Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-05-09
NATIONAL PEACE JUBILEE.
Destruction OF the coliseum m,
From tho Boston Traveller, 9th.

Inc O16l WINDS OF last evening were
destructive Il, that portion of the coils
cum which has been erected. At four
o'clock the wind began to increase in
force until it we'll nigh approached q
hurricane, and those who were on the
truss, though secure at ordinary times,
were compelled to exercise every pre-
caution less they should miss their
foothold, and 60 headlong down among
the timbers below. As night approach
ed, the gale increased, and at $50, Mr..
Seaas, fearful for the safety of the
structure, gave orders to have
extra guys and derricks erected, and
every means adopted whereby the
building could be made secure. As
night came on the workmen left the
building, feeling confident that the
worst OF the storm had passed. The
two men who were detailed to watch
the building, state that about twenty
minutes before eight O'Clock they had
made circuit of the structure, and
finding every thing all right, had taken
position on the outside near the cen.
trail tower. The wind again increased
to the force of q tornado, and swayed
the building back and forth, causing
the crowd which had gathered, to dis
perse in different directions with con-
siderable celebrity.
Between seven and eight o'clock the
sound of cracking timbtrs was heard
by the people on the ground. and at a
little past eight the towers, the frame
work of the south end, and the i'm
mense truss which has been erected
with 80 much labor, and indeed the
whole building, as far as erected, fell
with loud crash. The sound of the
fall resembled q clap of thunder and
lasted five or six seconds. The crash
was distinctly heard in the Central
business part Of the city, in portions Of
the Highlands, and in Cambridge,
and probably not fifteen min.
utes had elapsed before the true
state of affairs on the Back Bay was re.
allied in every part of the city. One
of the watchGen Immediately sounded
the alarm from box 81, and this, to.
gether with the fearful apprehensions
caused by hearing the crash, brought
crowds to the ground, and the news,
"the coliseum has blown down, spread
rapidly throughout the city. Many
hurried to the scene by horse cars,
while others left adjacent buildings to
witness the devastation which the gale
in its fury had wrought. There was a
report that several persons were crush
ed in the ruins, and terrified feel.
ing prevailed.
The situation of affairs is thus des-
cribed by the writer of the Advertiser
"There lay the sides of the building
PROSTATE, and the high tower was lying
q pile of broken timbers-one might
almost say kindling wood. Eight.inch
timbers were sticking up with broken,
Jagged points, which had been snapped
in two, and a large piece of the side o1
the tower was lying on the pile at ar
angle SO sharp that the boys would
have been delighted to slide down its
smooth surface. The immense truss was
twisted and broken short off in thre.
places. The position explains how the
building fell. The guys were placed
through the tower and fastened to til,
second truss. The tower gave way
falling upon the guys, which snapped
pulling the truss on the heap as it fell
Had the guys been over the building
! AAAOeOAA0AV ~ ~, WIG OAN400 WOu1u ubV>
been standing now. Or if the truss hat
been fastened close to the tower leavinf
no space between, the wind could have
had no effect upon it"
The Executive Committee have voted
to commence at once the reconstruc
tion of the Coliseum, of the same di
mensions as hitherto contemplated
and to employ such number of work
men as shall insure the completion OF
the building by the 10th of June.
The loss is estimated at from $20, ,O0(
to $40, 900: the probabilities, however
are that it will amount to about $50,
600. The loss of time of the men EN-
ployed in building the tower is about
%, 200. The construction of trusses
of which the poets remain on the
ground, cost 1000, and taking then
apart will cost an additional 50, 600, ani
the loss by depreciation of the lumber
in them will amount to about "a ,00(
more