The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-05-13
ILLINOIS.
Details of the Rockford Calamity.

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Rockford, May 12.-The immensity
of the horror hourly grows upon the
minds of our citizens, and the indigna-
tion increases to torrent, which will
not be checked until the blood of the
victims of yesterdays disaster is
avenged by the punishment of those on
whose heads it rests. Workmen have
labored steadily amid dangers since yes
terday noon, but have made no head
way since last night in uncovering
bodies. Peck, one of the wounded,
died this morning in indescribable ago.
nies. and Harris has had his left leg
amputated and is doing well. Young
Pope was buried to-day, and Father
Flanagan will be buried from st.
James's Catholic church tomorrow.
Other victims have been sent to SPRING
ganized, and are acting as angels of
mercy to the wounded. Hollenbeck
still lies beneath the ruins. He was
much esteemed here. Fred Hough lies
buried with him.
An ugly rumor prevails to-nigh. that
Supervisor Patrick is among the lost.
Henry L. Gay arrived this morning,
and has been busily examining the
court house all day. He goes to Chi
cago tonight to procure his plans and
specifications. He refused to make any
statement, and charges the catastrophe
on nobody, but said he courted searchz
ing investigation by the coroner's jury.
He had not examined the cause. His
friends say the projecting wall was
built of brick, which is easily crushed
under the heavy weight, and not of the
mortar, which is vastly stouter. This
was done in defiance of fthespecification.
Various rumors of the causes are in
circulation, and friends of either the
contractor or architect present the two
sides, but the principal parties are very
reticent.
The negro, Donnelly, is the wonder
of the town. He jumped 119 feet to
avoid the fall and struck all in heap
in a pile of ashes. The bystanders,
supposing him killed, were amazed to
see him get up, walk in dazed sort of
way to a water trough, wash his face
and bind up slight scalp wound.
The memorial services tomorrow
evening will be most impressive. Sub
scriptions for the relatives of the de-
ceased are coming in rapidly.
Chicago, May IA special to the
Evening Journal, from Rockford. says:
No bodies have been taken out since
Warren was extricated last night.
Chief Lakin, and the fire department,
did efficient service, and worked by re-
lays all night. A donkey engine is ex-
pected hourly, to lift the heavy blocks.
Architect Gay came last night. The
coronor's jury this morning viewed two
additional bodies, but have taken no
steps towards fixing the responsibility,
but have sent to Chicago for two engi-
neer experts, and secured the plans
and specifications to hold until the ex-
animation is completed. They meet
again at four O'Clock this afternoon.
Richardson has long been dissatisfied
with the specifications for the roof, and
now blames himself for not throwing
up the contract entirely. The feeling
here is deep, but a general disposition
is manifested to await the investigation
before passing judgment. A shock was
felt in the building an hour after the
fatal crash.
The feeling, both in Chicago and
Rockford, seems to be that the con-
tractor, Richardson, is comparatively
blameless, he having, at his own ex-
pense, placed strong works in what he
considered weak places, and having
pleaded with the building committee
for stronger material, but in vain.