The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-09
THE POST & co. TRAGEDY.
Commencement Of the Inquest Before Cor
oner Carrick.

OU6T CdTTlCk.
The Coroner began his inquest to-day on
the bodies of Charles Langreth, William
Schneck, George Burns, Frank Irvine and
John McGarry, who were buried in the fall
ing ruins of Post & CO.. building
Mr. Henry Besuden, proprietor of the
building, stated that he bought the same
from Jacob Elsas in 1864; occupied it for
twelve years, and that he made some
changes in it since Post & Co. went in; he
considered it safe, having had as many as
one hundred and fifty to one hundred and
eighty hogsheads of tobacco on each floor,
the heaviest on the lower and the lightest
on the upper floors; he could not say
whether it would be safe to put furnaces,
with all the machinery and materials on
the upper floor.
Joseph Kinsey, President of the firm of
Post d Co., testified that there were six
furnaces in the upper story and fifteen to
twenty-five men employed there. The bulk
of the metal used was kept on the lower
floors. Architect Cotteral said the walls
and floors were perfectly safe, and Mr..
Rankin, former occupant, said that the
weight he had on the floors was
more than we would have there, and
that the building was safe. The
insurance men wanted to preserve the
property, and Mr.. Covington directed us
to clean up and save as much as possible.
All hands were desirous Of going to work,
and at the time of the accident fifty or
sixty men were in the building. We ex-
amined the whole building in the after
noon and thought it safe. believe the
accident was due to the roof falling on the
fifth floor. ] was in the third story and
escaped through a window to an adjoining
roof.
John I. Covington, Superintendent of the
Insurance Adjustment Company, testified
that he visited the place after the fire and
told Mr.. Cherry Vice President of Post &
Co., to clean up the stock and preserve it
from further damage. The witness, Cherry
and Kinsey examined the place. Cherry
seemed to fear the safety of the east
wall on account of the many windows and
openings, and on account Of the heaviest
weight being on that side. He called wit
ness attention to some cracks in that wall.
We discovered nothing dangerous or weak
in the walls or flour. Mr. Cotteral was to
come at 8 o'clock and inspect the place as
to its safety. Cotteral said the place was
perfectly safe and that there would be no
danger in starting the telephone machn-
cry. We examined the partition wall and
found it safe.
Mr.. L. V. Cherry's testimony did not
materially differ from that given by Mr.
Covington. He corroborated the latter's
testimony in reference to Mr.. Cotteralf say
ing the building was safe.
The inquest was hereupon adjourned for
two hours.
The inquest on the bodies of the men
buried last week in the Post & Co. building
was resumed this evening by the Coroner.
J. W. Cotteral, Sr., testified that in 1877
when Post d Co. took hold of the premises
he was consulted as to the safety
of the same. Post & Co. told
him the nature of their business,
but they did not mention the weight of
machinery. The witness gave it as lis
opinion that the building was very old