The morning times., 1896-05-30
CHURCH POORLY BUILT
Mt. Zion Officials Say They We're
Imposed Upon.
DENIED BY THE CONTRACTOR
Poor and Walls Out of Plumb
Charges Made That street Excava-
tions Weakened the Structure In
Front.

Since the storm of "Wednesday which hIew
down the Mount Zion Baptist Church,
coiored, at Twelfth and L streets north
east, The pastor, Key Alexander Wilbanks,
the trustees, and the niemberS OF The church
| have learned that the edifice was, accord
ing 10 The statements or experts, improperly
erected.
The church people have been very out
SPOKEN III their condemnation OF the work
on the church building and there is every
HKenhood OF a suit for damages. The
pastcf, with the church trustees, have made
careful investigation, and they claim the
church building was very poorly put up,
that the mortar used contained little or no
cement, and that the rear or west wall was
at least six inches ont OF plumb.
THESE facts, the pastor says, are borne
out by TWO or three builders, who also.
made an examination OF the premises short
ly after the building was blown down, and
VINO came TO the same conclusion. The
churcn was built eleven years ago by
Richard Rothweil, of Ninth and A streets
northeast, and was paid for his work $4,71i
the money being borrowed.
The church was insured against fire for
So,Ooo' but the policy does not include
tornado or cyclone clause. The loss TO
the church society and congregati on is total,
as the principal had not been paid. and the
the damage which was sustained does not
release them in any way from the ohli-
cations assumed
NO COURSE DECIDED UPON.
The Rev. Mr.. Wilbauks was seen q
his home, No. 1905 Z street northeast,
last evening, and with him were the
Key. j. T. Loving, a former pastor OF the
church, and three of the trustees. When
asked what was TO be done about the fall
OF the church, Mr. Wilbanks said Mr.
IN, in,
TO the matter and that 10 plan OF action
had yet been determined Mr.. Goodwin
the pastor said, being unable to say lust
what course would be pursued There
was no doubt in the minds OF the trustees
that If the building had been properly put
up would have withstood the storm.
The Rev Mr.. Loving, who was pastor
or the church from 1887 10 1891, said
he always regarded the building as unsa fe
and had several times called The attention
OF his trustees to the apparent defects
Mr. WIibanks and others who were inter-
estedin the managementof of the church ha We
noticed, and ieyen commented upon these
defects. but Ihiever supposed they were
really serious
hr Wilbagks said, when asked If suit
would he brought for damages, that that
course had not been fully decided He
SAID the matter had been considered and
that he thought there were good grounds
Tor a SUIT. He said, too. that he thought
the District was somewhat to blame. for
III cutting away the grade on the north
side aud east front, the walls had been
considerably weakened The pastor said
that lawyer would be consulted and his
advice would be taken in the matter.
between and O'Clock last night there
was a big crowd Of spectators gathered
about the fallen structure Every one
had appn renty heard about the suggested
weakness Of the church, for the conversa-
tion was mainly on that one topic.
Nothing has been moved or disturbed
about the ruins every timber and brick