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PORTION OF ARLINGTON BLOCK COLLAPSES
That there were no Fatalities was Due to the Fact that Accident took Place at Noon Hour
[Welland Telegraph, 8 June 1917]
At a quarter past twelve, noon, on Thursday, the rear end of the Arlington Hotel block, the portion now being converted into a theatre, collapsed and that there no loss of life is a miracle.
The section referred to had a width of about thirty-five feet. All of the ground floor construction had been taken out leaving the upper floor still occupied. Excavation was in progress, apparently weakening the security of the walls which were built of concrete blocks.
Had the wreck happened fifteen minutes earlier, it would have fallen on horses and workmen making the excavation. When it did happen, workmen were in the excavated portion eating their dinners, but they got out when the first crack was heard.
Occupants of the rooms upstairs were not so fortunate. One man and his wife were in one of the rear rooms and went down in the debris. The woman was slightly injured and suffered a severe nervous shock.
The White livery barn next door was dislocated in the disaster and the rear end of the building is now several feet out of plumb.
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