The Morning herald., 1875-10-13
OUR PHILADELPHIA BUDGE EFT.
TERRIBLE DISASTER ON THE CENTENNIAL
GROUNDS.

TERRIBLE DISASTER ON THE CENTENNIAL
GROUNDS.
An accident, which will seriously dampel
the ardor, for short time at least, Of oul
Philadelphia citizens, especially that class
thereof who expect to do business and ex
hibit their produce, upon the Centennia
grounds during the exhibition year, occurred
yesterday morning. At II clock the Az.
ricultural building fell, with terrific crash,
to the ground, carrying with it, and bury
ing beneath the wreck of its once stately
frame, the eworkmen who were engaged upon
it at the time. AS life and limb, are Of
more consequence than the debris of fall
en- building, even though it be Centennial
one, Will give you the names Of the unfor-
tuhate men who were injured, some fatally,
perhaps. "''r"I,h -.
Edward Mearens, Of Wilmington; DEL,
injured in the back and leg broken. 70. -
John Ross, spine mangAed badly. r9 81
John Hasler, back broken and skull frac-
t4red. .,-, v,. .,. ~. ~ -
William Hamon, colored, badly injured
about the head and face. ,,.~, 90. ,tr,,,
Robert Morrow, injured internally. -,
Samuel ROLAND, injured internally, and
very seriously. = '''''.'
James Erwic, injured slightly, 7'
Robert Morrows, injured slightly" @A
William Davis injured internally, very
seriously. 1t is not, thought that this man
will recover. !. tr@!H:'" :. III .>.'t
George Flesher, injuries Of serious char
acter and w. NJ. Fitzpatrick, leg and back
broken. liza. 80, y..i... ri.
At an early hour. in the morninggeyerything
about and connected with the building pre-
sented the usual appearance of activity,
and not the slightest danger was aantici-
ted by anybody The men mounted the
lofty frame work, and proceeded to their
daily toll as cheerily as ever they did before,
and the hammer and adze were echong the
Industrious application of their owners,
when there came suddenly. g. breeze from
the east, zephyr like at FIRST, but increasing
rapidly in strength, and ~ It whist1ed
through the apertures between the rafters,
the skeleton began,to waver, and as it grew
stronger the uprights trenlbled. Notwith-
standing this admonition of the 1limsy char
acter of the structure, the men maintained
their positions, little dreaming of the catas-
trophe which was so soon to follow. To-
wards noon the winds became stronger, and
at eleven O'Clock down came the structure
to the ground-thc rafters and beams as
gracefully intermingling as the cards Of q
pack. '''
. The cause Tor this calamity was simple
enough, and could have been averted easily,
had the proper precaution been taken by the
contractor to have braces against the sides
of the frame work
Immediately succeeding the accident the
greatest excitement prevailed, and the wild
est rumors were set afoat through the city
gaining in Importance and terrible signif-
canoe as the news ran from mouth to
mouth, it was not long ere it was generally
circulated and believed, that the Centennial
grounds had been visited by cyclone,
which had caused the demolition Of all the
buildi ngs situated thereon. But when the
tru:h was known, tn. .clamor subsided, and
people went about their business-which
meant yesterday, the Ohio election. -,
A DESCRIPTION OF THR BUILDING.
The Agricultural Building Of the Centen-
NAL Exhibition is 20 stand north Of the Hor-
ticultural Building, and on the Eastern side
of Belmont Avenue. 1t will illustrate q
novel combination of materials, and is ca
pable Of erection in few months. Its ma
terials are all wood and glass. 1t consists
of long more, crossed by three transepts,
both more and transept being composed Of
Howe truss arches of gothic form. The
more is 72} feet in length, each end, pro-
jecting 100 feet beyond the square of the
building, with height of rs feet from the
floor to the point of the arch. The central
trance 9t to the same height and in breadth
100 feet. The two end transepts are 70 feet
high and so feet high, a..
Deapite the suddenness of the shock and
the confusion which followed in its wake,
steps were taken at once for, the rcsussta-
tion of the fallen frame, and it is highly e1-
pected that through the media of patriotic
emotionaism, and large additional outlay
Of cash, the building will again rear its
crest heavenwards. !'
THE POINT BREEZE RACES.
One thousand people witnessed the races
at Point Breeze Park, yesterday. The
weather was good-a stiff breeze blowing
and the track was in excellent condition.
THE D'HERvILLY HOMrCIDE.