The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-10

finder box, SURROUNDED ny Wooueu
buildings and liable TO be destroyed by
fire at any time
II visited it short time ago in COM
pany with the surgeon general and
found the building in an absolutely
dangerous condition. The building was
originally put up under u contract in
ninety days, and was very badly con-
struGted. The east wall is more than
twelve inches out of plumb. The south
west corner OF the building has given
way until there is great crack in the
wall, and the officers in charge have
been prohibited from putting heavy ar.
ticles in the upper story for fear OF
pressing out the west wall. 1t is in
deed in q tumble-down condition"
General Slocum, who also visited the
building, in the course OF the same de-
bate said;
my attention was directed to the
importance OF thlsproposed building by
visit to the building where the manu-
scripts and books and specimens are
now kept; aud do not believe there is
gentleman on this floor who would
hesitate to vote for this bill after going
through and seeing for himself the
value OF the contents and tho danger to
which they are now exposed"
Congress- acted upon the statements
to the extent OF removing the mani
mate contents of the museum to new
and safe building. But Congress and
the war department thought proper to
expose government clerks to risks from
which they shielded skeletons and med
ical books,
From responsible gentleman who
Yesterday took look at the workgoing
on under the doomed building this
statement is obtained; Gas / passed
the building, Capt, NJ, r, Thorp, chief
Of the bureau Of supplies Of the war de-
partment, seemed to be directing some
work and l stopped to see what 1t was.
There was brick wall running from
the back Of the building to the middle
OF the lower floor, which it supported,
A number OF workmen were eXGavating
under this wall for the purpose, as |
was told, Of putting in an independent
electric light plant and they were pre-
pairing to support it by underpinning.
It now seems very evident to me that
us they undermined this brick wall, the
first floor gave way; the second floor
being supported by columns which
rested on the first floor, collapsed, also,
and the third floor collapsed in like
manner"
OTHER LIVES IN DANGER.
AS soon as Secretary Lamont returns
to Washington steps will probably be
taken to thoroughly investigate the
cause of the disaster and to fix the re.
sponsibility, il the coroner's jury docs
not anticipate the department in that
direction. Tho collapse OF this building
has directed attention to two other pub
lie buildings believed to be in equally
unsafe condition-one tho government
printing Office, where $500 people are
employed; the other is the rickety shell
known as the Windsor building, also
belonging to the war department. and
occupied by hundreds OF clerks OF that
department and the second auditors
office. This place is VIGOROUSLY dan
gerous and tho floors arc overloaded, all
Of the facts being known to Congress
for years, but receiving no attention.
Building Inspector Entwlsle, who has
two assistants, was on hand shortly
after the cave.in occurred. He said that
last week application was made to him
for a permit to underpin tho building,
but he declined to give II, as it was
government building and cGme under
the direct supervision Of the federal Of
tcers. In fact he had no jurisdiction
Of government buildings and was pro.
hibited from interfering. The cause Of
the whole affair. he said, was undoubt-
eddy duo to tho underpinning. The
workmen dug under the heavy upright
columns which supported the building
and the collapse followed.
Mr.. VIM. +. Funk, OF the firm OF
Funk & Funk, contractors and builders,
was one OF tho first on the scene. He
said he thought the wreck was caused
by the faulty manner in which the
work OF underpinning seemed to have
been conducted. He said he had noticed
it several days during tho last few days,
and no later than this morning he had
looked at it. 1t did not seem to him
that the work was being carried on in
safe manner.
Mr.. Baier said that the building had
been VIGOROUSLY unsafe for long
time, and he stated 1t had three times
been condemned. He said tho rear
wall OF the building had been bowed
out for long time.
1t is thought that when the debris
is cleared away all the papers Of value
will be recovered.
THE LAST BODY.
Tho last body to DO discovered was
that OF DR.. Nelson. Ho was buried be.
meath tho timbers in tho extrcme
front OF tho building and was removed
shortly after o'clock. Tho laborers
did not cease their efforts until about 7
o'clock. By this time they had reached
the bottom OF the excavation in the
basement and further search seemed
useless, as the debris in all parts OF the
building had been entirely cleared
away. Some held that two laborers
who were at work in the basement at
the time Of the accident were still miss.
ing, but as the search had been so
thorough, nothing to warrant its con.
tinuanCe could DO shown. But ono
body, that OF DR.. Nelson, was found in
the last seven hours. OF tho search, and
those in charge OF the work think tim
possible that more remain in the ruins.
The work was therefore stopped, tho
streets roped close TO the building and
a police guard stationed there for tho
night.
A scATuiNo ARRANGEMENT.