The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-09-10

and assisted the firemeh~aRd citizens in
removing several persons, amongst
whom was the dead body,of Mrs. Bells
Oldest child. We found 1t wrapped up
with bed clothing, over which were
bricks and mortar. Have no doubt but
that the child came to his death by rea-
son OF injuries received in the falling of
said building. Also assisted in remov.
ing the remains of Mrs. Bells other
child, which was found lying near his
elder brother. l believe that both chill
dren were killed by the falling of said
buildings. I also assisted in the re-
moval of Mr.. G.. j. F. Van de Sande,
who was found near the front of the
Delmonico building, not over ten feet
from the sidewalk. He was dead when
found by us.
T. W. RUTLEDGE,
sworn-I am by profession a carpenter
and builder. Have been acquainted
with the buildings which fell on the
9Th, viz, the Delmonico hotel and
Washington meat market, since their
erection In 1875. Isaw the materials
used in their construction. The bricks
used were unfit for the foundation, and
had the brick been selected from the
arches of the kiln from which theyhad
been taken, they would still have been
unfit for the work for which they were
used, as there were not sufficient hard
brick In said kiln for said purpose.
In answer to a question as to the
character of the mortar used in laying
the brick in the walls of said building,
witness said there was no mortar used
In the laying Of said brick; that the
material used in the place of mortar
was bank sand, with very little else
added thereto. Believe that the poor
quality of the material used, and a
want of skill In the erection of the
buildings, we're the combined causes Of
their falling. The first tier of joist
were placed six inches into the Pinch
wall, and / noticed when the buildings
| were being erected that the workmen
were using bats and pieces of brick to
fill in between the joist, and slushing
the whole with the poor material they
were using in the place of mortar. 1
told Mr.. Bresnahen that the building
would fall down; this at the time of
the erection, or at the time the con
tract was let; l am not certain which.
J. B. DURBIN
sworn. In former years carried on the
business of c%arpenteriI 8 and joining,
and while 80 employed had much to do
with the erection Of both brick and
frame buildings. Remember the cree
ton of the buildings in question. Had
q conversation at the time with Mr..
Bresnahen. Told him hat / would
not have such material as was being
placed in his walls, If such were my
building. He replied, that his contract
called for the best materials to be used.
Advised him to place hard brick In his
foundation walls. The materials used,
and particularly that In the foundation,
were defective and moi fit for the pur-
pose. ..
CHARLES J. DoWNES
sworn: Visited the destroyed build
ings on the night of the 9th inst, In
esq. Mrs. Bell, Miss Eva Thompson,
MI. Van de -sande and myself were in
the dining room of the Delmonico
hotel, which was on the second floor, at
the time of its demolition. The first
noise we heard was the screaming of
persons down stairs, who appeared to
be running to the front door, followed
by a pattering sound on the roof, which
sounded like hail, and was accompa-
MED by the falling of plaster. AS we
fell, the wall on the south side of the
dining room seemed to be falling, in
advance Of the other parts of the room.
Remained IN the wreck about % hours.
Have not seen Mr.. Van de Sande since
the accident, but learned that his body
was taken out in a ~lifeless condition.
Do not know the cause of the building
falling.
Adjourned until 9 O'Clock this morn
ing.