The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-19

NJ tHt proper point III VIII Dc secured Nv
two one and quarter inch tie rods with
l2Xl2 cast.iron plates secured TO the out
side Of brick work"
This arch was OF brick, had a span of
eighteen feet, rested upon piers iX5 feet ON
either side, and was carrying a supcrstruc-
ture OF twenty-five feet of brick work,
when the whole thing collapsed and fell
crashing through three stories Of flooring
upon the body of adeaf carpenter ut work
upon the ground floor. 1t took two hours
to dig him out of the debris, and when
found his neck was discovered to be
broken, his skull fractured and every bone
in his body crushed. The name OF this
poor man was Bray, and he left young
wife and two children. Ii is claimed that
he owed his death TO his defective hearing,
and had ample warning TO get out Of the
way, but was unfortunately unable TO hear
it. The accident occurred few minutes
before the regular hour OF going TO work,
1t is said, and IL is estimated that il il had
happened fifteen minutes later the num-
Der Of victims would have exceeded ten,
perhaps twenty. Theodore Martin, col
ored man, had a miraculous escape. lie
was at work on the scailolding on the
fourth floor, and fell on top of the ruins
without breaking a bone. The ArPEAL
reporter found him in bed. somewhat
bruised, but not otherwise injured.
WHO'S TO BLAME?
No practical man will deny that this ac-
cidcnt could have been ayerted if the arch
had been skilliully constructed upon scien-
tiRc principles and with the use of good
material. A properly constructed arch
can't fall-it is an architectural impossi-
bility. In endeavoring to locate the re-
sponsiblity for the collapse il will be nee
essary TO refer TO those charged with the
supervision OF the work These were Mr.
Mcdonald, OF Louisville, the architect
Mr.. Arnold lloeppner, sub-architect and
quasi superintendent of construction, and
DIR. J. b. Jones, the last named being, I'M
der the original act, charged with the duty
OF experimenting the erection OF the
| building.
After advertising for some time for bids
on the brickwork, and failing Ia receive q
reasonable bid, the commission deter
mined to purchase material hire day
labores and do the work themselves
They claim 10 have saved something like
S2j, 900 by the adoption OF this plan.
Harry Mcdonald, OF the firm Of Nc
| Donald Bros, Louisville, did not give his
exclusive attention 10 the work OF con.
struction. lie only visited the structure
semi-Occasionally Sometimes an interval
of six weeks would elapse between his
visits. lie arrived there last Monday after
n long absence, and on inspecting the work
| detected flaw in the tie rods and in
structed his representative, Mr.. lIocppncr,
TO order new tie rods and remove those
then in use, as instead OF each being made
Of one piece OF iron, two pieces were used
and linked together. The attention OF Mr.
| Mcdonald WIS called 10 n crack in the
wall above the arch. but he did not regard
II as dangerous, being Of opinion that the
mortar had had time 10 become thoroughly
dried. In this he now admits lac was mis-.
taken. Mr. Mcdonald is convinced that
the arch failed because Of the defect in the
tie rods above referred TO. lie admitted
20 THE ArPEAL representative, however,
| that the bricks were not as hard ~ hc
would have liked, but that they were ~
good ~ could have been made from
red clay, the only available material
in the ncighborhood. The sub
architect Mr.. Adolph lIocppncr,
declined pcrcmptory 70 answer any
questions asked by TiH ArFEAL. and re-
| fused To exhibit the plans aud spcciiicl-
tons Of the building. Ills services have
since been dispensed with.
Mr.. Pledge II the name Of an old gem
| teman about seventy years OF age who
| has had fifty years experience ~ builder
aud carpenter. lie was nominally in
charge OF the brick work, but complains
that DIR. ]. II. Jones intcricrcd with him,
and compelled him 90 accept material
which his judgment told him was unfit for
use. DR.. Jones denies this, and claims
that he made no attempt 10 assert his an.
thority except 10 the extent Of seeing that
day laborcrs did proper amount Of
work.
ALL WITNESSES AGREE, HOWEVER,
that DR.. Jones exercised supreme power
| about the works, aud that all Others were
subordinate 10 him. Before the commits
sioner arrived upon the scene, Mr. Pledge
! told TuE ArrENL representative that ~
| his opinion the failure Of the arch was due
10 detective plans aud detective material,
that the bricks were too soft and that the
| number OF brickbais he was compelled "a
make use Of was extraordinary. That
was the precise word he used. lie also
| gave Il a. his opinion that the supporting
picrs were too weak, being only iXJ feet,
and that an arch Of lS.ioOt span, carrying
iity.nine feet Of wall aud weighing about
100000 pounds above u, was not SUN
GENTLY supported on the picn above de
scribrd. lie further said that hc had ire
qucntly protested against the soft bnci
aud hrckbats, aud that DR.. Jones had, ~
spite OF his protest, insisted upon ihcil
use. nf. Jones Cmphaiically de
mics this. but other witnesses cor
roboralc Mr.. Pledge, and at lcas
three mechanics assured THE ArrEN rep
rcsentntiyc that the material was detective
and that brick bats were used extensively
and that DR.. Jones exercised unlimited
and absolute power Ia and around th'
works. The bricks used were Tot tint
purchased ol the kiln owners, aud dunn
that time, II h said, care was taken % ac
cent none but cool brick. Altcrwnrd thl
State bought ont the entire kiln, and Then
, IL Is claimed, lees care WIS taken M w
selection and more inferior material used
Before proper tribunal this could ptpUa
bly be- proven. but M the case now stands
satisfactory testimony upon that point ]
not available Mir Pledge did not stcI
up 20 the story told 30 Tar ArpEAL corr,
spondcnt, but signed a statement 20 th
commissioners 30 the effect that the mate
rial used was good and satisfactory.
WHAT rnE COMMISSIONERS nm.
. Commissioners John X. Goodwin, Aus
, lin Miller and A. w. Brockway visitc'
. the scene Of the accident on Friday, Al
| gust IL, and made what struck the ARIA
/ man a. a cunOry examination. ArchltcC
! | Mcdonald was not present, but arrive
/ three hours later aud had coniercnc
! with the commissioners In Bolivar. TIL
/ ArrgAL representative was present at th