Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-08-06

Ferry Mill and Mr.. Mendinhall, presi
dent of the Diamond State Iron Company
designed the building. II was 55x25l
feet and plans were drawn by w. II
Jones, one of the victims. Mr.. Mendin
hall and Mr.. Davis arranged the speciica
tions and plans and taking into considern
ton the sizes of the walls, proportions o
the wood work, &c. There would hay,
been little or no weight to the roof asid,
from its own. The roof was to be slate
covering the sheathing. The plans wer,
considered by Mr.. Mendinhall and Mr.
Davis and executed by Mr.. Jones. III,
material for constructing the building
was all furnished by local dealers. Mr.
Jones, the draughtsman, has been witt
the company considerably less than {
year. Opinion of our people that the mil
was the strongest structure of our plant
It was designed and constructed with the
| special view of it being very strong. The
walled side, where the nine inch walli
with pilasters were constructed of bricl
and built close to have them private from
the street. The building was not shirred
up Mt the time of the fall but had beer
until the timbers were put up, then the
necessity no longer existed. / examined
the walls few days ago and found them
entirely straight and there was no crac {
in them. A plate extended along the TOP
of the wall and was bolted down into the
piers of the pilasters.
Frank O. Simpson, contractor, was
sworn and testified to erecting the brick
work of the fallen structure upon foun-
dation walls % feet deep and 21 inches
wide. The walls are 81 feet high, 25O
feet long and 55 feet wide. On the east
side the wall was inches thick with II
pilasters 1ox27 inches 15 feet apart. In
the spaces between the pilasters there are
windows. Assorted bricks wero used
in building the walls, all the
bats and inferior bricks being
thrown out. For the mortar the best
river sand and an unusually large qunn-
tity of lime was used. The sand being
very sharp necessitated the use of more
thnn the customary amount of lime to
bring the mortar to a proper consistency.
There was warm weather, but no very in
tensely hot weather during the progress
of the walls construction. In answer to a
question by n juror the witness stated
that the bricks had been laid dry, and
that he did not think much benefit re-
suited from wetting the bricks before lay
ing them.
Mr.. Stone Intercepted the witness as
TO whittier, SO far as he knew, there had
been any deviation from the usual custom
OF erecting buildings, or any difference in
the quality or quantity of material used
or in the workmanship.
Contractor Simpson-No, only better
mortar than is generally used.
When asked for his theory concerning
the fall, the contractor slid he hadn't
much theory but was sure that the walls
couldn't have fallen of their own accord,
MS they were amply strong to carry the
roof and another one like it, the building
i'll its bearing was very strong.
MIR. Singley inquired, did you converse
with Building Inspector Chandler con-
cerning the wall of the mill and giving ms
your opinion that the walls were not
strong enough.
Mr.. Simpson, was talking about the
walls with Mr.. Chandler, and having the
assurance that it should hnve no weight
of machinery we considered il strong
enough. We expressed the opinion that
the wall was not heavy enough to bear
any lateral weight from machinery, and
concluded that it was heavy enough to
ehAAO hVhbiN thN vi blit Iobls
In response to Mr.. Lackey's inquiry
the witness stated that the wall got a
thorough wetting on Sunday evening, but
this was not sufficient to cause il to fall.
Mr.. McClnry-How do you account for
the fact that there is no mortar adhering
to the bricks
Mr.. Simpson-The mortar was green
and does not stick firmly to tho bricks
until it is hard and seasoned.
With reference TO the strength of the
wall, the witness testified that as long as
lie had any responsibility in the matter
he kept the walls shored, but he thought
there was no necessity after the girders,
&C., had been put up. At first short
shores were put up, but the contractor
advising longer ones they were procured
and put up to within three feet of the top
of the building.
Mr.. Lackoy-Tf the building had been
all brick would it have been stronger2
Mr.. Simpson-In my opinion the frame
work made it stronger.
On the wall, the witness continued,
there is heavy plate about ~ inches
thick through, which bolts feet lore
fasten down in the wall. If the wall
had been Is inches thick it would have
been crushed out just the same.
Replying to the coroner's inquiry, Il c
witness stated that 9-inch walls with 1S-
inch pilasters were frequently built. He
cited number of large buildings where
they had been constructed, and he did
not believe they were unusual. Around
the inside of the foundation walls the
company erected a wall MS means of pro.
lection TO the former.
Harry Lape, contractor, was sworn and
testified that he had no interest whatever
in the job or the company. He gave MS
his opinion that the wall was too light in
the first place from the foundation mp,
but believed it would not have fallen if il
had been SO closed up that the wind
| could not have gotten in, and the walls
been dry and plumb. The pilasters should
have been 27 inches square. He examined
the bricks and mortar used in building
and did not find that it differed materially
from that generally used; both were
good. In his opinion the usual
custom of constructing walls had moi
been devinted from. If the pilastelf
had been three feet square he believed
that, undcrthe circumstances, it would moi
have made any difference as the building
would have collapsed all the same. II
| witness hnd been ordered to make the
same wall he would have said it ought tt
be thicker, but if his employers insisted
he would have pnt it mp. lie gave his
! opinion that the building should
have been closed at the end and
had expressed himself so n day or two
previous upon seeing the structure while
| driving along the road. II is always re-
gnrtled dangerous to put the roof ON {
building and leave il open at the side
Mr.. Lipe advanced as his theory of the
collapse that strong gust of wind llaC
rushed in the open end, lifted up the rool
and threw all the weight over ON the wal
| and sent it crumbling to the ground
John nj. Enos, head mason for Con
tractor Simpson testified that the best o
mortar had been used in the building ant
that the work was first class. He ha(
been bricklayer for AZ years and con
sidered the wall safe after the girders hat
beon placed aroundit.
William II. Foulk, contractor for tn,
wood work, testified that every stick o
timber used i'll the mill had been sized by
the designer of the plans, and that thu
usual conditions had been adhered to
The frame work was heavier than Ii,
thought necessary, but the company in
sisted that it should be heavy and strong
Any suggestion he offered the compan,
promptly carried out.
The south end of the mill (where tn,
gust of wind is supposed to have entered
and lifted the roof was left open Mt th'
company's request, as it wanted to extent
the building after finding that il was no
long enough. This change wal
made about three weeks before tn,
raising. The posts would have been Sc
up only for this desired change. If i