But Chicago also had its building problems.  RHB

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, February 22, 1889

  2/22/1889

Collapse of a Big Building

Ten stories fall in at Chicago.  The tile flooring gives way and crushes to
the bottom.

OWINGS block, 14 stories high, one of the tallest office buildings in the
country, collapsed at Chicago, last Sunday morning, a number of workmen
barely escaping in time to save their lives.. It was a beautiful Gothic
structure at the corner of Dearborn and Adams streets, just opposite the
postoffice, in the center of the business district.  The 10 lower stories
fell in, one after another, leaving the walls, the four upper floors, and
the roof, standing in a shaky condition.  In the 10th story the tile
flooring was defective, or was damaged by the natural settling of the
building.  Without the slightest warning the great mass of tiles and
girding crashed to the story below, carrying that with it, and the two
together pounded a way for themselves to the bottom.

About 125 workmen have been steadily engaged in the building, but being
Sunday, less than a dozen were on hand.  All were in the basement when at
8:30 an ominous cracking and crashing was heard.  All rushed pell-mell into
the street, not a moment too soon.  A succession of thunderous reports,
then one prolonged mighty din, and the fleeing workmen were enveloped in a
cloud of dust and broken plaster.

The building, which was rapidly approaching completion, was considered one
of the finest in the city, from the stand-points of convenience, strength
and architectural magnificence.  Its upper stories were of pressed brick,
and the three lower of stone.  The roof was completed about three weeks
ago.  The interior was entirely of tile, supported in place by massive iron
girders.  It is thought that the settling of the building caused the first
break.  The tiles of which the floors are made fit together like keystones
and depend on each other for support.  Any extension of the space confining
them would tend to allow the entire mass to drop out.  In the fall, this
tiling was ground into dust.  The building was owned by F. R. OWINGS of
Boston.

Transcribed by Ruth Barton
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Ruth Barton
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Dummerston, VT

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