The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-01

breaking the pillars the framework was no,
roof OsI made n this wa. ious sSsrSs
support the slate which was upon this there
| might have been secret haw In the iron
| unknown to the most skilful workman. which
would PROSTATE the whole roof; II Is improper to
have the tie bars secured by screw only at each
end, they are liable 70 az on should the iron be
brittle, in certain conditions of the atmosphere;
these tie bars should be well secured by cross keys
OF good quality.
George Carsenten sworn, says-i am an archi.
tect and had the charge Of constructing the
New York Crystal Palace, associated with
ahmed with me the ruins Of the gas works The
system made of in the construction OF that build
ing Is not new, and has been found % succeed in
Pas Of the 1Snnt the utsr which was
ed inside with Orders or transverse longitudinal
beams to forma Perfectly sole square on which
could cepend the verticle pressure and horizontal
strain. There was not o single beam or girder In
the whole building the consequence was that the
shoe supporting the ribs Of the roof gave way. Tue
system of the construction Of this roof was very de-
fcent; There was not, In fact judi ous system of
adjustment employed in the building; there was
deficiency Of diagonal tie rods throughout the whole:
the frame suficeI tly strong to support the
roof on account of the length Of the building which
would require different system to ensure its stand
ing. consider the design Of tue building very de-
fective and the cause OF its falling. The material
used was good enough; the roof system emDloyed
was wrongly managed; this sy stem has succeeded
elsew here, When 1t was not employed In the extent
1t was in this. Covering one part Of the roof With
slate may have caused il to shake and high wind,
in consequence Of its inferior construction might
have afe, ted II.
Isaac w. Ayres sworn, says-I belong to the iron
works Of Mott Il Ayies, aud have examined the
building which fell; found the materials to DO
good, and consider the structure arm and the work
oleily executed; nearly all he gas house roofs In
The country have been erected on the same plan;
more work and more stinening might have been en-
ployed in the construction ofthe roof, but con-
siCer what was there all that necessary; as to
g. quality of the iron and the roof system, which
has succeeded elsewhere, do not consider they
were objectionable as to the cause Of the accident
lcannot give an opinion, and which ia yet unex
planned: 1t Iema ked by previous witness that
there were no longitudinal girders or beams usual
ia the building; consider that the valley cutters
or beams were girders in themselves. this plan Of
gas house, with one exception, has been In general
use; the exception is that there were three ultimate
roofs IN the building; the cutters performed the Of
flee Of giIders; If one Of the columns had been dis
placed II would very probably have caused the
BUILDING to fall; cannot conceive Of any number
OF men or any weight of slate ne ,essary to have
been Kept on the roof that would nave caused it to
give way; the breaking OF single tie rod would
not have throw the building down.
Michael Groser sworn, says--I am gen.
eral housesmith; bars Of iron. such as used
in the gas building, would expand in very
uOt WedtueT nearly an men au0 o 0alt,
or less, according to the temperature, and this
might have something to do with the falling Of the
building; think the design Of the roof was good,
and also the material, but think II the iron used in
the rafters had been 7 iron, it would have sto ID
better; do not think there was any occasion for
diagonal braces in the building; saw no twist in
the roof.
VIM. W. Cornell sworn, says--I am housesmith,
of the firm Of j. B. & W, W. Cornell we constructed
the iron work of the building 10 question; do not
think that any of the ironhad been tested by Weights
We executed the work according to the design gven
the Gas Company found no fault with the work, but
were pleased with it, much approved of the de-
sign; the contract for preparing the iron work was
given to us, VIC being the lowest bidders, as am
informed
The testimony here concluded. Coroner O'Don-
nell briefly addressed the jury, and left the case
with them, who returned the following verdict -
That the said Daniel Sullivan came to his death
by injuries received by the falling OF the roofs Of
the gas house, at the corner of Fourteenth street
and avenue c.; and we are further Of opinion that
there was deficiency In the bracing Of the said
roofs, account OF the extent Of tho area and the
combination Of three roofs; although we believe
that the braciDg was sufficient to secure single
roof of the same construction.
The same verdict was rendered in the cases Of
Shea and Gilhooley.
The jury, after the rendition of the verdict, re-
turned vote Of thanks TO Coroner VDonncl for the
efforts be had used in eliciting evidence necessary
to the understanding Of the facts Of the case