The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-11-16
KILLED BY A FALLING ROOF,


L Portion of the Roof of the Capitol
Building at Madison, Wis, Gives Way,
Burying Scores of Workmen in the
Ruins-Five Killed and Many Others
Wounded.
MADISON, Wis, Nov. "a tremendous
crash was heard throughout the entire city
yesterday afternoon at lao o'clock, start
ling the whole population. The noise be-
ing in the direction of the Capitol, every
body started for that point, whittier a great
cloud of dust had arisen. The roof and
south wall of the south wing of the Capitol,
now in construction, had caved in and buried
many of the workmen. Thousands collect
ed on the spot in a few minutes and the
process of rescuing the unfortunates began.
Though the remaining walls are in very
dangerous condition, yet men readily ven
tured to enter the debris to rescue the dead
and injured.
The workmen killed are as follows:
Bernard Higgins, laborer. Michael Zwank,
stone mason. William Edgar, bricklayer.
These three have families and reside in this
city. James Kelly, laborer; died at $50 last
night. William Jones, of Milwaukee, fore
man of the masons, severe fracture of the
skull; died last evening.
The injured are: Patrick OLaughlin, skull
fractured and left leg broken; will live NJ.
! Burke, brcklayer, FRACTURE of left leg,
ace cut badly; I'd; Bowen. plast@rer;
ell, both legs broken and side in
Jured; can not recover; Patrick Cary, severe
scalp wound; David Memhard, slight injury.
The above injured are all residents of this
city. Henry DIETRICH, of Milwaukee, brick
layer; left leg fractured; injured in back:
Willis Rose, Glenbeulah; injured in the loins
legs and arms badly bruised, will re-
cover; Edward LeaSOn, of Chicago, fore
man of the timers; iniurad about body
by a falling box of glass; Arthur
Lynch, OF Chicago, timer; bad in
GAINESVILLE head severely cut; Matthew
Zwank, of Madison, head and shoulders badly
injured; Edward Kinsella, of Milwaukee,
mickias er, severe cuts on scalp, other in
luries on face; Cyrus Schenck, of Shopiere,
Rock County, severe scalp wound and injury
to hips; Nelson Boost, of Sun Prairie, fell
from the roof to the basement leg injured;
John Clark, OF Milwaukee, arm broken and
head badly cut.
AS fast as the dead and injured were
taken from the ruins they were carried into
the offices OF the Capitol proper, where the
entire medical profession of this city was in
attendance and did everything to relieve the
distressed that was possible. Assistance
came in from all Sides and the condition of
the injured was alleyiated where necessary.
Governor Rusk, who is in the northern part
OF the State, was telegraphed at once, and
will arrive by special train in the morning.
He, however, has telegraphed the members
OF the Building Committee to spare neither
pains nor money to relieve the afflicted.
Secretary of State Timme in the meanwhile
is directing matters about the Capitol. The
Mayor, by his direction, has sworn in special
police, who are guarding the standing
wreck and warning citizens of too near APP
proach.
The sight Immediately after the accident
was extremely horifying Within the
building could be seen victims caught in the
ruins some Of them hanging by the legs and
in various other positions. Had the acct
dent occurred a few minutes later the entire
force of gas-fitters and carpenters would
have been in it. As it was, only the ma
sons and timers were there, about eighty in
number. Many saved themselves by Won
drous presence of mind.
An inquest will be held to-day and every
effort will be made to find out where the re-
sponsibility rests, and the parties treated in
accordance with the law. The contractors
are Dehtley ~ NoWlan. the former of Mill
Waukee, and the latter of GAINESVILLE. The
OupGIflolLS dICllUSCG 10 1s 1C jules, VI GIllO
city, with II. G. Koch, of Milwaukee, as
consulting architect.
A prominent contractor of this city, I'M
connected with the construction, saw the
walls begin to fall, and says from an exam
nation that the walls supporting the heavy
iron pillars were too light and 1Ot of the
best material, which was the Eoy-note of
the whole crash.
Contractor John Bentley and Consulting-
Architect H. G. Koch, of Milwaukee, ar
rived here at nine O'Clock p. m., and have
been in consultation with Supervising
Architect Jones, of this city. They mani
fest much reticence on the subject, and can
assign no cause for the accident. Mr.. Jones
says the construction of the north and south
wings is identical, and thinks that water
must have gained access to the green walls,
and thus weakened them. The north wing
shows no signs of weakness. At the in
vestigation he says he will be prepared to
give definite opinion. Mr.. Bentley says he
has no idea Of what caused the accident.
He said the building had been put up
in strict accordance with the plans
and specifications. When the ques-
ton of responsibility was preached he
said that while the loss would fall heavily
upon some one he would not not give any
idea OF whom it would be. 1t was suggest
ed that if the building had been built in ac-
cordance with the plans and in acceptance
of the ideas of Mr.. Jones, Supervising Ar
chitect and representative of the State,
the loss would fall upon the commonwealth.
MI. Bentley admitted such was the case. 1t
is thought that the affair may bring on an
extra session of the Legislature, as the
Building Committee may not wish to rebuild
the wing without the action of the Legis-
lature. Governor Rusk being out of town,
nothing definite could be learned.
The loss is estimated at about 800, 900,
The Capitol building was begun in 1857 and
continued from year to year until the dome
was completed in 1869. The total cost of
the building, including the improvement Of
the Capitol Park, up to the time the present
improvement was begun, was $629, 992. 81.
The height of the building, from the base
ment to the top Of flagstaff, is 22519 feet,
while the total length of the north and
south wings, exclusive Of steps and porti-
Goes, is 22S feet, and of the east and west
wings 226 feet. Improvements or additions
to the north and south wings were now be-
ing carried on The improvements are to
cost $1S8, 900. The work was begun one
wear ago last ,Iune