The herald., 1895-07-19
THE CONTRACTORS TALK
The Blame for the Leland Hotel
Disaster
PUT UPON SUPT. STRANGE
johnson Is Also Included in the
Case
The Story of the Men Who Wer
Doing the Carpenter Work on the
Wrecked Building

Peter l.. Johnson, the owner Of the col.
lapsed Leland hotel, has endeavored to
shift the blame for the disaster upon the
shoulders OF Contractors Fisher q
Payne.
In order stu ascertain more definitely
to whom the cause of the collapse is to be
attributed. Herald representative called
upon Mr.. Fisher, who is still in bed from
the effects of the bruising he received, and
learned his side Of the story. Payne was
also present at the interview, and contrib
uted his version Of the affair.
''We do not think said Payne. who
did most of the talking for his sick friend,
that the matter has been fairly present
ed to the public III the stories told by
Johnson and others. Fisher and myself
were the contractors for the underpin-
ming, ani that work was all we had to do
with the house. This was not defective
in any respect and did not cause the
building to fall in.
'In signing the contract for the work
we expressly stipulated that we should on
ly be concerned with the new work, and
the agreement read that we were to con
struct the uDderpinnlng as fast as the
material was furnished us. johnson
had entire control of the size and quality
of lumber put under the building, and it
was certainly the place of the superinten-
dent OF buildings to INSPECT and disap-
prove of al defective material.
I'VE did not inspect the upper part OF
the hotel to see if 1t was safe. after it had
been raised on screws. for the simple rea-
son that W, regarded the permit from the
superintendent as ample guarantee OF its
stability.
"The men who lowered the builuing to
its Foundation allowed it to drop some
four inches. and at the time Fisher called
them down about it. and wanted to know
if that was the way they were accustomed
to perform work of the kind. We heard
the building crack, but did not imagine
the injury to be as great as it was.
1.-THE carpenters in our employ were OF
working on the building at the time of
the accident. and had been laid off for a
whole day pending the lowering opera
building did not careen as was stated by
some. If it had the root would have been
thrown out to one side, while as 1t IS it
lies squareIy on the floor OF the lower
story. This shows that it simply gave
way, and then carried the walls with it.
Mr.. Fisher IS probably the most in
jured of the number hurt in the fall. II e
told the reporter that he saw the roof as
i came down. and then ran for safety.
"If our work had been faulty said he,
II would never have escaped as-l did,.
Both contractors agree in stating that
johnson had said to them that he intend
ed to put up the BUILDING as cheaply as
possible, and that the superintenden of
buildings had told him to go ahead and
use his own Judgment in the matter.
Johnson also stated that the deputy
superintendent. Rommel, did not know
his business, and that he had to go to the
chief in order to find out what kind OF
,,,.l,t L, Hon ro1
botn Fisher and Page say that they
were not at any time notified by. anyone
concerning any portion OF their work.
They look upon either Johnson or the
superintendent as responsible for the dis
aster, and wish to have their position in
the matter clearly understood.
Wall Nh ner mousse of the COAST. 324 g Spring