Allegheny County PA Archives- Obituaries: Weckerly, William; Wickerly, David; Moxon, James; Doran, William, 09 Feb 1898 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Martha Little, , Jul 2010 Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/ ________________________________________________ In the late evening of Wednesday, February 9, 1898, a fire and explosion occurred at the Union Storage building on Pike and Thirteenth streets, with numerous deaths. These were some of the victims. from The Pittsburgh Press dated Friday, February 11, 1898 (page 1): Anxious inquires were made this morning to the firemen about many of the missing. One of the most pathetic of these scenes was created by William WECKERLY, of Thorn street, Brushton borough. His brother, David B WECKERLY, left home Wednesday night, and has not been seen since. It is supposed by friends of the missing man that he came to Pittsburg and perished while viewing the fire. William WECKERLY was at the scene of the fire early making inquires about his brother. The police told him no more bodies had been recovered and advised him to go away and wait until he received word. Mr WECKERLY would not do this. He insisted upon forcing his way through the police lines and watching the "white wings" working away. The police, respecting his feelings, allowed him to approach the ruins. He stood there for a long time gazing sorrowfully at the great pile of blackened and charred rubbish which blocked Mulberry alley. "Poor Dave," was all he said. Then he turned and went away. from The Pittsburgh Press dated Friday, February 11, 1898 (page 6): MISSING David B WICKERLY, age 28, employed as a stairbuilder by Contractor James HANEY; lived on Thorn Street; has wife and three children. Case reported by brother, Peter WICKERLY, 15 Mayflower street. Last seen in Mulberry alley. from The Pittsburgh Press dated Saturday, February 12, 1898 (page 1): At 11:30 the "white wings" working on the left hand side of the alley toward Twelfth street, came across the body of John GEARY. Before the body was taken out, Prof James MOXON's remains were found. Along side of them the body of David B WECKERLY was found. Then the body of another man, at present unidentified, was found. All the bodies were taken to the morgue. William DORAN was 19 years old and had been employed as a messenger for the Adams Express company. He lived with his mother at 1611 Webster avenue. John GEARY, who is now on the list of missing, was with DORAN in the alley before the explosion and his body is supposed to be not very far away from where the others were recovered. There were nine boys from Webster avenue in the party. Only one of them, Jacob BOOTH, has returned home. The others are all supposed to have perished. The body of DORAN was at first mistaken for that of GEARY. GEARY was 18 years old and had been employed as a clerk of the Adams Express company. He resided with his sister, Mrs John DUNN, at Lawrenceville. His parents live at Johnstown. (* This GEARY information is incorrect but can not determine who is being referenced.) Prof James MOXON was 32 years old and lived at 815 Hamilton avenue, Brushton. He was a member of the central board of education from the Thirty-seventh ward and leaves a wife and one child. He was also organist of the English lutheran church, Brushton. David B WECKERLY lived on Thorn street, Brushton. He went to the fire with Prof MOXON on Wednesday night and they were last seen standing together in Mulberry alley. Their bodies were found lying together, with WECKERLY's hand across Prof MOXON's shoulder. from The Pittsburgh Press dated Sunday, February 13, 1898 (page 9): One more body, the seventh since morning, was found a sort time later about a few feet away. Owing to the mutilated conditions of the remains, it was impossible to identify them at the time but they were identified last evening at the morgue as those of John CUSTINE. from The Pittsburgh Press dated Monday, February 14, 1898 (page 5): The funeral of Prof MOXON and his friend, D B WECKERLY, took place together from the Christ lutheran church, Brushton, where the professor had been organist. The organ was almost completely hidden behind the heavy draping. The double interment was in Homewood Cemetery. Among the orders which attended the services over the remains of Prof MOXON were Homewood Circle R H C. Funeral services over the body of William F DORAN were held at St Bridget's catholic church, Enoch street. The remains of D A GEARY were taken to Greensburg where the funeral took place from the catholic church there. from the City of Pittsburgh Death Records: James S WECKERLY, age 28 years, married, stair builder, died February 9, 1898, crushed in a falling building; son of James and Rebecca WECKERLY; born in PA; lived on Thorn Street; burial in Homewood Cemetery on February 13, 1898. (This certificate was obviously filled out incorrectly - this is David B WECKERLY's information. Wife is Susan with children Bertha, Charles, and James.) William DOREN, age 19 years, single, wagonman for Adams Express Company, died February 9, 1898, crushed by falling walls at fire; son of Daniel and Ellen DOREN, both of Ireland; born in Pittsburgh; lived at 1611 Webster Avenue; burial in Calvary Cemetery on February 12, 1898. Dennis Augustin GEARY, 34 years old, single, clerk at Adams Express Company, died February 9, 1898, crushed by falling walls at fire; son of Maurice and Ellen GEARY, both of Ireland; born in Greensburg PA; lived at 13th and Mulberry avenue; burial in Greensburg PA cemetery on February 13, 1898. James MOXON, 32 years old, married, professor of music, died February 9, 1898, crushed by falling walls at fire; son of William and Ann MOXON, both of England; born in PA; lived at 28 Hamilton; burial in Homewood Cemetery on February 13, 1898. (Wife is Minnie with daughter Ora.) John CASTINE, age 51 years, single, pork packer, died February 9, 1898, crushed by falling walls at fire; son of John and Katherine CASTINE, both of Germany; born in Philadelphia; lived at 116 Pike Street; burial in St Philomena Cemetery on February 14, 1898.