The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-09
A BUILDING WRECKED.
The Roof of an Insecure Business Block Falls,
Badly Crushing Two Workmen.

The roof of the brick building on South Illinois
heirs, fell in yesterday afternoon at 4:3O o'clock,
doing considerable damage and severely injuring
two workmen. The building was one of the old
est on the street, and was in badly dilapidated
state. It was recently leased for period of
seven years to the firm of Brosnan Brothers q
Co., of which d. j. Sullivan is mem,
Der, and was being repaired throughout,
preparatory to their occupancy as dry goods
store. The contract for the work was let to
Richard Cantwel, who has been engaged for
some time with force of seven men in making
changes and improvements in the building. An
entire new brick front had been built. and when
the accident occurred he was engaged in raising
the ceiling of the first floor In doing this he had
removed the supports in the front part of
the building to the ceiling of the
second story and also to the roof
Three of the men employed by Cantwell were
doing carpenter work on the second floor, which
was we'll supported while John Gallagher was
on the third floor, and Dennis Casey was on the
roof engaged in removing mass of rubbish
which had accumulated there. The weight of a
man was more than the fragile roof, already
overburdened, would bear without support, and
it suddenly fell through with great crash,
carrying Casey down amidst the mass
Oh IalllnS Orlck aOu tlfnoer. Inc unsupported
part of the second floor fell, and a
part of the floor below knocked out. The
men working on it, however, escaped injury, as
the noise of the crash had given them sufficient
warning to enable them to escape danger by
running to the rear of the building. The falling
roof knocked hole several feet in diameter in
the wall of the building adjoining on the south.
but did no other damage. Although small
portion of the mass of falling brick and timber
was preciptated upon the sidewalk, which is
usually thronged with passing pedestrians dur
ing business hours, no one was injured.
Casey and Gallagher, the two workmen who
were caught in the wreck, were promptly taken
from the debris. and removed to the Surgical
Institute, where their injuries were given surg
ical attention Casey was badly cut about the
head, the most serious injury being cash four
inches long over the right eye. His hands and
feet were badly mashed by falling brick, and he
was bruised in several places about the body,
but his injuries, the attending surgeons thought,
were not of nature likely to result seriously,
although it will probably be several weeks be-
fore he fully RECEIVERS He was removed in
carriage to his home at No. 81 Chadwick street.
Gallagher's right knee and right elbow were
badly hurt but it is believed that he viii. recover
fully in short time.
Chief Fire Engineer Webster visited the
building shortly after the wreck occurred, and
his inspection resulted in his reaching the con-
clusion that it was unsafe. He Immediately or
dered Robert Catterson the rental agent who
has charge of the property. to tear down the
whole structure The building is very old, and
never as substantial, he thinks, as it should
have been. 1t was owned by the late John +.
Ramsey, of whose estate Mr.. V. T. Malott and
Mr.. a. w. Ritzinger are the administrators.
The adjoining building, the wall of which was
damaged above the third floor, belonged to Rob-
ert G. Ramsey.