New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-12
A COURTHOUSE FALLS IN RUINS.


TOO WEAKLY suPPoRTED-Ir FALLS AND BRINGS
DOWN THE WHOLE HoUsE-LARGE LOSS OF
LIFE.
CHICAGO May IA special to The Tribune from
Rockford, H. says that pail has fallen over what
this morning was happy community. The Winnie
bago County Courthouse, which this morning was
the pride of the town, is now desolde ruin-a mon
ument of criminal incompetency. The building was
not yet under a roof, and massive stone cormco
which preceded the roof was to-day being put on.
Just rs the keystone was being placed in the dome
of the main pavilion the brickwork between the
iron and stone gave way, and the entire dome and
interior walls of the structure came crumbing down
with terrible crash, which was heard nearly mile
away
A brief description of the structure will aid in
understanding the accident. The building IS OF tho
French Venetian and Renaissance STYLE and was de-
signed by Henry l.. May of Chicago. The contract
for the building was let to w. ID. Richardson Of
Springfield, who in the Spring of 1876 began work.
The Courthouse has two pavilions and center
dome over the front entrance. The two pavlllohs
each rise about 80 feet above the level
of the cornice The dome is 119 feet from
the ground aud supported by the front walls on the
north side and 10y two iron columns, from 10 to II
inches in diameter on the inner side These columns
rest upon a brick wall, going up from the ground
noor to the floor Of the courtroom. The walls were
about 30 feet high, and it seems were entirely IN
adequate to hold the immense weight OF the IRON
pillars and massive masonry OF the dome, which
rested on pillars upon the top of iron columns.
There was a wrought-iron grder upon which was
laid the veneer aud brick of the dome.
II appears that the lower brick walls were crushed
by the weight of the upper masonry and crumbed
ike 80 much rotten mortar, bringing With them the
entire interior of the binding, all the raters OF cor
rucated IRON the ceiling of every with its con
crete filling, and the iron joists. The sealIoldng
calno down with a terrific crash, bringing with 1t
nearly all the w0rkmen who were engaged on the
top of the building
Al the time of the accident there were from 20 to
% men at work Timothy Flanagan, who was in
the act of putting in the keystone of the final cor
nice Jumped for the guy rope OF the large derrick
in front but, missing his AIM fell 100 feet to the
earth and was dashed TO pieces. Most OF the WoIh-
men, with the exception of four or five who jumped
from the windows fell on the inside OF the totteinG
walls and were buried in the debris. The whole
structure looked As though It would fall ana those
assembled were greatly alarmed and feared To al
tempt the rescue of those buried beneath the rnn3
But brave men went fearicssly to work before the
dust cleared away and began to eXtrcate the ueid
and diving. Terrible scenes followed. Men horribly
mutilatcd lay shrieking for assistance, whlcn conlh
only be rendered at the risk of the bysanderr llVes'
One unfortunate man named William Gloss was cX-
treated but one of hfs legs was left be-
meath pondcrous stone. lie soon eA-
pired in great agony. negro jumped from
window, 60 feet from the ground. lie was badly IN
inred. but will probably recover. Within ten
minutes after the disaster four bodies were recov-
cred Swcde named Andrew Bdahl had his head
s,lit omen but The wound was closed and the vie
tim taken home and may live. The following Is the
list of victims as far as obtained:
DEAp.-A llaueh j. Pipe, 4. II. Hollcnbeck. YET
I'm the builling; Frederick Laugh yet IN 't "dilu-
ing; j. Warren, missing aud probably de4H ".oiSe
Gloss lcolorcdl; Timothy \. Lahgah' 81 LAVISH
INJuRED.-A. Lucas, engineer leg broken ana
otherwise badly injured; I. Hayes. enSlnetf, hiay
and scalp wound J. F. Peck mortally injured s'e".
Smith badly hurt: Hugh Eldreds, hurt ia leg ad lace
- Suholu diving; 4. Badahl, badly injured, but
may recover; Ii. W; Ames' hean naHl{ nun, psHJ,
Brown coorcd. slightly hurt Isaiah DOhnciy, TWO
severe scalp wounds and cut IN head; cicero l!9iiS
of Dixon, confusion on thigh. e. Harris 1I DlAoh
has had his leg amputated and VIII pf0bapy DE
A coroner's jury has been impanelled and den-
titled the bodies this afternoon. They viii meet 10
morrow and make Il thorough investigation.
CIorqympn have arranged for a union meeting ON
Sunday evening" to hold memorial services. sub
scription for the relief of families of the wounded
and dead will be started. 1t is believed that at
least 10 or ~ lives have been lost, and about Ii
persons more less injured
The loss on the building is from Tooooo 10
Sc, 600 Superintendent Latham lays tie blame
on architect Gay, whose instructions were followed
implicitly. Mr.. Richardson will not converse on the
subject Tonight the papers place the blame on an
ferent shoulders Digging for the missing Is sun III
progress.