dwelling seemed to part in twain, and instantly the shrieks and groaus of the injured startled the residents for blocks about.