Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-02-26
Fire Chief Orders Investigation
to Fix Responsibility for the
Death of Fireman.
81 EEPERS THRILLINGLY
RESCUED FROM PERIL
Four Policemen Narrowly ES-
cape Falling WaII-Another
Hurt by Runaway Team.

81 Fireman J. ]. Gillespie was killed,
Nbur policemen missed being crushed to
Rtsth by the narrowest margin, another
|kas painfully but not dangerously hurt
IN runaway team of fire horses and
.alne persons were rescued as they had
h but abandoned hope for life, when
d building undergoing repairs on the
'hortheast corner of Whitehall street
Nm Trinity avenue collapsed at 4
bclocls this morning.
II An Investigation into the fatal catas-
hopha under the direction of Assist
M Building Inspector Charles j. Bow
ID, is already under way.
q i is believed by the city building in
u tor $ department that the municipal
xode vas Violated by the Griffin Con-
Ttlucton Company in leaving the shak-
hg building practically without un-
Xerpinuing so that the slightest jar
Would send 1t crashing and smashing to
"a e ground.
Orders Were Underpinned.
a Two buildings at the Trinity avenue
Corner have been undergoing extensive
kpairs during the past week. Ten days
Nc the Griffin Construction Company
applied for and was granted repair
'Rermit to reconstruct the buildings at
MS and $40 Whitehall street. Work
pas started the middle Of last week.
The building at No. 40 Whitehall
~ vacated. It's rear wall was torn
Down, while the front wall was allowed
"a stand. The basement Sirders and
EmOeiug were underpinned so that
Forhmen might deepen the cellar some
~ feet. This, it is averred, left the
srue,ure in a shaky condition.
81 Work on the building at No. l3S
Whitehall had not as yet started. The
D. floor had been vacated, however,
El.e the second and third floors were
fntel out 10 roomers. No one occu-
u ed the second floor last night. The
Pm floor housed three families-nine
Rarsons-all grownups.
high Winds Loosens Iin1bers.
81 Shortly before 4 o'clock this morning
Eaffolding in the rear of No. 14O
"A hitehall fell into the basement of the
structure 1t is believed the high wind
Aring the night loosened the rickety
Nmbers finally hurting them to the
q ound. Great clouds of dust arose as
r. scaifolding tore through the half
a smdntcd floors. Some one seeing the
g'ay mist believed that the building
" atire. An alarm was turned in.
Roicemen and firemen were soon on
n scene.
Sergeant Z. P. Connolly and Police
4 len Rivers, Melpon and Turner were
\ anoing in front of No. 40. Without
d ming, the walls, some so feet in
q 2a', trembcd and fell. Tons upon
rs of brick and mortar were hurried
q .""o, As if by miracle this mass
4 cG-SpIit in tWain-as it started
Y ITS downward Goath-dcalinG rush
Our policemen ran for their lives
II Just the last one cleared the walk
falling mass crashed into atoms.
4 Ne coats of the policemen We're Gov
r. with dust-they had just escaped
Il ms buried in the debris,
Falling Wall Catches Fireman.
Inc great falling mass, however, took
H toll Of death.
as bellied outward and started to
-."o'e Fireman j. r. Gillespie, at
NE" TO chemical company No. ], was
1'Na'ng ladder which had been
'eeu against the building He, with
i T'al other firemen, had been sent to
j roof adjoining, No. 1873. to carry
4 1881 mat structure the penned in occu-
'-> OF he sleeping rooms. For some
soU or other-he had received no
] -' DO so-Gillespie started to the
''". Half way down. just as he was
1 sing the second story windows of
i ''. great heavy wall mass hurled
4 upon MIN. His ladder was splin-
'a" Gillespie buried i'm 20 heavy
' .ne and bricks. Ills body was
Continued on Page -Four.