The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-02
THE LATE CALAMITY.
Death of Another OF the vfctims-In-
quest-Verdict of the Jury-Condition
of the Wounded. :

| The sorrow which was felt by our entire
community for the sufferers by the calamity at
No. 24I King street. Tuesday afternoon, was
increased Yesterday by the announcement that
one of the wounded men, Jacob Nelson. color
ed, had died. After he was taken out OF the
ruins he was carried to his house on Queen
| street. and fingered in excruciating agony
until late at night, when death released him
| from his sufferings.
INegESTS.
Coroner Whiting was notified of the death
of Jacob Nelson. and empanelled jury,
swore the m in in presence of the corpse. ad-
10 urned the inquest until IL A. N. to-day, and
ordered the body to be buried.
AS stated By us yesterday, Coroner Whiting
took charge OF the body of Joseph Perkins,
colored, who was almost instantly killed, and
| after swearing in a jury. adjourned the inquest
until four o'clock yesterday. At that hour the
Jury and witnesses assembled at the City Hall,
and the inquest was held.
W. C. Baker testified that he was standing
opposite No. 24l King street when the wall
fell; the north wall. against which was scat
folding with men on it. fell over against the
south wall, causing it to tall also; he aided in
rescuing those buried in the ruins.
W. G. Duval did not see the wall tumble,
but arrived in time to aid in resculng the
wounded.
C. Hayward. one OF the laborers employed
upon the building. was at work upon the
scaffolding against the north wall, and while
clearing the wall. preparatory 10 adding TO its
height it tell: he was near Mr.. P. Culleton and
his son, and fell with them; he was not hurt
much; was of the opinion that the recent rains
weakened the wall; all at work there were
compe tent men. who would not have worked
if they had believed there was any danger; he
attached bl ame to no one; thought the wall
was sufficiently sound to be built upon.
Hugh Donahue was at work upon the scaf-
fold Just before the accident, but wanting some
water. went ont into the street for it, and
while there the wall fell; he did not apprehend
any danger: believed that no one was to
blame; every one at work there believed the
wall 10 be strong enough.
Patrick Culleton, father of Joseph Culleton,
who was so badly injured, and who was HIM
self wounded, testified that he had the contract
to do the brick work for No. 24l King street;
he examined the wall before commencing
work upon it, and believed it to be strong; at
the time of the accident he and his son were
working together at the west end Of the scaf-
fold, and both were injured, his son danger
ously: the first story OF the wall was eighteen
inches thick. the second and third stories four
teen inches thick; supposed that the water
and dirt collected between the north wall and
sthe wall of the building on the north caused it
to bulge out; he was certain. however, that the
recent rains weakened the walls; he attached
no blame to any one.
Mr.. Culleton was the last witness examined,
and the jury found that the deceased had come
to his death by the falling of a wall at No. 2+l
King street, and that no blame was to be at
tached to any one.
This verdict relieves Mr.. Lopez, the arch-
tect. and Mr.. Culleton, the brlck-work con-
tractor. of the censure which was heaped
upon them shortly after the accident.
CONDITION OF THE WOUNDED.
Mr.. Joseph Culleton, whose body was shock
ingly cut. broken or bruised, and OF whose re-
covery no hopes was entertained shortly after
the accident, was much better yesterday.
Skilful medical men had dressed the wounds,
set the fractured limbs, and late yesterday
afternoon there was strong probability that
he would recover. Mr.. P. Cul.eton was able
to go about yesterday, but still suffered pain
from the bruises he received. The Others OF
the wounded are doing well.