The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-17
Timbers Holding the Dome Were SO
Rotten and WOrm-Eaten that Bolts
and Nails Would Not Hold.
WALLS WERE OLD AND THIN
AND THE STRUCTURE WAS EASILY
JARRED OR SHAKEN.
Body of the Unknown Dead Man Iden-
tified-Five of the Injured in
Critical Condition.

CINCINNATI. Oct 16-The common ex-
preston to-day, with reference to the dis
aster at Robnsons Opera House last night,
is What good fortune it was that the
house had so few people in it," The chief
interest now centers in the cause of the
dreadful accident. From a careful examina-
ton it appears that not only was the con-
struction faulty, but the work and ma
terial were defective. In a word the tim
bers were rotten. The walls, which are not
more than eight inches were dry and
parched with age. There is a space of ten
feet in the center between the ceiling and
the roof. In order to support the roof and
ceiling, trusses were run across from the
west to the east wall. There were four of
these trusses. All were made of wood and
were connected or joined by pieces of joist
with bolt holdings. Between these were
joists of the ordinary kind. Between the
two trusses in the middle was hung the
dome. 1t was nine feet high, fifteen feet
in diameter and about forty-five feet in cir
conference. The inside of it was lathed
and pastered and highly decorated. From
the center of it hung a chandelier contain
ing forty or fifty incandescent lamps. The
dome was made of heavy timbers and bolts
and nails, but there was no iron about it's
construction The space between the CELL
ing and the roof might be called an attic,
but it was never used for any purpose. The
only time any one visited the apartment
was to let down the chandelier, but that has
not been done this year.
After the accident an investigation showed
that the trusses and timbers holding the
dome were rotten. They had been in use
SO long that they had warped and parted
This caused the bolts and nails to loosen.
The entire construction was thrown out of
gear and the weight of the dome brought
it down. With it came mortar bricks and
rafters. The huge rafters composing the
truss that fell in were as dry as punk and
the pieces of jost that connected them were
worm eaten and rotten. The nails and bolts
were rusty and everything went to show
that the entire part of the building was
in such a dangerous condition that it is
strange that it had not been discovered
long ago. After the dust had cleared away
the dome was found upright on the backs
of the parquette chairs. 1t settled as it fell
1t is thought that on account of its forma-
ton the air caught it and did not permit it
to descend with as much force as one would
expect, as it's position on the backs of the
chairs showed. When the dome first be-
gan to sag it took the rafters with it. Some
of these were held in position in the walls
and hung over the railing of the gallery,
making It dangerous for the rescuers.
Another theory advanced to account for
the falling of the dome and trusses is that
the building had bee injured by the Earring
of the heavy machinery of an electric-light
plant in the neighborhood. The high walls
had no floor supports, except such as We're
used in constructing the dress circle and
balconies across the front of the building
opposite the stage. The walls were not
strong and at the time the house was built
there were criticisms of the workmanship
Residents in the neghborhood say their
dwellings, are seriously shaken and injured
by the Earring machinery and suits nave
been brought in one or two cases TO recover
damages. 1t is argued that these high and
not especially well-built walls have been
Gently was about the dome. putting in light
wires said the structure shook perceptlDly
under his movements.
The name of Lucy Cohen was included in
the list of dead furnished at the City Hos
pital It has been discovered that this was
mistake growing out of mistaken identl-
tication of Mrs KEENAN, The dead man
whose identity was not established last
night was identified by his wife at the City
Hospital He is Isaac N. Neybbors, aged
forty-nine of No. 1874 West Sixth street
OF the injured at the hospital Mrs. Mary
Weiss are not expected to recover. while
Miss Pearl Hall and Mrs: Kate White are
in q critical condition Mrs Lucy Cohen
had a narrow escape, having been made I'M
conscious by the confusion and panic, but
was observed by Mr.. Proncairn, who rushed
in from the outer door and, grasping the in
sensible form. bore her safely to the side
walk Her husband, not knowing where to
find her and half frantic, mistook the dead
bodv of Mrs Keman for his wife.