, 1873-04-01
DREADFUL ACCIDENT,
<EFfightfdl: :, Casualty Mt, tho New
= : Singer Building. :
Two Hen Precipitated ITO Fect,. from
tho Roof to tho Ground Floor,
and Killed.
Narrow Escape Of Three Other Persons
from Instant Death.

Marrow Escape Of Three Other Persons
>, from Instant Death.
Ono would havo supposed, from tho rnmors
prevalent yosterdny morning, that tho Singer
Building, cortor State mud Washington BtrootB,
was in ruins, and TINT two hundred mon yoro
bur1od bonoath tons Of stono, iron, and lumber,
loud crash was heard inside tho structure bv
poraons passing on tho sidowalks, and, without
stopping to ascertain tho oauHo, OF whothor any
one WAS ltllcd Or injured, they rushod franti-
caly of and circulated the moHt astonishing md
honrt-ronding storios. Thoeo who hoard
thom md had tlmo to indulge their curiosity
ViHitcd tho Hcoue with, tho expectation
OF acoing tho manglod remains removed
from tho debris. They woro surprised when
they beheld tho magnificent structure Intact, but
tho moro sympathetio woro grievcd when thoy
learned that torriblo accident had indeed oo-
Cured, and that four persons had boon injured,
two, II not threo Of thom, fatally. A mixture
OF iron and timbor III tho oentro Of tho building
the rotunda, Oh 1t fB called), aud m immonBo
opening in tho roof above, indicated what Ind
happened. Near tho Washington street on
tranco, lying on somo straw, was ono of tho un-
conscious victims, and to tho right; fifty feet
away, Wore threo moro. Around each was
group Of pcoplo, who could not be driven nway.
1hoy seemed to dcrivo intense ploaBure from
the appearance OF tho wounded, and gazod
moro intonely whom tho countonnncos OF tho
prostrate mon wero distorted in tho enloavor to
mitigate pniu. Work had boon suspended In tho
building, and tho carpenters, paintors, and IRON
workers were doing what thoy could to assist
their comrades. Three of tho wounded Yoro
NOT apparently, hurt sortously, although It WAS
impossible to determine tho character Of their
injuries as thcY woro -unnb1o tn comn1a,n
Physicians voro sent for, and thu no1comcp VIM
oamo in to nrcaoryo or1er woro fp1orod , hv t tho
po'h}aalace. '}a' -,
how, nne1aJ9s nus 90 gloas thas nearly an
tehap h3ne ehnpseq no1ofG ay ono eod give IN i9
When the confusion abatod, the worknen and
foremon woro willing enough to irnpart informa-
tion, and seemed particularly anxious to purge
1 themselves Of rosponaib!ity: 3ho accident was
bic, and probably tho correct acconnt. In tEnt
furnished by tho Superintendent. Mr., iyor Znr-
boil.
In tho centre Of tho building, as statol ia tho
rotunda. It ia 100 feet lour by ca feot yyttln.
and reaches to tho ton of tlo buii,linr lin fcot
In llou Of O roof. which would exclude the 1iglt
NODDED on tho lower floors. q sEvlirht ia to bo
constructed On level with tho roof proper,
temporary patform had beon nut
down to proyonnt tho snow from falling
into tho building. This platform wny yory in.
secure, but amply strong Tor tlo purpose. Tho
supports consisted OF three wooden braces. two
inches thick at the cnds and strengthened By
rivotiug two similar plankY in tho centre. Trans
yoracly were ono aud llalf inoh boards. oirhtcen
inches alart. On top Of the supports was m
ordinary pine floor, loosely lnid
On tho roof was i dorriok, by tho aid Of which
the Iron framework for tho slylight was drawn
1pNIn I3HS+ hNrfH s..-t $+
permit tho trusses aud tia-rods to 30 raisod to
tho required height.
Throo Of tho tsuHBeB had boon p1acel in pogi-
tion on Saturday, and yestorday morning tie
moncod work, Two trusaoa lad boon rnigod
from the first floor and allowed to ro1t on tho
platform. Thoy woigh about half ton oacl, md
wondered thu platform so,nswhat
ansoonrS, ass a T. Tho knew tho men
'';m os,or W no n y pa,a NO attention to
~ ~, a'o W!ne no was n anotllor pnrt
io,sroa so y dnlg, nole!eu up lnsrd truss, anu
~ fo dorr;o', ,eoa Ua ,nI raI;op p'lot" as s1on
" H. VIZ a+ nolso tho centre support
Toa1 ~ ~ a ~ t%o an ~ aoGus Sky
!oet h4uare u Ino 2Hat1brm 1ou to tie Aoor, l20
1ga. 11pe beneath; Ihore Wero three men on tho
Rln1lorm a. re tmo, tWo OF whom went with It.
arro Ttn ree' any, 1eizcu 5 tho aorrckropo uear him.
- ta mtIo us is ss hs, ana 10 "ns pnlod on
~ LILO 1ooA W t1ose ABOVE MIN. A. man and
.; 1;oy "ofo Nei:Klng nerosa the ros'lnda whom tho
',t4I tnoers a'1u non beams camo crashing down.
Neto near the outor llno OF tho open Bpace
pus no1 laI enaMgn away 70 escape 3hoy were
NJ, ~ ooaraa, knocAod down, anu rendered
unconscious ~; ~ TUG bloW: :,
I'LL! ia9so employed a1ons tho building we're tor
tloss .1s lllSntenoo, and ala NOT Tor a momont Or
e" smo e9na2o "hat haa taKen place. soelng their
tusanas t1an 9. among tno aeprs' they approached
tnem' t' out imagining tAa remainder Of tho plat
~; to5n "onlo 1an ana enoengcr tholr lives, they
a.1 not o. once ronevo tnoLn' :, Ih9y hoa!taton
osuy snoIt tlmo' removing the depfia WHICH
eovoIoo Two 91 tho wounded; and carrying tho
[o4r 10 5he places indicated nooye. -,
!1o 1iret one taAen out was +. q. Cole. who
' naa 3een etru9K on tug br9ast oy.@ board, and
an9ca9o scnsoi9as TO 5ae uoor. ~; bohu ex-
amlnoa nim' n'ld thought hG was not oerlouHly
sro ntarna lie is aren't for Rasoy Go