The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-05-25

Eleven Men Killed ny a Failing WaII--The
New Co"r1-h"use the scene ~ the Acct

."'''" '''i "n't tiiS HipfniIB was
happy community. The Winnebag,
County Courthouse which this morning
when our citizens commenced thci
days labor, was the pride Of thei
hearts, u now a dcsolate ruin, monu
mcnt Of criminal incompetency. Som,
families which babe adicu to their love-
ones this morning received their corpse,
tonight disfgured by the ruins from
which they were drawn piecemeal.
THE BUILDING
was not yet under roof and the massive
stone cornice which preceded the ROOT
was to-day being put on. just as the
keystone was being placed in the dome
Of the main pavilion the brick-work be-
tween the iron and stone gave way, and
the entire dome and the interior walls
Of the structure came crushing down
with terrible crash that was heard a
mile away. A brief description Of the
structure will aid in understanding the
accident. The style Of the building is
French Venetian Of the Renaissance. de-
signed by Henry l.. May, Of Chicago,
and the contract for the building
was let 10 w. ID. Rich
ardson Of Springfield, who in the spring
OF 1876 began to work. II has two pa
vilions and center dome over the front
entrance. The two paviions on each
side rise about 80 feet above the level Of
the cornice. The dome i ll9 feet from
the ground and supported By the front
walls on the north side and two iron
columns from 10 TO IL inches in dame
ter on the inner side. These columns
rest upon a brick wall going up from
the ground floor to the floor Of the court
room. The walls were about 30 feet
high. and il appears were entirely mad
cquate 10 hold the immense weight Of
iron pillars and the massive masonry Of
the dome, which rested upon the pillars.
Upon the top Of the iron columns was
wrought-iron girder. upon which was
laid the veneer and brick Of the dome.
II appears that the lower brick walls
were crushed BY the weight Of the up
per masonry, and crumblcd like 50
the entire interior Of the building, TAX
ing all the rafters, the corrugated iron
ceiling Of every room. with its concrete
filling and the iron joists.
THE SCAFFoLDING CANE DOWN
in terrific mass, bringing with ii near
~ all the workmen who were operating
upon the top Of the building. Al the
time Of the accident there were from
twenty to twenty-five men at work. The
accident happened at exactly III 80 a.
m. to-day The whole massive stone top
Of the dome fell with a terrific crash to-
ward State Street, and man named
Timothy Flanagan, who was just put
ting in the keystone Of the final cornice,
jumped for the guy rope Of the big der
rick IN front, but missing his aim fell the 4
distance of l20 feet 10 the earth and was
dashed TO pieces.
Al this time but few persons were upon
the scene. The mass of human beings, \
with the exception of four or five. who \
jumped from the windows. fell inside the
lettering walls, and were buried in the
debris. The whole structure looked as
though il would fall, and those assembled
were appalled, and knew not what to do.
TO 90 near enough the structure TO res
cue those mangled and bleeding in the
ruins was hazardous in the extreme. but
brave men went fearlessly to work be-
fore the dust cleared away and com
menced 70 cxtricate the dead and dy-
ing.
INDEscRIBABLE HORRORS
ensued. Men lay terribly mutilatcd be-
meath those rocks, shrieking for assist
ance that was only rendered At the risk
Df the bystanders' lives.
One unfortunate man. named William
Glass, was extricated, but one of his
Eggs was left beneath a ponderous stone.
He soon expired in great agony. a he
ay upon the greensward in front Of the
Courthouse
A negro jumped from window sixty
eet high from the ground, and, though
,adly injured, will probably recover.
III. w. Ames was working on the
southeast corner Of the building: the
eft rafter gave way and he fell down to
he first story, but escaped from the
econd-story window; head badly hurt.
w. ID. Richardson, contractor, and L.
,. Latham, superintendent, had
AxARRow AND THRILLING ESCAPE.
They were both on top Of the dome Of
he building before il fell, and were
alking of the probability Of il falling,
When they heard crash and rushed at ,
nee 70 the west wall, where they stood
when the dome went down. Had they ,
,cen moment later both must have ,
When the dust cleared away
10Th We're standing on the wall.
Within ten minutes after the disaster ,
10 less than four bodies were recovered
y the almost superhuman efforts Of the !
crowd that quickly gathered. /
The city surgeons were promptly on
rand, rendering great aid to the wound !
a, who were carried on stretchers TO ,
he nearest hotels.
The anguish Of the living was heart
ending. Workmen's wives and mothers .
...as.. ..-.L... IL.