Evening star., 1898-07-29
WALLS CRUMBLE AND FALL.
Partial Collapse of Building No. 1921
Pennsy1fania Avenue.


A sequel to the wreck occasioned by the
falling walls Of the Albert building on
Pennsylvania avenue near 18th street the
| night of September %, 1896, occurred about
5:45 o'clock last evening, a few. doors TO
| the west Of that structure in the fall of a
part of the east and front walls of the
twc-story building at 1921 Pennsylvania
avenue. Although a great part of the
| debris fell ont on the avenue, no one was
injured and the damage to the building
| was slight.
Premises 1921 Pennsylvania avenue con-
sist of a two-story brick building, erected
very many years ago, it is said 1t is oc-
| cupied by Mrs. Kean, who conducts on
| the first floor a ladies' furnishing estab-
lishment, and who uses the upper story
ss her sleeping apartment The Albert
building, 1t will be recalled, was not only
| badly damaged in the cyclone of 1896, but
Its falling walls more or less crushed the
| three buildings on the west. The one i'm
mediately adjoining the Albert building on
the west has been rebuilt, but the next two
| have not, and a great mass of debris lies
yet between the structure Immediately ad-
joining the Albert building and that occu-
pied by Mrs. Kean.
The eastern wall of the latter building is
said to be but nine inches in thickness, and
in 1t yet remain some of the joists of the
wrecked building Immediately on the east
OF 1t. This strain, together with the heavy
rains of the past two days, is supposed
to cause a great part of il Immediately be-
meath the roof to fall out on the side and
front. 1t is really the southeast corner of
the upper story of the building, just below
| the roof, which collapsed, leaving a great
hCle. The bricks fell out mostly to the
SIDE, on the debris of the building wrecked
In 1896. but a large number were precipi-
tated upon the avenue sidewalk.
Most fortunately the avenue was not
the crowded thoroughfare it is at other
hours of the day and night, and for that
reason, more than for any other, no one
was injured by the falling walls. The avn
1ngs In front of the building were a total
wreck. An old man who peddles notions
at little sidewalk stand heard the crack
ing of the walls just in time to escape seri-
Gus injury His little stock in trade, how
ever was ruined. 1t is also said that boy
who was passing at the time narrowly es-
capped injury by hastily getting out of the
way.
The collapse of the walls attracted a
great crowd to the scene, and many ad-
verse criticisms were made because of the
apparent neglect of the authorities to cause
the removal of the debris of the wrecked
buildings on the east, and the strengthen
Ing Of the walls of the building occupied by
Mrs. Kean. This building is said to be
owned by the Travers estate, and Messrs
Thomas J. Fisher & Co. are said to he the
agents Among others who viewed the
wreck of last evening was Commissioner
Ross, who said that the authorities would
be directed to make careful investigation
of the matter. Mrs. Kean suffered no loss
to her stock, and her household effects in
the second story room We're but slightly
damaged.
An investigation is being made today by
the direction of the inspector of buildings
as to the cause of the accident, and re-
port in the matter will be submitted to
the Commissioners in a day or two. Mr..
Brady, the inspector of buildings, stated
today that he has not made a personal
examination, and therefore could not ex-
press any opinion to the cause of the
accident. After the accident in 1896 he had
directed that all dangerous walls be torn
down. That had been promptly done, and
If any debris was permitted to remain in
such condition as to endanger any other
building 1t was matter of which he was
not aware.