Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-09-27
From the National hteihgencer.
WAsAINGToN, Sett. 20.

Several workmerl, under the direction OF Mr.
John LenthaH, the clerk Of the works, were
under the vault, lowering down that part OF
the centre which still stood under 1t, just be-
fore ii fell. A loud crack gave notice OF their
danger, and all of them escaped out OF the
windows, or under the adjoining vaults, ex-
cepting Mr.. LrnthaA. who, to Judge fro N the
place in which his body was found, wanted
enly single step to have secured his retreat
also. But being under that part OF the arch'
the centre of which had been removed on Fri
day he was suddenly buried under many
tons of bricks, and must have been instanta-
neously deprived of sensation and lie.
AS all the butments of this vault are stand
ing, without the smallest failure, ii is not ca
sy satisfactorily to account ior the sudden tall
ing OF the work.
It's construction was such as ought 10 have
rendered it perfectly secure, and the vault OF
4 the Senate chamber over It, which is great
er magnitude and much bolder design, stands
as arniiy as when first built; although by the
falling of the arch below, part OF Its centres
were violently torn from under 1t, and all the
central support re moved from the REMAINDER.
1t is now about two months since the Cyhndrl-
cal parts of the fallen vault, which was ABOUT
SO feet span, were closed, and the centre
eased The remainder of the vault, half
dome OF So feet 6 inches span, was at the
same time completed and The centres eased.-
A few DAYS afterwards, MIR. Lenthall attempt
ed to strike the centre of the cylindrical part
entirely, and lowered 1t So as to make 1t bear
its own weight, but pcreeiying an unaccount-
able varying of the arch in one part, he again
raised the centre, and suffered it to remain
for two months. On Friday he removed it
entirely, and so confident was he that the
arch could not fall, Notwithstanding the inJu-
ry it had received, that after removing the
cylindrical centre, he proceeded to strike the
spherical part.
1t was always the opinion of Mr.. Lenthall,
that, to use his own words, this vault had not
fair play. Having been absent In the month
Of July and August for few weeks, recelv-
ed letter from him ON this subject, in which
he did not explain this hint but while direct.
ing the work on Friday last, he mentioned a
number of facts, and which lead to suplci.
on that some persons, during the absence of
the werkmen at their meals, had from time TO
time lowered the centres In particular parts,
and in some had entirely removed the wedges
that supported them; and as on Saturday
morning two of the arches forming the floor
of the Senate chamber were found to be in
iared by a violent attempt to drive down the
KEY bricks, a number of which were forced
half way down-the mark of the blow which
had been struck being still very eyidentI en-
quired into the preceding attempts and finding
them verified, declared nay intention to con-
suit the superintendent of the city, and offer a
considerable reward for the discovery of the
perpetrators of such thankless villainy,
4 mention these facts in justice to the opin-
lon of MIR. Lenthali, and as only ONE OF the
causes OF failure, without attaching suspicion
to any individual know none whom could
possibly suspect: for although the alterations
In the public buildings have created me many
personal enemies, freely acquit all those
whom know to be such, of the suspicion of
SO fragrant an abandonment of all principle,
and of all regard TO the lives of those who Ia |
Dor at the works. The real causes of the fai-
lure, conceive to have been too early re-
moval of the centres, and perhaps removal |
not altogether judicious. And in as far as |
might have controlled the Judgment OF any Of !
those who are in trust under me, the error of
conhding too much In the experience of others
against my own opinion. ought TO relieve eve
~ other person engaged in the work from
blame. But after having safely constructed
many Infinitely bolder and more dangerous
vaults without any accident, MIR Lenthalls in
trepidity accustomed frequent alarms for his
safety, and his activity was such, that he often
had incurred considerable risk alone, before
any one was appraised of his intention. That
he at last fell victim to his zeal for the public
service, which always out-stripPed all regard
for his own interest, convenience and safety,
is most sensibly deplored by all who acted
with him.
MIR. John Lenthall was born at Chesterfield,
In the county of Derby in England, and bro't
up to the business of a carpenter. He was in