ten minutes before five
She sprang as the floor sunk . As pillar after pillar gave way , she bounded up an inclined plane , with the gulf yawning after her . It gained upon her , leaped at her , caught her ; beyond were the stairs and an open door ; she threw out her arms , and struggled on with hands and knees , tripped in the gearing , and saw , as she fell , a square , oaken beam above her yield and crash ; it was of a fresh red color ; she dimly wondered why , -- as she felt her hands-slip , her knees slide , support , time , place , and reason , go utterly out . '' _ At ten minutes before five , on Tuesday , the tenth of January , the Pemberton Mill , all hands being at the time on duty , fell to the ground _ . '' So the record flashed over the telegraph wires , sprang into large type in the newspapers , passed from lip to lip , a nine days ' wonder , gave place to the successful candidate , and the muttering South , and was forgotten . Who shall say what it was to the seven hundred and fifty souls who were buried in the ruins ? What to the eighty-eight who died that death of exquisite agony ?