The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-08
THE POST OFFICE CATASTROPHE.

coRoSER's INQUIRY INTO IT'S cAusEs-ExpLA-
NATION OF THE SUPERVISING INSPECTOR OF
MATERIAL.
Coroner Elngcr yesterday morning began his In
curry into the deaths OF the three crushed under
shs falling roe OF the Post ONCE building Tuesday
last The United States Equity Chamber apart
Tor the purposes OF the inquest.
The first witness examined was Mr.. Thomas H. Oak
shelf He testined-I am at present Supervising In
spector Of Materials and In charge oil the construction
OF the New York Post ONCE; have also charge Of the
building, partly under the supervision OF the Super
vising Architect Mr. Hiil; had general supervision
OF that part Of the building when tho accident hap
pened on May / l was appointed about two months
before tho resignation OF Mr. Muett. the pre-
vous Supervising Architect; beiore that l was
experimenting tho construction OF several buildings in
Charleston, s. c. and Columbia S. c.; was assigned
10 this building by the present Supervising Architect
on the recommendation Of the Secretary Of tho Treas
ury; was not educated q civil engineer archi-
tect but have acquired the knowledge necessary to
the discharge OF my duties practical work; tho
LIST OF May. when the roof fell m WINS sitting at my
desk; but knew tho work carried on there which
consisted In tho erection OF iron truss ordered
the truss from Hugh Haven Co., Of Massachusetts
without inviting competition; furnished Mr. Haven
with Photographic drawing OF the truss, ana took
him to The top floor ana showed him the truss which
wanted duplicated; an employee Of Mr.. Haven had
general charge OF the erection OF the truss; my Tore
man had charge OF its immediate supervision, AMI
had tho general supervision.
WHY ORDERED
When taking charge OF my duties In the Post Office
and found brick wall In where the accinent
occurred 10 be cracked and informed that the wall
was carried by four ifteen-inc iron beams; IL
tweve.lncn WALL thiry-six feet long and min etcen
feet high an extension OF wall beginning tho floor
below and It's object was TO hold and support the roof;
part oil this wall the door below had been removed
In order TO enlarge the court room below, in
quencc OF which the supports became insufficient and
caused the cracking OF the wall The floors above and
detection OF the beams IN the ceiling Of the court
room; alter consultation with Mr. Mullett and subse-
quenty with Mr. Hin IL was suggested TO remove the
wall and replace II by iron truss previous to this,
however nm opening had been made IN tho wall In
relieve the weight on tho support below tho
extent OF the cracking OF the wall Is shown by q
Diagram diagram shown and made part Of the testi-
mony); the truss TO be furnished was 10 be OF tho
same size, strength and material the In tho ad-
joining room, which was designed IN Washington; the
truss not examined before II put up all the
examinations generally made alter tho completion
Of the work; but still the erection OF the work
perlntended and checked when anything found
wrong; the examination was not made here
count OF the implicit confidence placed IN tho 1rm the
root supported by ''shorcs," six inches by eight
lnches placed upon timbers. during tho erection OF
the truss; the removal OF the wall was completed
several days before the erection of tho truss;
on Saturday, April 2s was informed by MT.
Haven that the erection OF tho truss
peted, but had not examined the work after It's
completion and had not accepted the work from Mr..
Haven; when notified OF the completion OF the
ton OF the truss could Immediately examine the
work, but instructed Mr. Dougherty, my foreman, TO
be very careful and not any OF the ''snores'
until be was completely satisfied that everything was
correct; on Monday, April 80, asked Mr. Hill TO
anime the in place and after examining starr
with Mr. Hill under the truss and pointed 1t
to hun the 'shores were in position then; Mr. Hill
looked at II, but did not express any opinion, and
Albany.
was again put on the stand aud said On Tuesday May
i NJ one O'CLOCK had just returned TO the office aud
was going up 10 examine the truss carefully when
heard crash and Mr. Barton said :-sTherc COOS the
truss!" rushed upstairs aud found that truss had
never inspected examined the truss accepted II,
aud never certified 10 the vouchers and pay there
for as II was at time OF the month when very
much engaged.
s9ouLD BLAMED.
explained to tho contractors that the truss was to
be properly boltcd and rivecd, which done,
however, and which consider be the fault OF the
contractors, but this omission not the sole
OF the accidents tho inner end OF the truss was 10 be
supported by the brick WALL the other end by one YER
tical support, according TO drawings aud plans SUBJ
nitted, which were not carried OUT tho removing Of
The shores not dangerous work the erection
Inc truss had been properly carried out; In my abb
sence the business 10 superintend this devoved my
foreman; the Treasury depended on the Supervising
Architect, the latter on myself and depended on my
foreman; on Monday afternoon Mr. Doughcrty
ported that some OF the shores carried but little
weight, and that he intended remove some and
cautioned him 10 be very careful in doing; Mr.
D0ugherty also reported Monday evening, April 80,
That the truss was erected IN place and all right, and
be 10 man OF great experience after tho accident
Examined the truss and ut first II opinion
that there was flaw Ia the the truss itself
Eound bent (buckled) aud found the absence OF the
raier In the truss feel satisfied that the
dent caused by insufficient support tho
end; the presence OF anglo irons would have
strengthened the truss; had examined the truss
before Its ia should consider tho acct
dent my fault, bat this examination
having been rnado It was the duty OF my foreman,
Mr.. Doughcrty to sec everything properly secured;
Mr. DougLcrty acquired his experience IN Washing
ton n master mechanic III several government build
ngs, and he is very skul several inspections vi the
tnsie y.rk luna Imam hu Mr. MILL n
vsory architect; took charge Of the building Tor the
purpose oil charging the room, in consequence
81 which The whole upper story rested fifteen inch
door beams weighing down on tho ceiling Of the court
room, cracking the wall resting on II rs well as the
ceiling below; have been informed that walls
removed In other parts OF the building before; all
changes made can DO accounted for IN the official
ports and sufficient assigned Tor every coptem-
ated change; what was done before me cannot toll;
nv predecessor In Office was j. G. Hcbert.
AT this point the inquest was adjourned TIL to-day Mt
eleven O'Clock. IL Is thought that tho Investigation
viii occupy week ut least The witnesses be
called are Fol- cman Dougherty. Supervising Architect
Hill, Messrs. Hugh Haven a. Co., Tho builders of tho
Truss and Mr. Schuman, OF the United States Construc-
lion Bureau at Washington.
COMMISSION EXPERTS.
Tho abors Of the commission appointed by Post
master James, pursuant TO instructions from Secretary
Sherman, to ascertain tho OF the falling the
Post Office root, and II possible TO Tx the responsibility
where II properly belonged wcrc concluded last
Ing and sent on 10 the Secretary OF the Treasury