Evening journal., 1898-01-05
LONDON'S TRAGEDY.
Inquest Into the Fatality in
the Canadian City.
THE DEAD TWENTY-FIVE IN NUMBER
Engineers Statement as 20 the Cause of
the Disaster-story of One Who
Was In It-Mayor wilson's
Injuries Serious.

LONDON, Ont. Jan. 5.--The coroner's
inquest on the city hail disaster began
yesterday evening, but the proceedings
were purely formal. One OF the bodies
was viewed by the jury as a legal per-
quisite TO the inquiry. and the adjourn
ment was made. The whole point of the
Inquest will turn on the liability Of the
city to the relatives and friends OF the
deceased. a number Of local architects
will testify that the building was un-
safe and should have been condemned.
rhie viii be the basis Of the claims that
VIII be made against the city.
city Engineer Graydon states the
cause OF the accident was the breaking
Of the heavy beam which ran beneath
the floor almost at the center of the
space which gave way This beam was
composed of a dozen by 4 timbers
Joined together The joists ran east and
west from the beam, resting on the
front and rear walls OF the engineers
Office. There was a span of IS feet.
The beam broke in the center, rolling
all the people standing I'm this space
into one mass. The engineer states that
the supports Of this floor We're not taxi
en- away in making recent alterations.
| The wall where this joist ran was taken
out in 1883. The engineer did not con-
slider the hall dangerous and says that
the tremendous dead weight simply
caused The beam TO snap.
! The dead according TO the latest re-
ports. are % in number, but it is much
TO he feared that the list is not yet COM
plete, as many of the injured are not
expected to recover and in any case
| many OF them win be confined to their
beds days, weeks and some for months
The list OF injured can never be made
complete i'm so far as the minor suffer-
ers are concerned, as many are able to
be about, though suffering bruises
aches and pains as a result of their ter
rihle fall.
Two reporters who were hurled into
the deadly pit have written their sto-
ries of the tragedy. One writes anony-
mously. but he Is understood TO be city
Editor Rossie of The Advertiser. He
says:
"The writer was hurled backward in
to the pit and underneath the falling
timbers. When the air cleared Of the
dust and the bright chandelier immedi-
ately overhead shone into the death pit,
a ghastly sight met the eyes. The faces,
gashed and covered with blood were
everywhere TO be seen The drawn
countenances Of those who suffered in
ternally and were in the throes Of death
were also among the number.
"Old men with gray hair and boards
matted with blood lay pinned in the
heap along with small boys distorted
with pain. The clothes and faces OF all
were ashy with the dust of plaster and
added TO the horror Of the scene. The
greatest number of fatalities occurred
! tub.ra fha iron 70 she'd through
the floor"
Mayor Elect Wilson is much more Sc
rlously hurt than he permitted his
friends 20 observe when he was work
ing among the wounded. He visited
both hospitals and, with the other doc
tors did all in his power TO relieve the
sufferers, although he himself was suf-
fering greatly from the wounds he re-
ceived when on the floor. His left side
was badly bruised and cut as also were
his arms legs and back. He is now con-
fined TO his bed. Alderman Elect Cooper
is reported to be In a serious condition
being injured internally.
meeting of the city council was
held last evening, when measures were
taken 20 relieve any temporary finan-
cial distress caused by the accident and
to see that all funeral arrangements ar,
carried out i'm proper manner, the citS
guaranteeing all expenses.
Benjamin ]. Nash. whose body was
taken from the ruins badly mangled
was one of the most prominent citizens
of London being at the time of his
death president of the Conservative as
sociation and of st. Georges society
John Turner another of those killed
was also prominent I'm civic affairs
having served as alderman for a mum.
ber of years.