Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-02-27
Structures Under Repair at
1885, 14O Whitehall Fall and
Bury Fireman Gillespie.
INVESTIGATION TO FIX
RESPONSIBILITY BEGUN
Nine SIeepers Rescued From
Structure When Total End
Seemed Certain.

Fireman J, I. Gillespie was killed,
four policemen missed being crushed to
5aath by the narrowest margin, another
was painfully but not dangerously hurt
nv runaway team of fire horses and
nine persons were rescued as they had
Pm hnr abandoned hope for life, when
building undergoing repairs on the
northeast corner of Whitehall street
and Trinity avenue collapsed at
o'clock this morning.
An Investigation into the fatal catas
rophe, under the direction of Assist
ana Building Inspector Charles J. Bow
en-. is already under way.
It is believed by the city building in
i spector's department that the municipal
code was violated by the Griffith Con-
sruction Company In leaving the shak-
ing building practically without un-
7errinning so that the slightest jar
would send It crashing and smashing to
the ground.
Orders Were Underpinned.
Two buildings at the Trinity avenue
4 corner have been undergoing extensive
j repairs during the past week. Ten days
go the Griffin Construction Company
applied for and was granted a repair
permit to reconstruct the buildings at
7a> and 140 Whitehall street. Work
a> started the middle of last week.
The building at No. 140 Whitehall
Vas vacated. It's rear wall was torn
down. while the front wall was allowed
70 stand The basement Orders and
.mbrfng were underpinned so that
orlymen might deepen the cellar some
Vo feet. This. it is averred, left the
nc,ure in a shaky condition.
Work on the building at No. 1873
Whitehall had not as yet started. The
first floor had been vacated. however.
h'le the second and third floors were
Tented out to roomers. No one occu-
pied the second floor last night. The
third floor housed three families-nine
perSons-all grownups.
High Winds Loosens Timbers.
Shortly before A o'clock this morning
soaffolding in the rear of No. 140
Whitehall fell into the basement of the
structure. It is believed the high wind
during the night loosened the rickety
umbers, finally hurting them to the
ground. Great clouds of dust arose as
me scaftolding tore through the half
'lSmantled floors. Some one seeing the
gray mist believed that the building
was af1re. An alarm was turned in.
Policemen and fremen were soon on
the scene.
Sergeant L. p Connolly and Police
men Rivers, Melpon and Turner were
Standing in front of No. 40. Without
warning, the walls, some so feet in
height trembled and fell. Tons upon
IONS Of brick and mortar were hurled
outward. AS if by a miracle this mass
'pafated-split In twain-as it started
W." IT'S downward ath-dealing rush
me -four policemen ran for their lives
Just AS the last one cleared the walk
falling mass crashed into atoms,
''s coats of the policemen were Gov
,'ea with dust-they had just escaped
Oe'hg buried in the debris.
Falling Wall Catches Fireman.
ids great falling mass, however took
JUS toll Of death.
AS II bellied outward and started to
rumble Fireman j. r. Gillespie, at
'0uea to chemical company No I, was
ascending a ladder which had been
r.'lea against the building. He, with
s'eIaI other fremen, had been sent to
., 7 roof adjoining, No. 1873. to carry
.0'o mat structure the penned in occu-
.''''s or the sleeping rooms. For some
s"0 or other-he had received no
''''S To do so-Gilespie started to the
''N". Half way down just as he was
the second story windows of
~. .'o great heavy wall mass hurled
0non him His ladder was splin-
ana Gillespie buried in "a heavy
'' TINE and bricks His body Nas
Continued on Page Four.