The Hawaiian gazette., 1881-05-25

| corroborated what had already been said Fathel
| Larkin not in the building She could havl
/ told if there had been any one beyond the scree1
The proceedings were then adjourned till Mon
/ day at one O'Clock.
SECOND DAY.
On Monday the ed inst the inquest was con-
tinued the jury meeting at 1 P NJ at the Marshall.
| Office. The following witnesses were examined
on oath:
James Havselden. Am an architect and builder
! by occupation. Have examined the ruins of st.
Louis College. The whole cause of the disaster in
nv opinion was the weakness of the foot-brace of
the roof, which was in the place of tie-beam
1t not of proper size to hold any considerable
strain; the ioists not mOrtised and tenOned
the plan did not include iron rods; at the time the
plan was submitted / gave my opinion to Mr..
WALL the architect that the roof would not stand
about three weeks ago visited the premises for the
first time, and saw that the plate was bulged out
from to ) inches; the weight of the roof had
pressed it out that much; one Of the persons con
nected with the school was with me and drew his
attention TO the state of the roof that 1t was not
safe; did not 90 inside because felt it was not
safe; great many iron rods would have been re-
quired to strengthen the building, but there was
not enough of them the tie or brace is one inch
by eight-merely board, where the principal
strength should be; ceiling joists nailed
edgeways into the tie or brace, tending to weak
ness the great weight of the plastering had ten
dency TO split the lie or DTdCe, WHICH was not
strong enough for plastering; the time allowed
for putting up the building quite short don't
remember how long.
George Lucas. Am a master carpenter and
builder In my opinion the cause of the fall of the
building that 1t was too light of construction.
Was told there were three iron ties; had there
been plenty of these the building would not have
fallen; the plate by 6, and the iron ties were
clasped it; had there been iron ties attached
to the heel of each rafter the roof would not have
fallen; the ties were about 4 irOn too light had
the l by board tie been three four thicknesses
bolted together, that would have been sufficient.
i. Way. Am a master carpenter and builder.
Have examined the ruins of st. Louis College, and
with the last two witnesses IN regard to the
weakness of the roof; there not enough of
iron rods or ties to the building.
Mr.. Harris. Am blacksmith. Made some iron
ties for the College building after it was pastered ;
they were ordered by Ar. Chisholm, the carpenter,
who is absent from the country there were
four rods 60 feet III length made IN two pieces to
connect in the middle with turn buckle one was
said to have broken after put up on Wednesday
night replaced 1t on Thursday forenoon, welded !;
had bolts for the plate prepared and delivered but
they were not used Rev Father LaTkln paid Tor
the work the rods were Z iron; an iron rod that
size and sixty feet long can't stand much weight.
r. Stirling Superintendent of Public Works I;
have examined the ruins of st. Louis College
Judging from my observation, the want OF ties and
the Inherent weakness of the roof the of
the fall the lower oollar-tie 40 feet long and
by and impsrfectly secured; the rafters were
pleceQ: mad they been DOlteu tleV NOulu nave
been much stronger than by mailing as was done
the studding not properly fastened.
J. Chisholm. Worked on the college building as
a carpenter; think that it was built according to
the architects plan without material alteration;
the job required to be done at a stated time,
and some Overwork was done on 1t don't think
the principal rafters were strong enough to hold
such a roof after it was finished some iron rods
We're put in, think by Mr. Wallis orders.
Henry Treadway. Clerk for Mr. s. ID. Burrows;
was at the College grounds shortly after the fall;
Father Larkin said there was nobody under the
ruins; some persons were tearing oil the shingles
of the roof; MIR. Cooke, who was looking on said
it was pity to spoil so many good shingles, and
that Father Larkin had said there was no person
under them; he Gather L. said he had got the
girls out and the boy run off heard some one
say there was a boy under the runs, and took
hold and helped pull OFF the shingles spoke twice
to Father Lrrkn about ii and he told me positively
there one under the wreck afterwards,
under the mauSa part of the roof saw deceased's
quite dead after helping to remove the body went
back TO assist pulling away the wreck Father
Larkn said to me, there Is nobody there; said,
YOU told me so before he then denied having said
before that there was no one in the bull ing
l said he had, and we had some words about it.
