BRICK WALLS COLLAPSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17873, 30 August 1921, Page 5

BRICK WALLS COLLAPSE.

ACCIDENT IN MELBOURNE.

SEVERAL MEN INJURED.

An extraordinary accident happened at Abbctsford, near the Collingwood football ground, Melbourne, recently, when two brick walls, part of a large weaving shed and offices being erected for the Yarra Falls Spinning Company, Ltd., collapsed under the strain of a sudden gust of wind from the north. Eight bricklayers and labourers who were on the top of the second wall, about 35ft. high, fell among the debris and received various injuries. The following were admitted t 0 Melbourne Hospital: —George Mills, 52 years, fractured skull, fractured ribs and" scalp wound; condition critical. Adam Chamberlain, 60 years, compound fracture of the leg and lacerations. Samuel Matthews, scalp wounds, abrasions and lacerated ear. Others who were treated for minor injuries were:—Benjamin Bedds, Thomas O'Toole, and Charles Phillips. The following were admitted to St. Vincent's Hospital: —Michael Burns, 61 years, deep cut and abrasions to face, possibly fractured ribs; Albert Palmer, 36 years, possibly fractured elbow and slight abrasions on hip. The two walls represented the southern portion of a huge structure now in the course of erection. They each measured 110 ft. long by 35ft. high, Win. in thickness, and ran parallel. Eye-witnesses of the accident state that at about 11 o'clock a violent gust of wind struck the northern wall, which had recently been completed. The mass of bricks and mortar swayed ominously in the air for a few seconds, and then collapsed with a resounding crash.

Almost immediately afterwards bystanders were horrified to see the second wall—2oft. to the south of the other— lurch and then collapse, precipitating the workmen, who were on top putting the finishing touches to the structure, down among the broken mass of scaffolding and bricks. The accident left the two ends of both walls standing, and on the top of one end Edward Thorne, bricklayer, was left hanging to the brick work. Willing hands quickly went to his aid, and with the assistance of a rope and ladder he was extricated from his precarious position. Meanwhile others had searched among the debris and recovered the injured men, who were taken in an ambulance to the hospitals.