Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-10-20
KILLED IN A THEATER.
Ceiling Drops on Cincinnati Audi
ence-"Dangers of
Great City,

Cincinnati, O., Oct 16.-The common
expression today with reference to the
disaster at Robinson's Opera house is,
What good fortune it was that the house
had so few people in it.
The play WAS Dangers Of Great
City" and just as the second act had
been begun the audience had a vivid il
Illustration of the dangers.
The chief interest now centers IN the
cause of the dreadful accident From
careful examination it appears that not
only was the construction faulty. but the
work and material were defectiTe. In
word, the timbers were rotten.
The walls, which are not more than
eight inches, were dry and parched with
age. There was space Of ten feet III
the center between the ceiling and tie
roof. In order to support the roof ind
ceiling, trusses were run across from the
west to the east wall. There were four
Of these trusses. All were made of weed
and were connected or Joined by pieces of
joist with bolt holdings. Between these
were joists of the ordinary kind. Be
tween the two truSseS in the middle was
hung the dome. 1t was nine feet tail,
hf~,en feet IN diameter and about forty
five feet in circumference. The inside
of it was lathed and plastered and highly
decorated. From the center OF it hung
chandelier containing forty or fifty in
candescent 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 ceiling and the
roof might be called an attic, but it was
never used for any purpose. The only
time anyone 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 hold
Nov 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 III were as dry as punk and the
pieces of joist that connected them were
Worm-eaten and rotten. The nails and
bolts We're rusty, and everything went
to show that the entire part of the build
ing was III such a dangerous condition
that it is strange that it had not been dis
covered long ago
After the dust had cleared away the
dome was found upright on the back of
the parquet chairs. 1t settled as it fell.
1t IS thought that on account of its
formation the air caught it and did not
permit it to descend with as much force
as one would expect, as its position on
the backs of the chairs showed When
the dome first began to sag it took the
rafters with it. Some OF these were
held in position in the walls and hung
over the ratings 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 has been injured by
the Earring of the heavy machinery of an
electric light plant in the neighborhood
The high floors had no floor supporters.
cont GIIah
the dress circle and balconies across the
front of the building opposite the stage
1he walls were not massive, and at the
time the house was built there were criti-
c,sms of the workmanship. Residents in
the neighborhood say their dwellings are
seriously shaken and injured ty the jar
rig machinery, and suits have been
brought IN one or two cases to recover
damages. 1t is argued that these high
and not especially well h;5ilt walls have
been injured in this way. A lineman
who recently was about the dome putting
III hght wires said the structure shook
perceptibly under his movements.
The name of Lucy Cohen was included
III the list of dead furnished at the City
hospital. 1t has been discovered that
this was mistake, growing out of Il
mistaken Identification of Mrs. Kleeman.
established last night was today identi-
ned by his wife at the City hospital.
He is Isaac n. Neghbors, aged 40. 1874
West Sixth street. Of the injured at
the hospital, Mrs. Mary Haas, Mrs. A
Scudder and A. @. Weiss are not expect
ed to recover, while Miss Pearl Hall
and Mrs. Kate White are in a critical
condition
Mrs. Lucy Cohen had almost a mirac-
ulOus escape, having been made uncon-
scious by the confusion and panic, but
was observed by Mr. Proncairn. who
rushed in from the outer door, and grasp
ing the insensible form, bore her safely
to the sidewalk Her husband. not
knowing where to find her, and half
frantic, mistook the dead body of 5.
Kleeman for his wife.