The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-11-16
CORONER WILL TRY TO
FIX RESPONSIBILITY
Foreman Said to Have Known
That Danger of Accident
Existed
THE DEAD:

Q. 7. MccIaln. father Of Earl
Mcclain; hands burned.
George cIeggett. coiored, aged
40. RIO. 1904 Larned-st. east, cut
ana bruised.
William iolso1beck, colored,
agcc SO, No. 3o4 Erskine-st., cut
and bruised.
Matthew Hendricks, colored,
bruised.
Jack Deprert, No. 346 Hibbard-
ST., foreman; scalp wound.
All but Deppert we're taken to
ST. Mary's hospital. S. 7. Nc
Claim left the hospital after his
injuries were dressed. Deppert
aided in the rescue and after his
wouno was dressed went home.
Coioner Rothacher and Chief Build
ing Inspector Dupont are making al
with view to prescott
ing the person or persons alleged 70
have seen criminaliy negligent and
responsible for the collaRse of por
ton OF the new concrete building
afternoon, in which three men were
killed and six injured Both Rothache:
aoi DUPONT declare that some one
was grossly negligent in removing
the casiags and braces before the
concrete had sufficiently hardened 10
Withstand the weight put upon IL b.
the upper structure. They say that
Deppert, the foreman, knew that the
structure was weak as early as
THURSDAY, bit notwithstanding his
knowledge OF The danger he permitted
tho nien to continue the work. Dep.
rcit, ;hCy assert, noticed the second
floor sag. Is minutes before the &C
cdent.
The building Is four-story struc-
;ure erected ly Thomas +. Cowhey,
OF the Jefferson Forge Co.. and Is IL
tended for use as IN automobile gar
age The coHtracto.: was M. b. Ever
ham, 80. 767 Chamber of Commerce.
DcppcIt was his representative on the
job.
About % men at work on the
building at 3:45 o'clock, Friday after
room, when Deppert noticed a section
OF the second floor sag downward. Al
the same time the concrete posts sup
porting the floors seemed to bulge out
ward The three men killed were do
ing carpenter work on the third floor.
Deppert called 10 them TO get away,
but before they did so the section
OF the second floor. about so feet
square and at the northwestern part
OF the building gave away. The Sec
ton Of the third floor directly above
also broke down at the same time.
The broken mass Of concrete, wood
and steel crashed down on the first
floor. smashing it TO pieces and throw,
ing the debries into the basement.
The three men killed were buried
in this miniature mountain Of wreck
age. their bodies being terribly
crushed by the impact OF the heavy
concrete. In falling, the floors broke
off large steam pipe, flooding the
place with steam, which caused the
report that boiler had exploded. The
men who were injured were working
on the first, second and third floors
near the section whit fell, and their
injuries were caused by pieces OF tim
Ter, steel and concrete which were
hurled In every direction. Some OF
them miracuously escaped being hurl-
ed into the pit.
Policemen and firemen were called
srd did heroic work in assisting the
injured to the police ambulances and
digging for the bodies OF the dead
Police Commissioner Croul arrived 10
find a score OF his men in the debris.
digging for the bodies. The pillars
and floors of the building near the
section which fell threatened To top
pie on them and the commissioned
waved them back. But still a number
persisted in picking away at the ruins.
The first body recovered was that or
I.aframbois. about an hour after tho
accident occurred. Night came on
while the f1remen and policemen were
digging and ITfting away blocks OF
concrete Then powerful search
lights were turned on the wreckage
and the work went on until the las.
body was taken out, at $3.50. The
bodies were removed TO the mtrgue.
A great crowd gathered about the
Llace and watched the flremen and
policemen work. Cowhey was heart
broken when he learned what happen
ed and cried that he wished he had
never attempted the building
The injured men removed to the
hospital will recover, according to the
hospital authorities, although they
are badly bruisedrand cut. S. T. Nc
Claim saw his son, Eearl. go down with
third floor The dust and steam OBJ
scured his sight. He ran TO the elevd
tor. grasped the steel Gable ,1d slid
down to the basement TO help his son
His hands were lacerated 10 the bone
dowa-the- cable