Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-09-11
NO ONE WAS AT FAULT.
Verdict of the Park Place Dis.
aster jury.
NO LIGHT SHED ON THE HORROR

A Lecture on the Inenieiency of the
Present Building Laws the only Fruit
of Days OF Investigation by the Coron
er's Twelve Good Men and True.
NEW York, Sept 1l..sixty-three lives
crushed out in an overloaded death trar
Of a building. and no one to blame. That
is practically the verdict Of the coroner's
jury in the Park place disasterl The jury
held dozen sessions, listened to a great
volume Of testimony from some who es
capped from the doomed structure and
from practical builders, deliberated for six
hours after the evidence was all in anc
then brought in a verdict as unintelligibls
as unsatisfactory. This ridiculous out
come Of the official investigation into tn,
cause OF death Of over sixty persons is tho
more remarkable because Coroner Hanly
hoasted that his jury was composed Of
men of more than ordinary intellectual
equipment, many Of whom are experts In
building matters
No Proof Of an Explosion.
There was absolutely no positive state
AhNAA AAtAH w NNN IAARAo hANAN AAN IbAA1lNA
Of the building was due TO an explosion
but there was on the other hand, over
whelming evidence that its floors were
overweighted. In spite OF this fact thii
much Landed jury Last night brought IL
this disappointing and useless yerdicti
The Findings Of the Jury.
We find that Sarah Ann Heagney Fredericl
Trippe John Hills and others met thoir deatl
sr,4.r MIA ftfnIf
falling Of the building known as 6s 70, Y ans
/ "a Park place, IN the city OF Now York.
We find that while the timbers and walls O
! said building were Of fairly good material an
/ construction, that she iron columns were not a
strong and as well constructed as the specifics
tions called for or rs they should have been {
| support safely the weight Of the buildings an
contents upon the day above mentioned. "
find that the fan OF said building resulted froi
the breaking of one or more of said iron co
umns Ia or near the middle OF the ground foo
| We further flnd that the fracture Of said cplum
| or columns was due 70 some sudden shock al
| piled 10 the exterior Of said column or column
and not primarily due 70 its OF their appareI
inherent weakness
The Cause out Of Reach.
After a most careful weighing Of the eviden,
presented 20 us we are unable 10 determiI
whether this was caused by the explosion
the vapor OF benzine employed n manner an
quantity contrary 10 law in said building
some other shock the cause OF which. after q
death Of all the principal eye witnesses 10 ~
attainRble.
The jury respectfully recommends 20 b
honor the coroner. that he ask his ezceienc
the governor Of this state AZ the next meetii
Of the Legislature, 70 call attention 10 the urge
J need of legislation, not only authorizing b
!. enabling the Ere department and tho dcpa
/, ment Of buildings in this city 10 inspect peri
q ically all buildings used for printing manuf
Z turing, storage or similar purposes not only
insure against overlooking, but a. 10 the ms
= tenanes or employment Of explosives OF d
Rerously infammnble substances IN any hui
ing whore other labor is employed or mai
featuring carried on, and 70 employ All need
inspectors for said purposes ----