The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-22
FATAL DISASTER.
A Carpenter Killed and Two
Others Injured.

A fatal accident occurred on Brannan
street, between First and Second, yesterday
afternoon by which John killelea, a young
carpenter, lost his life, and two other men,
also carpenters, were painfully injured.
For two weeks a frame building has been
in course of erection on the street named.
The supports of the walls are up and also
parts Of the walls. The wall on the eastern
side has reached the second story, and it has
no support from the adjoining house, which
was several feet distant.
Through some oversight IL had not been
properly braced although it gave no indi-
cation Of being in a shaky condition. Seven
carpenters were at work on the building
yesterday, with several on bridge eX-
tending across the building. 1t was while
they were engaged on the bridge that a sud
den swapping was heard, and in moment
the east wall fell inward, carrying with it
the bridge-work and burying under 1t the
carpenters thereon.
The crash made by the falling wall was
heard for several blocks, and large crowd
of persons soon gathered around the build
ing. Willing hands soon set to work, and
raised the fallen timbers. Under one Of
the walls was found the form OF Killelea.
Life was extinct, his skull having been
crushed by one of the tlmbeTs. Both legs
were also broken.
Michael Lynch, another one Of the work
men, was found damned in between the
jOists. The support given to the wall by
his left shoulder had prevented the frame
work from crushing in his skull. Mr.. n.
Welch, the third man who went down in
the ruins, was discovered in an insensible
condition, and bleeding from numerous
bruises. He was suffering great agony and
was removed TO ST. Mary's Hospital, which
is near by.
His left hip was dislocated and three ribs
on the left side We're broken. Whether he
had also sustained internal injuries or not
could not be determined, although it was
thought likely. Lynch has his right arm
wTenched and bruised, aud his left shoulder
and body were also hurt badly. 1t seems
almost miracle that Lynch and WEIGH
were not killed outright.
II was difficult to arrive at any definite
cause for the falling of the wall, although it
was undoubtedly due to insufficient bracing,
which could not Withstand the force Of the
wind. Ralph Carey, who is tho foreman of
the work, positively refused to give any
opinion in the matter.
Foreman Carey even withheld informa-
ton from representatives of the press. such
as the names Of the dead and injured, and
the work they were engaged in at the time
the accident happened. 81 don't know how
| it fell" lie replied in response to inquiries,
and don't propose to say anything about
| it until the proper time" He would not
| say that the braces had given way.
NSOASC ~ ~N"6iN' thC COhe4aObOl iUl tHo
| brick work of the building, arrived soon
| after the accident He said that the brick
| work was all right and that the accident
had happened in the carpenters work. The
building is being erected for Police Com
missioner Tobin, and Francis Buckley is
the contractor.
Coroner Eaton took charge Of the remains
Of Killelea, who was IS years of age and re-
sided with his parents at 213 Vicksburg
street.
Lynch resides at $50 Hickory avenue and
WEIGH, who is 80 years old, resides at %
| Ritch street with his wife and four children.
Last night he was resting easily.