"Going, Going—!"

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7746, 23 February 1905, Page 4

"Going, Going—!"

AUCTION CROWD FALLS THROUGH A FLOOR. Muring an auction sale of furniture which was being conducted in a shop in Victoria street, Wolverhampton, the auctioneer was " knocking down a writing desk with the faimliar words, " Going, going, gone," when it seemed that the walls were rising up to overwhelm the numerous company present. A cry of alarm went up, and evervbody clutched at everybody else, when all at once the crowd of buyers, the auctioneer and his desks found themselves in a heap in the cellar below. The floor, being too rotten to support the great weight of people and furniture, had given way and collapsed like a trap door. For some moments everybody was bewildered and unable to realise what had happened. Then, picking themselves up, the company tried to And a way up to the street. At last somebody came across a door, and ■ through it they all streamed. In the darkness the subterranean explorers stumbled upon some steps, a trap door was opened, and the company found themselves safely in daylight again. The most serious injuries consisted of bruises and scratches.