Evening star., 1947-12-21

the Arrow representatives until
the contract was signed.
4:35 p.m.-Gen. Young
directed Col. Madsen and Assist
ant Corporation Counsel Chester
Gray to sign an agreement with
Arrow on behalf of the District
after Mr.. Papanicolas had indi-
Gated he did not wish to engage
that firm.
about 1880 pm. Col.
Madsen signed an agreement with
Arrow and. at 1880 pm. notified
Gen. Young at his home by tele-
phone of the action.
Friday morning-Crews Of the Ar
row firm arrived at the building
and began setting up two cranes.
Most of the morning was spent
in planning the approach to the
demolition job.
Friday, 2 p.m.-Workmen began re-
moving the roof Of the building,
it having been decided to begin
the job with this step.
Friday, 8 p.m.-Mr. Papanicolas ap-
peared at Gen. Young'S Office, ac-
companied by his brother a George
Papanicolas, acting as his lawyer,
and M. T. Shipp, manager OF the
Pines Wrecking co. Of Arlington.
The building owner demanded he
be permitted to sign up a wrecker
of his own choice Col. Madsen,
Mr.. Davis, Mr.. Gray and repre-
sentatives of the Arrow firm were
brought into the conference. The
Arrow firm indicated 1t would be
i. willing to drop out, If the Com
missioners had no objection.
Gen. Young told Nick Papanicolas
he would be permitted to engage
the Pines firm If he agreed to Re-
imburse the Arrow Co. for Is ex-
penses in starting the work and,
further, would guarantee the job
would be performed expeditiously by
the new contractor.
Friday, 4:30 p.m.-Work stopped by
the Arrow firm because Of ap-
preaching darkness.
Friday, 6 p.m.-Mr. Papanicolas
having agreed to the conditions,
arrangements were completed for
the Pines company to take over
the job. Mr.. Papanicolas deposited
$4,000 in escrow with Attorney
Martin F. O'Donoghue to pay ex-
penses of the Arrow firm.
m0rning-Workmen ofthe
Pines firm arrived at the building
and began work. The day was
consumer in taking steps to in
sure the safety of workers who
would search the debris for bodies
and remove the rubble.
District Code Cited.
Here is what the District Code
states with respect to action required
in a situation such as that of the
Empire Building collapse:
If in the District of Columbia any
or part of building, staging
or other structure, or anything at
tached to or attached with any
building or other structure or exca-
vation shall of any cause be reported
unsafe, the Inspector of Buildings
shall examine such structure or
and if in his opinion the
same be unsafe, he shall Immediately
notify the owner, agent or other
person having an interest IN said
or excavation to cause the
same to be made safe and secure,
or that the same be removed, as
may be necessary.
'eTae person or persons so notified
shall be. allowed until II noon OF the
day following the service of such
notice in which to commence the
securing or renewing Of the same;
and he or they shall employ Sutfi-
cient labor to remove or secure
the said building or excavation as
as can be done; pro-
vided, however, that in a case
where the pubic safety requires
action the Inspector Of
Buildings shall enter upon the
premises with such workmen and
as may be necessary and
cause the said unsafe structure or
excavation to be shored up, taken
down or otherwise secured without
delay, and a proper fence or board
ing to be put up for the protection
of passerby."
District Could Have Taken Over.
Gen Young admitted yesterday
this provision of the Code would
have permitted the District to take
the Empire Building situation into
it's own hands without dealing with
Mr.. Papanicolas.
In general, relatives of the three
persons whose bodies are believed
buried in wreckage have not sought,
in their comments, to blame any
one in particular for the delay In
clearing out the debris. They have
said, however, they considered the
time lag unjustified.
Agreed now their relatives, II In
the rubble, are dead, they voice q
feeling a prompt, vigorous search foI
those unaccounted for might have
given them a chance Of life.
1T was heartrending to have to
stand on the street while, perhaps
my mother-in-laW was alive IN
there, said Mrs. William Van Sicklor
She might have only been injured
Why couldn't they have got the
wreckers in sooner to see If she
lived?"