MELBOURNE DISASTER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19476, 11 May 1925, Page 13

MELBOURNE DISASTER.

COLLAPSE OE A BUILDING

WHAT EYE-WITNESSES SAW.

A THURIFYING SPECTACLE.

Tho following are additional details of the disaster that occurred in Melbourne on April 24 when four men were killed and several others injured by the collapse of a six-storoy concrete building in Swanston street that was being erected lor the Briti.sh-Australasian Tobacco Company. Although a_ coherent account of what exactly happened before and during tho collapse was not obtainable from men employed on tlie building, a thrilling story was told by an employee of the Australasian Tobacco Company, who was standing on the overhead bridge which connects the firm s factory with the remainder of their builaings across Stewart street. This bridge is only about 15 feet freon the back of the new building. , ■ “I was just crossing the bridge across Stewart, street,” said this man. ‘‘when I heard a creaking which gradually became louder. Then I. saw the back wall of the fifth floor bulge out from about 2 feet over Utowart street several times, as if it were being forced down by a tremendous weight from above. Evidently there was a terrific strain coining from somewhere, as the two top floors continued to creak and rumble, until the back portion of the building collapsed with a crash. It seemed to me that there must have been a severe dead-weight on the north-west corner of the top floor, where the lift-well is situated, and where the concrete is just fresh. “Before I had time to realise what had happened the ceiling of the fourth floor gave way, bringing the remainder of tnc walls and the roof with 'it. Altogether there were two separate crashes, the second one lasting about three minutes. "With the last fall clouds of dust rose into the air, and for a minute it was impossible to sec the building. X heard the screams and cries of mon as they were trapped b.v the falling concrete. The whole thing happened so suddenly that there was no lime to give a warning to the men employed in the building." “NOISE WAS INDESCRIBABLE.” The falling concrete presented a terri•fving spectacle when seen from a building 'opposite to it in Stewart street. About 40 employees who were working on the top floor heard the roar of failing masonry, and there was a general rush for the windows. Mr C. E. Cameron, who was one of the first there, sail later:— “The wall directly opposite appeared to me to be toppling outwards when I reached the window. I stood there not knowing what (o do, I was sure that tons of masonry were about to bo flung on to the building ihat we occupied. The noise was indescribable. It was unlike anything I have ever hoard. Then clouds of dust rose in front of the window and 1' was unable to see any more. I only know that I expected our building to be struck at any moment. When the last of the victims was recovered from the wreckage all men were withdrawn from the dangerous portion of the building. Masses of tangled steel reinforcement and. displaced girders hung precariously in dangerous positions, and, although the lower floors were considered to be reasonably safe the wrecked portion was highly' dangerous. Heedless of the danger the rescuers refused to leave their work when ordered to do so by the architect. Scores of mon offered their services In the task of clearing away the wreckage, but only those skilled in building operations were allowed to take part. MARVELLOUS ESCAPES. William Oman, a whitewashes was or; on the floor with the other six workers who were either killed or seriously injured. Oman was being paid by George Marshall, senior, at tho time of the collapse, and was actually receiving tho money from Marshall’s baud when they were both overwhelmed by the falling debris. The whole of Oman’s body up to tho neck was buried. Marshall was not as fortunate, however. Oman was able to pull himself out, and was assisting to lift the concrete and other debris from around Marshall, senior, when help arrived. Oman was slightly bruised, but was able to walk home from the hospital. xV heavy iron window frome which foil from the fourth storey, gave F. Dodd, a labourer, who was mixing cement in Stewart street, a warning of the impending crash. The frame struck the ground a few feet behind Dodd. Describing his experience after, Dodd said; “I heard no rumble before the big crash came. I heard tho frame hit the ground, and jumped round to see what it was. Before I could realise what had happened there was a similar noise on my righthnnd side as another frame fell. Then showers of concrete dust began to fall oc mo, and I thought iit was time to got, t# move on. I ran for my life. Ten seconds later,” added Dodd, indicating the heap of broken concrete, twisted ironwork, andtimber which lay on the roadway, “that was what the place where I was standing looked like!” ... It was said by one fireman that while working among the debris he saw a man who did not appear to be seriously injured. The fireman said, “You do not seem badly hurt.” The injured man looked up and smiled. A few minutes later he was dead. UNKNOWN CAUSE OF COLLAPSE,. “I cannot account for tho collapse,” said" the architect, Mr F. J. Davies, after ho had made a preliminary survey of the wrecked building. “All our investigations might not lead us to determine the cause.” Mr Davies said ho was of opinion that tho concrete which collapsed had probably not set. A concrete structure, he explained, was a monolith, and each portion was dependent upon other sections. Tho collapse of one column would involve a strain upon adjoining columns, and all the surrounding portions whicl! hod not set would be ' '-Lt to strain greater than they could' bear. j,ny causes might, account for a defect. One big crash in America was due to the presence of a piece of wood in one of the concrete columns which a workman had carelessly left in tho liquid concrete. He would not express an opinion as to the cause of the. collapse in this instance. Mr Cooper, of Cochram and Cooper, the contractors, was so distressed after the accident that he collapsed and had to be taken home. He would not discuss the accident. “I do not know how it happened,” ho said. “All I know is that this place has been turned into a morgue.”