The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-18
SLAIN BY THE WIND.
A House Blown Down and a
Carpenter Killed.
OTHER MEN BARELY ESCAPE.
George Meacham's New House on Rem
ton Hill CoIIapses and Kills
workman Instantly.

A two-stoyv frame house, nearly completed,
on Chestnut street, two blocks north of Madi-
son, on Renton heights, was blown over yester-
day morning at IL O'Clock, by high wind, and
Andrew Anderson. a carpenter was crushed to
death by the falling timbers. Frank Gallagher,
the contractor, p. c. Macarthur and Frank NJ.
Harter all Of whom were working on or in the
building, narrowly escaped death. At the time
of the crash, eight men we're at work on
different portions of the building, Andrew An
derson and Frank Gallagher being on the Forth
side While the wind was decidedly strong,
there was no indication OF its shaking the
structure.
All Of a sudden there came a more
violent gust Gallagher was by Ander-
sons side aud heard a creaking. He looked
up and saw the frame leaning at an angle from
the foundation. Without hesitation he cried to
Anderson, "Look out, the building is falling,
and made rush TO escape the falling timbers.
He stubbed his toe and fell beside pile of
bricks just beyond the reach of the mass. Ais
ing to his feet, he joined the workmen
who were uninjured, and looked over the
party TO sec If all were safe. Two were missing,
and search commenced.
Under a mass of boards and heavy timbers,
about ten feet north from the spot where Ander-
son had stood previous to the disaster. could be
seen bis body, PROSTATE on the ground, with q
2x4 inch beam resting across his left temple
Gallagher reached in among the tmbers and
felt the pulse. There was not the fantest beat,
and the words "He's dead, boys" fell like a
heavy weight upon the little crowd gathered
around.
1t required twelve men with levers to raise
the mass before a man could crawl in and pun
out the remains.
Meanwhile, some one had telephoned to Coro-
ner Horton and Dr. II. NJ Hall, the latter being
the first to arrive and pronounce the man dead.
Coroner Horton came a minute later, and after
learning the circumstances, concluded that an
inquest was unnecessary, and the remains were
taken to BOnney * Stewards. Coroner Horton
made out the certificate of death and gave the
cause as fracture OF the skull by falling tmbers.
About the same time that Anderson was dis
covered the insensible form OF Frank NJ Harter
was found on the south side of the ruins.
Fortunately only two small beams held him,
and when these were removed ii was found he
was only insensibie from blow on the right
temple. He was removed to the nearest house,
where DR.. II. NJ. Hall examined his injuries and
pronounced them not serious.
Anderson was Swede and roomed at Mrs.
Eleanor Parsons lodging house, No. Alb Pine
street He was &c years of age, unmarried, and
had lived in Seattle several years. For the past
two years he has worked at different times for
Frank Gall CHER, who gives him good charac-
ter. August Johnson, who rooms at the same
house as did Anderson, could not give any in
formation about relatives, but said that friend
OF the dead man was in Kent.
The building was owned by George r.
Meaeham, designed by J. Parkinson, the archi-
tect, and was being built by Frank Galaghe
the contractor. Mr.. Meacham said that the
house was to be substantially built and only
the best timbers used, and he was fully satisfied
that everything was done in accordance with
the plans.
j. Parkinson, the architect, said that accord
ing TO the plans, the house was to eost $500;
that 1t was constructed in the best possible
manner of good material, ami was stayed
and braced inside as usual during CON
Btruction. The foundation is all right, and
building can go on soon rs the debris is re-
moved. thousand dollars will put the build
ing back as ii was previous to the fall.