The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-02-20
A SKY SCRAPER TUMBLES.
NARROW ESCAPE OF MANYwoRKMeN.
The Floors of Fourteen-Sto-y Building,
Without Moments Warning, Drop
Into the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS As
To the Cause of the Accident.

CHICAGO, Feb. 17-0ne Of the tallest Office
buildings in America collapsed this morning.
A number of workmen rushed out just in time
to escape being crushed under the mountain of
wreckage. The Owings block is the ruin. 1t
was beautiful gothic structure, fourteen
stories high, situated at the corner of Dearborn
and Adams-sts., just opposite the postofice, in
the center of the business district. The ten
lower stories fell in, leaving the walls and four
upper floors and roof standing in decidedly
shaky condition. In the tenth story the tile
flooring was defective or was damaged by the
natural settling of the building. Without the
slightest warning, the great mass of tiles and
girding forming the injured floors crashed to
the story below, carrying that with it, and the
two together, acting like a huge pile-driver,
pounded away for themselves to the bottom.
About one hundred and twenty-five work
men have been steadily engaged in the
building, but to-day being Sunday
less than dozen were on hand. All were In
the basement, at $50 an ominous cracking,
and tremendous crash was heard. No one
stopped to inquire the cause, but all rushed
pell-mell into the street. They were not mo-
ment too soon. A succession of thunderous
reports, then one prolonged mighty din and
each scurrying trembling workman was en-
veloped in great uprising cloud of dust and
broken plaster. Gradually the air cleared, and
a few of the harder spirits ventured back in
side. Where before story rose above story
east OF the central skylight in mathematical
precision and with every appearance of colos-
sal strength and durability was mounted
fantastic heap of debris, while the space
.l-,I IL go
for bent and distorted iron beams that here
and there projected from the walls.
The superintendent and contractors were
summoned and took a survey of the wreck.
Neither seemed to have any idea of the cause
of the accident, or if he had he certainly kept
his opinions to himself and joined in the self
congratulations of the wOrkmen that the acct
dent did not happen the preceding day, when
scores of men were at work Chief Sweeney of
the fire department visited the scene, and after
looking over tie structure decided that 1t
would not be necessary to pull down the walls
at once as, though they seemed to be out of
plumb there was no immediate danger of
their falling in.
The building, which was rapidly approach
ing completion. was considered one of the
finest in the city from the standpoints of con-
venience, strength aud agricultural magnif-
cence. It's upper stories were OF pressed brick,
the three lower of stone. The roof was COM
pleted about three weeks ago. The interior
was entirely of tile, supported in place by
massive iron grders Work has been pushed
rapidly as possible and the contractors have
at times literally filled the structure with work
men. Yesterday three iron tanks intended to
hold water for the elevator power, arrived at
the building. One of these, weighing 1920
pounds, was hoisted to the twelfth story, while
onotbor ,,nupHS 1iUhfar ,,laoad IN,
position to be elevated tomorrow. To the
east of the shaft. extending through the center
Of the building the walls and floors of tile had
been completed and work had been begun on
the iron staircase.
The immediate cause of the collapse was I'M
dOubtedly the giving way of the tile flooring in
the tenth story. This, the ruins show, fell to
the floor below. knocking out thing
which fell through the mass thus gaining in
weight until the fifth story was reached, when
the whole tore away the iron beams this
and the floors below, bending them out of
shape and shaking the walls OF the foundation.
1t is presumed that the settling of the building
caused the first break. The tiles of which the
floors are made fit together like keystOnes and
depend on each other other for support. Any
extension of the space combining them would
tend to allow the entire mass to drop out. Its
displacement from plumb is not particularly
noticeable TO the inexperienced eye, but great
cracks run off from the center like strands in
gigantic spider web.
There was much comment among the bust
ness men and others who congregated after the
wreck. The very fact that the accident was
entirely unforeseen seemed to be generally con-
sidered the most serious phase OF il. Suppose"
said one spectator that it had not happened
for a month or two, when the building was
fully occupied" Notwithstanding the great
hight of the building the land on which it
stands is not more than fifty feet square. The
design was to utilize every inch. Seven stories
has until lately, been about the average in that
neighborhood, and the tapering, sky-piercing
gable and graceful towers of the Owings build
ing were most impressive and picturesque
sight, towering over the surrounding roofs. The
exterior still looks as beautiful and command
ing as ever, the shell showing absolutely moth
ing to indicate that within is Jagged hole
twenty-five feet square, reaching Up through
story after story. +. r. Owings, Boston cap
.s.ls = IL.