The record-union., 1893-11-22
AN ARCHED ROOF FELL IN.
The New Receiving Vault Claims Its
First Victim.
Two Men Buried In the Ruins-Andy
Larsen's Neck Broken, While
Fitzgerald Escapes.

sit came down just like that-without
the least bit of warning, and the first
thing 1 knew was under pile of brick"
That was what Thomas Fitzgerald said
yesterday afternoon, in talking of the
terrible accident caused by the falling of
the arched root Of the mortuary CHI. pei at
the City Cemetery which was being con-
structed for the city.
Three men were in the vault at the
time-Andrew Larsen, Thomas Fitz-
gerald and G. II. Kunz. The roof, which
was semi-circular arch, was finished a
few days ago, and Larsen and Fitzgerald
were preparing to remove the woodwork
which had held up the arch during its
construction, in order that the upper part
OF the back wall could he completed from
the coping to the top of the arch. Charles
Gallagher was on the scaffolding at the
back, looking in on them, and man
named Mallen was on the scaffold at the
west side.
Larsen and Fitzgerald had loosened
some of the timbers before dinner to let
the roof rest on the walls, and at l:3O
o'clock had just knocked one brace out
and were knocking out the second, when
the 10000 bricks contained in the roof
sank down on them without warning.
Kunz, who was near the rear door, saw it
begin to sink, and with a warning shout
TO his companions, sprang out just in
time the rush of air through the door
from the falling roof taking his hat from
his head and throwing it twenty feet in
advance of him. Gallagher's head was
caught by the falling walls, which whirled
him over, and he found himself lying on
Il 81,
OF brick. Part of the wall fell outward
carrying with 1T the scaffold on which
Mallen was standing, throwing him about
twenty feet.
Gallagher Immediately gave the alarm
and AS soon as help arrived Fitzgerald
whose whereabouts was located by his
calls for help. was dug out from under a
pile of bricks and timbers about three
feet deep and was found to be almost un-
injured, his face and body being some
what bruised, while several holes were
cut through his stiff hat, the bricks and
tint bers having fallen in such a way that
the first shock of them was broken before
reaching him.
Poor Larsen was not equally fortunate,
for when pile of bricks four feet deep
was removed from his body he was found
dead, his neck having been broken. His
position showed that he had Just started
to try and escape when the mass struck
him and the timbers had to be sawed in
two before his body could be released.
Fitzgerald lay in the northeast corner,
while Larsen was about the center of the
west side. Gallagher escaped with
scalp wound and Mallen with some
bruises.
The top of the side walls for about
three feet down were thrown down, the
three anchor rods pulled out and twisted,
pulling with them the inner course Of
brick from part of the wall which re-
manned standing, and leaving some of it
bulged out and twisted.
The work was being done under con-
tract on plans and specifications fur
nished TO the Board of Trustees James
Carr took the contract and sublet the
brick work to Harvey Il kreuZberger.
An inquest was to have been held last
night, but was postponed until Thurs
day night.
Larsen was a Swede, about 50 years
old, and unmarried. He has no relatives
here so far as known, and lived on
Fourth street, between L and NJ His
employers speak very highly of him,
saying he was one of their best work
men. He was member of the Hod-
Carriers Union.