The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-02-08

CROWD IS SHOCKED
Federal Engineers Re
port Given by Col. Kelly
In Presence of 300.
WALLS JUNCTURE
POINT OF BREAK
Unusual Condition, In
adequately Provided for,
Coroner's Jury Is Told.

work" in construction Of the HnicIS-
erbocker Theater were given the
coroner's jury by members of IN,
joint government board appointed
10 investigate the crash as the first
days inquest into the tragedy
closed yesterday.
Col. william Kelly. U. s A. testi-
Tying to evidence found by mem
bers OF the Federal committee
working under direction OF District
Attorney Peyton Gordon. charged
that the disaster was evidently the
direct result OF failure to sufficient
ly provide for the unusual condI-
lions existing at the juncture OF the
curved Columbia road wall TO the
stage wall"
In a clear voice. almost fronicat.
Col. Kelly for forty minutes had
detailed to the jury and 500 grim
faced spectators. many relatives Of
the dead and injured caught in the
wreck. the series 81 "glarinE" con-
ditions which led up TO the crash.
As he concluded the story leading
from the final slipping Of a small
flange. long twisted from it's place.
supporting a beam near the from
OF the building. and the CONSEQUENT
sweeping collapse OF the ponderous
steel structure from the front LEFT
corner back through the entire
oullninC. bur yinE the theater au-
dience, Col. Kelly read the twen-
ty-one points Of inferior work"
No individual Named.
The series Of faults. naming no
individual as responsible, left the.
audience stunned. while members ot
the jury feet in front OF the vet.
eran army engineer sat fixed in
their seats staring in apparent
amazement at Col. Kelly. as Coroner
hewitt adjourned the inquest untft
today at 10 o'clock.
There are evidences Of work Of
an inferior grade for such an impor-
tant structure. the most important
Of which may be listed as follows"
Col. Kelly said. pointing out:
Use Of tile walls to carry heavy
concentrated loads.
Unusual height and length 90
unsupported tile wall on Columbia
road.
mo column with knee brace or
pilasters under the main truss a.
the wall.
Inadequate hearings Of bes,ns
on tile wall. with small beariu
plates. This is particularly impar-
tant when confederation - given 60
the. skew bearings.
Absence of concrete fl1-in I'll.
at beam bearings. with wau-hea--
Ing plates on edges OF tiles
insufficient anchorage Z ste. -
walls.
Roof slab too thin g.. -.ar a-s
loading and had insuU ,ri -1,rl
reinforcement
roof slabs.
Ceiling load concentrated in ccr-
/ ter OF roof slab.
short bearing on main truss On
Intel and truss end not stincnca
for bearing.
Absence OF Bra~iag.
Absence Of bracIng between steel
members. and particularly at ends
Of main truss.
No stiffness in connection Of
main truss TO column.
Use of bolts instead Of rivcts on
all field connections. and insufficient
bolts at truss connections.
Column top and splices not
milled (the clip at top of main
column shows evidence Of truss
rubbingD.
Reinforcing steel in roof slab
not raised over beams TO take Mega
tive bending over supports.
No evidence Of increase Of re-
Enforcement in end panels OF slabs
Heavy load OF ga Inches Of
cinder concrete NIL at center Of
drainage ridge.
Loads of ventilating equipment
where cinder all occurred. and
absence OF special bracing 20 take
vibration.
Defective detailing as witnessed
| by absence of splices for chord and
end post cover plates.
All tile not hard burned and some
have scant webs and walls, notably
at top OF Columbia road wall.
Insufficient bonding between
front and back tile in Columbia
road wall.
The disaster was evidently a d.
rect result Of the failure to sufici-
1 emily provide for the unusual con-
ditions existing at the juncture OF
curved Columbia road wall 90 the
stage wall. Had. however. the re-
naming part sf the construction
been of a high grade and well
braced. fail<re at point OF origin
would probably have been localized
A supplementary report will be
submitted covering photographs.
sketches and other data in support
Of the conclusions given above.
Plans Held Not Followed.
At the morning session a state
ment was made declaring construc-
tion of the building had not fol-
lowed plans submitted 70 the buiid-
ing Inspectors office. resulting IN
the "trusses being nine inches short
in height from that outlined in the
original plans" Robert Henry Da-
Wis. engineer and computcr In the
building inspectors offlUe for the
last two and a half years. very
apparently startled members OF the
Jury and District Attorney Gordon
cortt~aed on Pooe Tpo.