Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-08
COLLAPSE OF FLOORING
SERIOUS ACCIDENT TODAY AT
UNFINISHED BUILDING.
Two Men Injured In Gaiety Theater,
Which Is in Course Of
Construction.

ment was caused shortly before noon to-
day because of an accident which occurred
at the building to be occupied as the
Gaiety Theater, 9th street northwest be-
tween E and F streets. The accident was
caused by the falling Of the fire-proof floor
ing on the third floor Of the front part OF
the structure. carrying to the ground MOOR
a quantity of terra Gotta and cement ana
a few timbers. Albert Lincoln. twenty
three years of age, ami William Thomas,
twenty-seven years Of age, were the in
jured ones Both are colored laborers. the
former living at 1905 1th street southeast
and the latter at 4l9 l. street northwest
They were taken to the Emergency Hos
pital where the surgeons found that Lin
coin had received bruises about his side
and head and that he was suffering from
conclusion of the brain. Thomas received
injuries to his head and left hand. Neither
patient, it was stated at the hospital, was
in critical condition this afternoon.
The falling of terra Gotta. cement and
timbers caused loud report and large
crowd of persons soon gathered about lne
front of the building.
One spectator. w. E. Lawson, patent
attorney in the Warder building, assisted in
rescuing the two men. In doing so he cut
and bruised his hands and knee and it was
necessary for him to consult physician
later In the day. Exaggerated reports or
the affair were teephoned about the city.
One of them reached police headquarters
and Major Sylvester promptly summoned
the reserves from several precincts. but 1t
was almost impossible for the policemen to
keep back the crowds.
Reserves Withdrawn.
Major Sylvester went to the scene Of the
accident and directed the movements of
the men. When the crowd had cleared
away and the excitement had subsidized the
reserves from the several precincts were
withdrawn. leaving only the first precinct
the front and rear entrances to the building,
permitting only the employees of the Fuller
Construction Company to enter.
Fearing that some more OF the material
might fall and cause additional damage,
Major Sylvester insisted that the building
inspector or one of his assistants should
make an examination OF the building beiore
Commissioner mcfarland and Assistant
Chief Wagner of the fire department were
on hand shortly after the accident oc-
Cured They were not needed, however,
and the laborers were put to work TO- re-
move the debris as soon as possible
Thomas NJ. Doyle, who was in charge OF
the work. said that the damage caused to
the building would amount to but nttle
and that 1t would cause no delay in the
completion of the building.
At Work on Third Floor.
Lincoln, Williams and other men were
working on the third floor of the structure
W
way, crashing through the second floor and
going to the ground. Both fell with the
debris. Lincoln going al! the way to the
ground and Thomas to the second moor.
The other laborerS. those who were on the
top floor and those who were beneath them.
became excited and ran. believing there
was danger of a crash of the entire struc-
ture. Bricklayers and carpenters who We're
at work also ran to places beyond the
danger line.
There was a cart on the ground floor near
where the debris fell. The driver was bad
" frightened, but when he saw Lincoln
lying on the top of the mass OF terra GOTTA
and cement he went back to assist MIN;
Patent Attorney Lawson reached there
about the time the colored driver returned
Others who had been at work in the build
ing also returned and aided in caring for
Lawson until he could be assisted from
the building and placed where he could be
transferred to the ambulance. Several OF
the laborers assembled the ladder and
brought Thomas down. and both men were
taken to the hospital together
1t was reported tat other laborers had
been buried under the debris, but this
proved to be incorrect. superintendent
Doyle soon gave the information that he
was able to account for all the employees
and the work of exploration was stopped.
Barbados were placed about the build
ing to keep the curious ones from entering
and the workmen were able to resume their
labors without much delay.
Statement by Inspector Ashford.
Snowden Ashford, who visited the scene
of the accident and made a thorough ex-
animation, made a report to the Commas
sioners this afternoon to the effect that it
could not have been avoided
In explaining the collapse, he stated that
terra Gotta tie about twelve inches deep
composed the third-hoor arch, and that 1t
was being covered with concrete filling. Ac-
cording to his information, four men were
standing upon the arch and engaged in
packing the concrete with hammers, and
they apparently rammed 1t too tight, caus-
ing the key to the arch to break, and the
iron beams or channel to spread apart by
wedging the blocks and thereby collapsing.
1T is condition" he said. that attends
all work Of that kind. The frame work. or
what is known as centers, l.olds these tiles
in place until the floors stretch