The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-10
HARTFORD, Conn.,. Aprtl Q. 1879.

HARTFORD, Conn.,, April 9, 1873.
About four O'Clock this afternoon the four story
building nearly completed, owned by Joel Shepard
and situated on Main street. Middletown FELL
burying beneath the ruins, 1t is believed, some
twenty five persons For several days the building
has been thought to be unsafe, and the cornice has
shown several cracks, caused by the settling Of
the foundation; but the builder and Mr.. Shepard,
the owner and superintendent OF the joiner work,
have had no fears OF the building falling. The
foundation walls were eighteen inches thick, the
north and south walls OF brick and the front and
rear OF wood The frame was covered with sheet
iron. The first story was intended for stores and
and the upper stories for offices. The building
seemed to spread at the foundation, and the whole
The frst reports that were circulated stated
there were forty persons at work on the building,
but later 1t has been positively ascertained there
were not more than have been stated above, and 1t
may prove that there were still less. The greatest
excitement prevailed in Middetown when the acci-
dent became known, and every able-bodied citizen
immediately set to work TO remove the debris to
as It became dark sufficient torches TO enable the
citizens 10 see were brought into requisitlon, and
At this nour, nine ?. M, the following bodies have
L. II. Harrison, joiner; John Kelly and James
Lnan, plasterers, and E. Sullivan, laborer.
Those who have been taken out injured are J.
Evesland, Henry Harris, J. Tully. T. B. Whiting, W.
Garfield and James Peterson. The extent OF their
two or three fatally injured. Peterson has both
arms and legs broken.
The architect was Mr.. Russell, OF New Haven, and
Messrs Butler II Westand, OF Middlet0wn did the
mason work.
At q later hour tonight two more bodies were
taken from the runs; one brother Of the owner
OF the building and the other workman named
Phelps
Joseph Eveland had his skull fractured and VIII
die.
AS it has been common practice for people to
visit the building for the past few days. 1t is feared
there may be more buried beneath the ruins than
ls known.
The Mayor has announced to the crowd that all
ing have been accounted for and that the rest had
better be left till morning
1t is stated by Mr.. Sheppard that the architect
told him two weeks ago the building was perfectly
safe.
The foundation walls were laid in November and
December, without the digging of trenches below
the frost, and this, together with the removal of
the earth from the cellar which had just been
0nisned. is without doubt the Of the disaster.
Twenty thousand dollars had been expended on
the building.
An investigation will be had.
The building has received more than usual
examination, because OF the discussing OF the pro-
prlety OF erecting tower on 1t, Tor fire alarm
bell and clock.
The MlddIetown National Bank officers were
to-day taking precautionary measures to protect
their building, which joined the Sheppard block on
the south, they believing the building was unsafe.
No injury was done to their building, however
man named Garfield, thinking he felt the
building give way, jumped from the third story
and escaped uninjured.
LATER.
1t Is now definitely ascerfained that there
were thirty persons employed on the building, ana
lady states she saw several children looking out
oil one Ofthe windows Just previous to its fall Six
dead bodies have been found and nine persons re-
moved, some slightly and some seriously injured.
Work will be resumed In the morning. jury of
inquest has been summoned and it is the inten-
ton OF the authorities to investigate the cause OF
the accident thoroughly, and to hold the guilty
parties to q strict account