Springfield, Illinois, USA
1895 - BURIED UNDER TONS OF DEBRIS. TOWER OF ONE OF THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR BUILDING COLLAPSES.

Springfield, Ill., Sept. 4. - A horrible accident occurred at the state fair grounds this afternoon.

The west tower on the great machinery hall, which is now being roofed, collapsed and fell in, burying several men beneath its ruins.
CHARLES HOBSON and JAMES PARKER, both plumbers of Lincoln, Neb., who were at work on the ground floor were killed. They were covered with several tons of brick and mortar...

Neither building nor tower was braced, but whether this caused the accident or not is not known. It is the general opinion that the hard rain last night loosened the mortar, which had no time to dry, work having been rushed on the building in order to have it completed in time for the fair, and that this caused the accident. The loss will amount to several thousand dollars.

JAMES CLANCEY, a slater, fell from the roof into a mortar bed, striking on his head, but escaped with a few bruises. All the imprisoned men had been gotten by 9 o'clock tonight. Several were uninjured.

Omaha Daily Bee
Omaha, Nebraska
September 5, 1895

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