Year: 1877

Rockford, May 11.-This city was
thrown into deep horror at liz O'Clock
this morning, by the falling of the inner
walls of the north side of the court
house. Several men are known to be
killed and several badly hurt; others
are still buried beneath the ruins.
Business is suspended, and great
crowds are in the vicinity of the court
house waiting the result of the removal
of the stones.


w. d. Richardson, contractor, and
F. E. Latham, superintendent, had a
narrow and thrilling escape. They
were both on top of the dome of the
building before it fell and were talking
of the probability of it falling, when
they heard crack and rushed at c ~.
for the west wall, where they stood
when the dome went down. Had they
been a moment later both must have
persisted. When the dust cleared away
both were standing on the wall. A
cry of fire was raised, but no fire broke
out. The old courthouse is turned into
a morgue, and


SAD SCENES


are constantly occurring there; relatives
and friends stand weeping over the
bodies of their dear ones, and children
look mournfully at what they formerly
knew as their fathers.


A coroner's jury of respectable citi-
zens has been called, and this afternoon
identified the dead bodies. They meet
again tomorrow at 9 a. m., and will
make a thorough investigation. Clergy
men have arranged for a union meeting
on Sunday evening to hold memorial
services, and a subscription for the
relief of the families of the wounded
and dead will be started.


1t is believed that at least ten or
twelve lives have been lost, and that
about fourteen persons are more or less
injured.


The loss on the building will be from
$4,000 to $65, 300. The entire front
must come down to the base, and the
plan will probably be changed.


Superintendent Latham lays the
blame on Architect Coy, whose instruc-
tions were followed out implicitly.
Richardson will not talk about the
matter. The papers tonight place the
blame on different shoulders. Digging
for the missing is still going on.


A Chicago special from Rockford
says pail has fallen over what this
morning was happy community, The
Winnebago county Court House, which
this morning, when our sscitizens COM
menced their labors, was the pride of
their hearts, is now desolate ruin, a
monument of criminal incompetency.
Some of the families which bade adieu
to their loved ones this morning, re-
ceived their corpses tonight, disfigured
by the ruins from which they we're
drawn. The building was not yet un-
der roof, and the massive stone cornice
which preceded the roof was to-day
being put on. Just as the key stone
was being placed in the dome Of the
main Pavilion, the brick work between
the iron and stone gave way, and the
entire dome and the interior walls Of
the structure came crumbling down
with


A TERRIBLE CRASH,


that was heard nearly a mile away.
The scaffolding came down on the ter
rife mass bringing with it nearly all
the workmen who were operating upon
the top of the building. At the time Of
the accident there were from twenty to
twenty-five men at work. The accident
happened at exactly 11:30 a. m. The
whole massive stone top of the dome
fell with a terrific crash toward State
street. A man named Timothy Flan-
nagan, who was just puttingIin the key
stone Of the final cornice, jumped for
the guy rope of the big derrick in front,
but missing his aim fell the distance of
120 feet to the earth, and was dashed
to pieces. At this time but few per-
sons were upon the scene. The mass
of human beings, with the exception Of
four or five, who jumped from the win
dows, fell inside the tottering walls and
were buried in the debris. The whole
structure looked as though it would fall.
and those assembled were appalled, and
L LII