Edit in JSFiddle

$(function(){
    $('.target').click(function() { // click to empty element
        $('.elements span:not(:empty):first').empty(); // empties first not empty element
    });
});

<div class="well">
    <button class="target btn btn-primary">click me to empty element</button>
    
    <div class="elements">
        <span>elment 1</span>
        <span>elment 2</span>
        <span>elment 3</span>
        <span>elment 4</span>
        <span>elment 5</span>
        <span>elment 6</span>
        <span>elment 7</span>
    </div>
</div>