The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-09-16
INQUEST.
Close Of Examination Of Witnesses
The Verdict.


The jury empannelled to investigate
the cause of the falling of the build
ings In this city on the night of the 9th
instant. was re-convened at Judge
Whitehead's Office at one O'Clock yes
terday and concluded their examine
ton Of witnesses with
W. O. PRovrSEs,
who testified in Substance as follows:
Am city engineer of Cheyenne; resided
in Cheyenne during the year 1875, and
visited the destroyed buildings fre-
quently during their CONSTRUCTION. The
position Of city engineer does not con-
fer authority on the holder to inspect
buildings during or after their erection;
have made a partial examination of the
foundation walls since the building
fell, and have two samples OF brick
taken from there; there witness exhib-
tied samples to the jury this one is a
very soft brick, and easily broken as
you will notice it crumbles between
your hands when pressed; the layer of
mortar attached to this brick is easily
separated therefrom, you can separate
it with your fingers, and it should re-
qulres force of from 1870 to 200 pounds
to do so; when separated the brick is
left perfectly clean, no mortar adhering
to 1t; n rather soft brick should sustain
a crushing force Of from 80 to 40 tons
to the square foot; hrst-class machine
made brick will sustain a crushing
force Of from 800 to 400 tons; do not
think such brick as this, (pointing to
soft specimen before referred toy would
sustain a crushing force Of over 400 or
500 pounds to the square foot, and was
altogether unfit for the purpose used.
Speaking of the other spe ,imen before
referred to, witness said: This is a
better class Of brick, but very friable,
being easily crushed by the fingers;
neither Of the specimens have been
subjected to u scientific test, but think
u foot square Of this better class Of
brick would sustain a crushing force of
yer 600 or 700 pounds; 1t might sus-
tain more; the mortar used In the con-
struction of said building was Of a very
inferior quality; the sand was not
properly screened; it was not sharp sand;
in regard to the crushing of bricks,
mary persons possess the idea that they
will sustain more weight in a wall than
they will slngly; this is an erroneous
idea, they will not do so.
Question-What caused the building
to fall?
Answer-Would not like to give an
opinion just now, but know the mate
rial used vas of a very inferior quality,
and not suitable for such buildings;
brick produces dust, and when laid dry
the mortar will not adhere; they should
have been dipped in water; the brick In
some places in these walls were not
simply broken, or partly crushed, but
actually pulverized; IL is wonderful
that the building stood as long rs 1t
did; the walls were very insecure; IL
the foundations had been built accord
ing to the specifications in the contract
the walls would have been secure
VERDICT:
We, the jury empannelled to inquire
into the cause of the death Of G. j. F.
Van de Sande, Henry Augustus Bell
and Frank p. Bell, whose bodies were
viewed by us in the city OF Cheyenne,
on the 9TH of September, 1870, after
hearing the testimony Of the witnesses
hereunto attached, do find that said
G. j. +. Van de Sande. Henry Angus
tus Bell and Frank p. Bell, came to
their deaths by reason of personal and
bodily injuries received by the about 10
O'Clock on the night Of the hfth i'm
slant, by the falling down Of the two
story brick buildings, in this city,
known as the Delmonico hotel and the
Washington market, which buildings
fell simultaneously. We further Ind
that said deceased persons were in the
second story Of the Delmonico hotel at
the time Of the fall of that building,
and that their bodies were taken from
the wreck of said building in a lifeless
condition during the night of the fall
ing Of said buildings. We further find
that the materials, bricks and mortar,
out OF which the walls in the center
and rear of said buildings were built
were of a, very poor quality and insult
able for the purpose for which they
were used, and did not comply with
the contract made with L. r. Bresna-
hen for the erection of his building.
We further find that the parti-wall,
between the Washington market and
the Delmonico hotel YVES further weak
ened by the manner of the insertion Of
the joists in the second story Of the
Delmonico side Of said wall, which
may have been the immediate cause Of
the falling Of said wall, and as a conse-
quence OF said building. And we fur
Their ind that the contractors and ma
sons who constructed said building,
were either ignorant of the quality of
the material used In the construction
Of said building or .culpably negligent
in the use of such materials in the
erection Of said building and, in either
case, that they are deserving of severe
j. r. WHITEHEAD, Foreman.
II. II. ELLIS,
A. G. McGREeon,
HENRY CONWAY,
JOHN II. DURpIN,