Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-11
READY FOR THE INQUEST.
Contractor Huckenstein Says He Will At
tend the Investigation of the Disaster


tend the Investigation of the Disaster
Legislation to Prevent Accidents.
Coroner Mcdowell impaneled a jury yes
terday morning. After reviewing the re-
mains of five of the victims at the morgue
they adjourned to the scene of the disaster.
The inquest will commence to-day at 10
o'clock. The members of the jury are w.
W. Shaw, L. E. Isaacs, 7. C.. Perrine, T.
A. Rowley, George Exler and II. Grant
Miller.
Contractor Huckenstein says he intends to
appear before the Coroner's jury whether he
is subpenaed or not. 81 was not respon-
sible for the cyclone, said Mr.. Huckenstein.
II had no idea that the walls were unsafe,
or I would not have allowed my son to work
on the top story. There was no defect in the
work, and the plans and specifications
were carried out all right. A
contractor, when he gives bond
to complete job, does not say that it shall
be finished, cyclone or no cyclone. 1t is
always understood that if nature interferes
that contractor is not responsible. The
material placed in that building was the
best in the market and the workmanship
could not be excelled, as none but the best
workmen were employed on the building"
Mr.. c. G. Dixon, who is the Oldest brick
layer in the two cities, says that John
Huckenstein has put up the best buildings
in this section. Among them are the nov
city works on Lacock street, Allegheny,
which were burned down and afterward re-
built at lakewood; the ST. Andrews Church
in Manchester. the st. James Church, the
Seventh Avenue Hotel and a number of
other large buildings.
In speaking of the accident last night,
John Kelly, editor of the Commoner and
GlaSsworker, said: "In the old Trades AS
sembly we had bill pending for months
which will be presented to the Legislature,
and will prevent such accidents in the fut
ure. As the Legislature was not in session
at the time, we held the bill over, but it
will come up at the next meeting of the
newly-organized Trades Council 1 have
just received a letter from P. J. Mcclure
National President fthe Carpenters Union.
In the letter he recognizes the necessity of
the bill and says he will cooperate with
Pittsburg to pass a law preventing the
erection of such rickety buildings 1t strange
that the new building being erected on Dia-
mond alley, just below the one that caved in,
was not blown down. That building was fully
exposed as much to the elements, yet it was
not shaken. If the proper authorities had at
tended to their business, and seen that the
would not have occurred. The new Trades
Council was organized especially to look after
matters of this kind. We will petition the
Legislature to enact laws making the loss of
life and limb on a new building almost i'm
possible"
Councilman Hugh Ferguson says that at the
next meeting of Councils he will offer an ordi-
nance making it a criminal offense for con-
tractors TO erect less than three walls at the
same time. In this instance, he said, the acci-
dent would not have occurred had there been
a third wall to bind together the too high walls
erected
Architect Stillburg, who drew the plans for
the Wiley building, says that the destruction
of the building was the result of cyclone or a
tornado. The mortar was not dry and the force
of the wind was terrible.