- Wall A carpenter; worked on the building
under Chisholm ; don't think the work was done
according to the plan; they were in big hurry
and rushed the building through.
G. j. Wall Made the plan and specifications
for the building; the contract was given to CHS
holm; was present at times and saw the work
going on; 1t was not all done according to the
plan; the roof was not done according to the
plan ; it is different altogether; the amount of
material called for was not supplied, and that was
the occasion of the weakness OF the roof did not
exactly pass the work when donei 1t had to be
completed for a concert; | never exactly passed
the work-did not give certificate: Father Larkin
paid me; had reason to think the building was
not perfectly safe; two three days prior to last
Friday Father Larkin asked me to examine with
view to strengthen the building tension rod had
broken and he had it repalfed there was to be an
entertainment and he wanted the building safe
brought Chisholm there on Friday morning. and 1t
was concluded to put 3 braces on each side, of
6 by stuff, because in my opinion the building
was unsafe: Father Larkin was present agreed
to come and see the braces put in position; upto
O'Clock the material had not come; supposed they
would be fixed Father Larkin said he would have
it done the iron rods put up by my advice
to render the building safe; to correct COMMISSIONS
in the work and to strengthen the building; on
Friday morning from the fact that tension rod
had parted the ceiling bulged out IN part told
Father LarElin to test that plastering before oc-
cupying the building think the rods were enough
had they been bOlted; spoke to the contractor
several times about his carrying out the speci
fications the papers are lost l was bound to see
the work properly done; | was paid for that.
Rev. w. J. Larkin. About half-past l O'Clock
on Friday | went to where the two girls were
making leis there was a screen of flags put one
third the length of the building which Is lOJ feet
behind the screen 1t was dark when l went IN
the FIRST time, there were two young women and a
boy this side the screen next the college; after
speaking to them walked to the yerandah and
returned Immediately into the centre of the hall
heard a tremendous sound, and saw the caving in
of the sides rOared out to the girls bat they got
frightened and ran in circle / was within 10
feet of the door, and as | rushed out part of the
falling mass struck my FOOT going at once back |
assisted in lifting one of the girls out from an
opening in the roof; the other WAS also got out
at the first alarm the only boy this side the screen
"a the bOdV of d4eea sad fuuul In fAa
inside the screen. The braces were being got ready
when the building felH Alr. Wall told me several
times that the building was strong as 1t cO1lt
be; / never undertook to supervise the work IL
was Mr.. Wallis duty o see that the work was well
done he gave the carpenters good name; had
no suspicion that the building was unsafe.
After due deliberation the Jury returned & YER
dict that THE said David Paahao did come TO
his death on Friday, the 10th day of May instant,
by the falling in Of the school building upon the
premises of the Rev W. ). Larkin. We consider
that the falling Of The building the result of
C irelessEtss u. tie construction OF the roof.
'' do also clu-idvr llgt Mr.. c. J. Wall, tuu
archijtc of the building, Is responsible for Jne
proper construction VI III parts of the same, being
tue superln endeni Of the work as well as tne
drawer OF the plans.
"And we do consider that the Rev. W. J. Larl1i1
is also responsible. III that lie allowed tue build
ing to be used. after being warned that it vas
safe, before having 1t properly secured.
Therefore, we, the said jurors, do find that the
said C. J. Wall and Rev. W. j. Larkin are respon-
sible for the death of the said David Peahao,
through their negligence.
In testimony whereof, tbs said Coroner and
the jurors Of this inquest have hereunto set their
hands, this 23rd day of May, AID 1881.
Signed. W. C. PARKe, Coroner.
William johnson, VIM. W. Hall, W. L. Austin.
S. d. Burrows, Saml Mahoe, Aaron Kahalione -
Police Court.
May Isth.-Lo Huna from the 18th, discharged;
All Nee, assault and battery, remanded to the 18TH