The Detroit times., 1917-03-13
J0ISTS IN
FIRE TRAP
TOO WEAK
JOHN A. BRYANT
Contractor Testifies AS
An Expert In
Inquest
MARSHAL ASKS
GREATER POWER
Can't Stop Faulty
Building Now, Says
GOldwater

GOldWater
Faulty construction OF the fourth
and nfth floors OF the Fields Suit
a. Cloak company building at No.
49, Woodward-ave., was RESPONSE
bic for the collapse which took the
lives OF Ave members OF the Detroit
fre department. March 4, according
TO John A. Bryant. contractor and
builder. who was the chief witness
Monday morning in the inquest be
fore Coroner Rothacher and jury
composed OF buildine experts.
Mr.. Bryan. one Uf the experts en-
gagged by DR. Rothacher TO assist
the jury in the inquest. declared
that the two-inch wooden joists
which supported the fourth floor
OF the building were not heavy
enough to stand the strain. He
added that reconstruction. necessi-
tating boring for wiring and cut
ting for piping had so weakened the
timber that it was not strong
enough 10 support the amount OF
debris which crashed down on II.
In modern construction, said Mr..
Bryant. heavier joints would have
been used Mr.. Bryant is secretary
and treasurer OF the firm OF Bryant
& Detwiler He told the coroner
and the jury he had no criticism
to make OF other phases OF the
construction.
Detroit's lax Are regulations also
came in for share OF criticism
and even ridicule. during the first
session OF the inquest Fire Mar.
shall Gabriel Goldwater was called
to the stand, and he explained that
his authority was limited because
the city had no adequate code Of
fire protection regulations.
Il 20 around and see II there IL
any rubbish or other inhammable
material around buildings said
Goldwater, but as the city ordL
nances now read, the fire depart
ment has no real authority 10 or.
der changes in construction"
In other words" suggested Chief
Assistant Prosecutor Paul w voor-
hics. you are a rubbish inspector"
Goldwater pondered for mo
ment. and then answered III
lind any faults in construction that
impose fire dangers on the city.
notify the city building depart
mcnt."
Chief Building Inspector Henry
A Dupont sat behind Mr. Voorhies
Tie will present TO the jury records
Of his department showing the
vcriouR stages OF reconstruction
thru which the Fields building
passed.
lnasmuch as the jury is com
posed OF men familiar with every
phase OF building construction, Cor
oner Rothacher instructed the iur
ors at the outset that they were az
liberty TO ask the witnesses as
many questions as they wished
Otto Misch. president Of the Detroit
Builders q Traders exchange. ques
toned Mr.. Bryant concerning the
amount OF tar paper which was on
the top floor Bryant declared he
believed about three different lay
ers had been placed on the roof
DIT. Albert l.. French. county ply
stefan. was the first witness. He
viewed the body OF Capt Alexander
Cockburn and said death was due
to asphyxiation and internal in
iuries. Tse captains chest had been
crushed. he said.
Battalion Chief Timothy f. Gala
han, whose orders sent the Ave men
into the death trap. took the stand
next. He has been a member OF the
FIRE department 30 years.
The chief said he saw only a little
smoke coming from the fourth floor
OF the Fields building lie went into
The Fyfe building first When he
returned. he found Lieuts. Thomp-
son and Brown on ladder a. the
gerOnd aoOr of tho Eyaid hntldfDg