Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-02-26
tructures Under Repair at
'138- lao Whitehall Fall and
Bury Fireman Gillespie.
INVESTIGATION TO FIX
RESPONSIBILITY BEGUN
line SIeepers Rescued From
Structure When Total End
Seemed Certain.

B Fireman J. l. Gillespie was killed,
b. policemen missed being crushed to
r. by the narrowest margin, another
N painfully but not dangerously hurt
IL a. runaway team of fire horses and
H. persons were rescued as they had
Al but abandoned hope for life, when
d building undergoing repairs on the
mrtheast corner of Whitehall street
81 Trinity avenue collapsed at 4
"a oclS this morning.
q An investigation into the fatal catas-
tfophe, under the direction of Assist
h. Building Inspector Charles J. Bow
Il, is already under way.
81 IL ig believed by the city building in
& eutor's department that the municipal
rtda was violated by the Griffin Con-
6sucrion Company in leaving the shak-
b. building practically without I'M
aerpiuaing so that the slightest jar
Nould eend It crashing and smashing to
n e ground.
Gjrdsrs Were Underpinned.
& Two buildings at the Trinity avenue
Nbrner have been undergoing extensive
epaiss during the past week. Ten days
nc the Griffin Construction Company
applied for and was granted a repair
permit to reconstruct the buildings at
rs and $40 Whitehall street. Work
"a started the middle of last week.
Il The building at No. lao Whitehall
Fas vacated. Its rear wall was torn
dovn. while the front wall was allowed
q stand The basement Orders and
hm5ering were underpinned so that
Forkmen might deepen the cellar some
p feet This, it is averred, left the
Nucture in a shaky condition.
4 Work on the building at No. 1873
whitehall had not as yet started. The
p floor had been vacated, however,
MI the second and third floors were
Ha.ed out to roomers. No one occu-
ped the second floor last night. The
Nrd floor housed three families-nine
n rsons-all grownups.
High Winds Loosens Timbers.
II Shortly before 4 o'clock this morning
@aho-ding in the rear of No. $40
Y ataaall fell into the basement of the
gueture. 1t is believed the high wind
qurins the night loosened the rickety
Rmoars finally hurting them to the
gounl. Great clouds Of dust arose as
Y saaffolding tore through the half
Y ioNantled floors. Some one seeing the
8 mist believed that the building
y atIe. An alarm was turned in.
4 eanen and firemen were soon on
0ere
Sergeant e. 2. Connolly and Police
n Rivers, Melpon and Turner were
q to.1s I'm front of No. 140. Without
Y ag the walls, some so feet in
n -0t uembled and fell. Tons upon
DIS " brick and mortar We're hurled
Y '"a.. As if by a miracle this mass
\ g'IaLed-split in twain-as it started
Y LIS downward death dealing rush
Il Tour policemen ran for their lives.
'.-I MS the last one cleared the walk
'a-.ing mass crashed into atoms
a coats Of the policemen were COW
4 s- N.th dust-they had just escaped
"~ buried in the debris.
Falling Wall Catches Fireman.
.' great falling mass. however, took
'ol Of death.
Je,lied outward and started to
i Fireman J. r. Gillespie, at
ST." chemical company 40. !. was
-..Hg ladder which had been
Hsainst the building. He, with
." 'ther 1iremen, had been sent to
L adjoining, No. 1873. to carry
.'tl structure the penned in occu-
'' the sleeping rooms. For some
4, WA or other-he had received no
'' DO so-Gillespie st3rted to the
daif way down, just as he was
me second7story windows OF
-'eat heavy wall mass hurled
'l'n him. His ladder was spin
ana Gillespie buried in a heavy
line and bricks. His body was
I'ntInued on Pace Four