The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-27
A BOSTON WUyDFALL.
The Peace Jubilee Mammoth Coliseum
Blown to Ruins.
Twenty-Five Hundred Workmen Employed on the
Building-Their Providential Escape-Ths
Vast Structure swayed by the Wind
and Tumbling to the Ground.


Fate and the elements seem to have combined
against the international musical festival which
was projected and somewhat advanced by the ire
pressible Gilmore, of Peace Jubilee fame. The man.
moth Coliseum, In which the great festival was to
take place, and which had within few days begun
to assume definite shape sufficient to warrant
completion In season for the great event, has to-
night been reduced to q conglome rated mass Of
debris and ruins The destroying element was
wind and not fire, and as the prostration
OF the structure was reserved until about hafpast
eight O'Clock the twenty-five hundred workmen
usually employed on the premises had gone to their
homes, and therefore great human slaughter was
prevented.
If such it may be termed, did not seem severe In
the city, but in the neighborhood OF the fated Coll
stun it had q full sweep, from not only the
Charles River, but from vast space of coun-
try on the other side, and was therefore
very severe. The structure as far as it had pro-
crossed was in just that condition to receive the
full brunt of gale, and at this time 1t Is fair to pre-
that 1t is fault of the architects or builders
that it yielded. Only one of the large trusses had
been erected, and this was the largest and
the one supporting the roof at the main
end and entrance of the structure. On either cor
ner, at this end were large towers designed to be
Gothicly ornamental rather than useful. Thes,e
were almost wiloiiy completed, anu tnt entire
front or end Of the whole coliseum was all boarded
over, and not small portion Of the roof had also
been finished Some idea OF
THE GIG ANTIc PRoPORrI oNs
OF the truss may be formed when 1t IL stated that It
is about five hundred feet in length, semi circular
In shape and about two hundred feet high In the
centre. The expense OF building and raising this
single truss alone was about five thousand dol
lars and was regarded as the most troublesome
and tardy work that there would be on the whole
building Its weight was about forty tons, and
when it fell it not only ruined itself, but
also destroyed other and equally valuable frame
work in the vicinity. Only few watch.
men were on the ground at the moment
THE STRUCTURE TUMBLED
and its violent swaying under the force or the de-
stroying breeze warned them of possible danger.
The large tlmbers began to crack for half an hour
before the building yielded, and for several
moments before it toppled the whole struc-
ture swayed violently. Finally there came
a powerful gust and the mammoth coliseum,
the work Of months, was in a moment heap of
ruins. The crash was tremendous and alarmed
and terrified the whole neighborhOOd. The general
impression was that -, there had been
tons OF human slaughter were numerous
TIE WRECK
severed oil the gaSpipeS around the premises; and
added to the confusion excitement and alarm was
terrible darkness and not until an alarm OF fire had
been sounded ana lanterns furnished by the depart
ment could the full extent of old bOreas damage to
the building be ascertained. Thousands Of curious
and alarmed spectators were instantly upon the
ground and the crowd increased in numbers until
long after midnight. All the watchmen employed
were found to be safe, and it Is their impression
that there was no one in dangerous proximity to
the building at the time 1t fell IT. however, the Ca
lamity had occurred few hours earlier, while the
wOrkmen We're engaged.
THE SACRIFICE OF HUMAN LIFE
would have been terrible. What effect this dis
aster will have upon the success OF the great Inter-
termne. Mr.. Gilmores arrangements for the chorus
strength had already been completed, and eminent
bands and musicians already on their way here
from foreign countries. Other arrangements fol-
the event had also been completed, and everything
seemed to warrant that the unparalleled musical
entertainment would be inaugurated under favor.
abie auspices in the middle OF the coming June.
This calamity Will Gel tainy emDarrass tne
managers In opening at the time originally
specified, and very likely cause pOstpOnement, and
possibly an abandonment OF the affair altogether.
The loss, financially speaking, cannot be less than
hundred thousand dollars; but this, OF course Will
fall upon the contractors and builders. The COM
mittees held meeting this evening and resolved
to recommence the work at once.
Herr Strauss Preparing for the Boston
Fete.
VIENNA, April 90, 1872.
Johann Strauss leaves shortly for Boston, where he
will conduct some OF the musical performances at
T,,l,ff