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

breaking the pillars the framework was no
proper tomato. nor, by any means. properly COZ
| structed q roof made as this was could scarcel
might have been a secret aaw in the iro'
unknown to the most skilful workman. whicl
would PROSTATE the whole roof; il Is improper Il
have the tie bars seeured by a screw only at esc,
brittle. In certain conditions Of the atmosphere
these tie bars should be wen secured by cross keys
The witness examined the iron and thought It to b
OF good quality.
tect and had the charge Of constructing thu
New York Crystal Palace, associated Will
MIR. Giidermeistes, who Is my partner, and OK
arnioed with me the ruins Of the gas works The
system made use Of in the construction Of that build
ing Is not new, and has been found to succeed In
other parts Of the country; the gutter which wa
placed on the outer foundation wall was not fssten
ed inside with Orders, or transverse or longitudinal
beams rs to forma perfectly soic square on which
could cepend the vertiole pressure and horizontal
strain. There was not single beam or girder il
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-
fient; theie was not, in fact judi ioas system Of
adjustment employed in the building; there was a
deficiency Of diagonal tie rods throughout the whole
the frame not sufcieI uy strong to support the
roof on account Of the length OF the building which
woud 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 employed
was wrongly managed; this system has succeeded
elsewhere, when 1t was not employed In the extent
slate may have caused il to shake, and high wind,
in consequence Of its inferior construction, might
have afet ted 1t.
Isaac W. Ayres sworn, says--I belong to tho iron
works Of Mott Ayies, aad have examined the
building which fell; found the materials to DO
good, and consider the structure Arm and the work
ely executed nearly all me gas house roofs In
the country nave been erected on the same plan;
more work and more sti6ening might have been en-
ployed in the construction Of the roof, but con-
steer what was there all that necessary; as to
T. quality of the iron and the roof system, which
has cetded elsewhere, ] do not consider they
were objectionable to the cause of the accident
l.annot give an opinion, and which is yet unex
planned: It lema ked by previous witness that
there were no longitudinal Orders or beams usual
in the building; consider that the valley cutters
or beams were girders in themselves. this plan Of
usc the exception is that there were three ultimate
roofs IN the building; the cutters performed the Of
fee Of Orders; if one Of the columns had been dis
placed It 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 1t to
give way; the breaking of q single tie rod would
not have throw the building down.
Michael Groser sworn, says-I am gen.
" - AoupCciuitDy Wu1n Va lIOu, buCU ny uSeQ
in the gas building, would expand in very
hot weather nearly an inch and o half,
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 vas good,
and also the material but think If the iron used in
the rafters had been T iron, it would have sto,d
better; do not think there was any occasion for
diagonal braces in the building; saw no twist in
the roof.
VIM. W. Cornell sworn, aays-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 been tested by weights
We executed the work according to the design gwen;
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, We 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
md avenue G; and we are further Of opinion that
here was deficiency In the bracing Of the said
roofs on account OF the extent Of tho areo and the
combination of three roofs; although we believe
hat the bracing was sufficient to secure q single
roof of the same construction.
The same verolct was rendered in the cases of
Sh- a and Gilhooley.
The jury, after the rendition Of the verdict, re-
turned vote Of thanks TO Coroner UDonnel for the
efforts be had used in eliciting evidence necessary
10 the understanding Of the facts Of the case.