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f STATION DISASTER. .

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f STATION DISASTER. Working on Sagged Roof STRANGE EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. The inquest on the six victims of the Charing Cross Station di!li\.Rter, which ccorreêl on day, Dec 5tb, was resumed on Monday at the Westminster Coroner's Comt bafors Mt Trout- beck. The men who were kfilod by the falling walls and girders wore Ernest Blrcb, William BlackTreli, Alfred T. F. Jones, Goorge Austin, Thomas Richards, and Willie Adamf Coates. Mr tiodkiu was counsel for the South-Eastem and Chatham Railway Co. Mr Honghton represented Mr Cyril Mande Mr Pollock,K.C.,andMr W. A. E.Aasiinrepresented Maple and 00. svbo ware decorating the Avenne Theatre Mr L. T. Williams, secretary to Messrs Patmanand Fotberingbam, building contractors, appeared for the company and Mr John Poole, iolicitor, appeared for the widow of George AnstiD. The first witness was JobnParlett, a draughts- man ttnployei at Craven House, Nortbumber- lanil-aveuae, which overlooks the end of the station. Wbile drawing he heard a uoise like the report ot a gun. Lie looked across and saw men running acrOSS tbe rcof, and then he noticed that the roof was sagging from the centre to the top. The men returned, but Ife could not say what they wete trying to do. The sinking iD- creased, and daring the quarter of an hour fol. lowing the men remained on the roof. When the roof fell he saw the meuJiunii: off. The Coroner Was it the wall going which prodncod the tinal collapse ? Witness; I thick the roof fell before the wall Ooliapsecl. By Mr Bodkin He could not swear that tbe roof fell tirst. Mr Houghton But you can swear it was your belief that the roof fell first ?—Yes. James Bides, Admiralty surveyor, engaged at Craven House: said he saw the roof badly sag about 50 feet from the wind crfen. He was amazed to see the mon remain on the roof so long. The roof fell, and then the wind screen shivered for 10 seconds and also fell. The Coroner What time elapsej between the nploBion and the falling of tha roof?—Within about a quarter of an hour. The noise was caused by the breaking of the tie rod. The Coronet How do yon know that ? The Witness We concluded that the tie rod iad broken. Charles Groves, foreman erector of steel work, yinid he was working on tbo roof of the Avenue (Theatre all the morning, He noticed nothing Wrong with the Charing Cross Station. The first thing to attract his alien lion was something like a gas explosion >r a train smash. He said to his mate, Hello, there is a train I!mash," and they jumped npand looked over the station. They saw nothing, and returned to work. In about 10 minutes the root tttaat in. When he heard the crash, he said to tois mates, For God's sake jump." He was on Tihe roof cf the theatre absat a foot from where it parted. The Foreman's Evidence. George Colsor Stirling, of Cntfoid Bridge, foreman in the employ cf the Soutb-Eastem Chatham Company, gave important evi- dence. He Baid he was foreman in charge of Ihe roof in connection with theepecial work of Repairing the roof, which waa begun fast July, ■ffbtj staging was auite complete when the acci- flent occurred. The whoJe wsight of the staging Was taken by the roof, and not by the platform. He could not say what the weight was. The Coroner It would, of coarse, tend to increase the strain on the roof ?--Yes. How long bad the staging been up on this particular section ?—It was begun about ten Weeks before, and completed aboot three days before the accident. Some bracings had been taken away and actually renewed. The first thing be noticed was something falling on the Rinc roof of the office. He rosbedout of the office and saw the men running down the roof. He called oat, What is th matter?" and one of them said, The staging is coming down." He then rushed to the top of the roof. He jumped on to the staging, and saw a diagonal place cracked. He shouted to those below to clear away, and to ethers to lighten the roof as much as possible. The Coroner Did yon notice what was hap- pening to the roof itaeif ?~-No. Witness, continuing, Baid on going down be boticed the gutter cracked, and then the roof fell and tha men were pitched over. The Coroner Had yon any previons connec- tion with Cbariug Cross Station ?—Only in 888iatia at an examination two and a half years ago. We then examined the iron work, which we brushed with wire brnshes. The tie iods were examined by the engineer himself. By Mr Bodkin Twenty-one men were em- ployed on the Toof at the time. About a ton of line was also there ready for uso. Cross-examined by Mr Houghton: The etatio ilns painted abont nine or 10 years ago. It wa. 'examined about) two and a. half yeau ago. Have yon seen the tie-rod 1-Y. t f Is it a fact that two-thirds of the section hare i fc-corroded surface ?—Yes. By the CoronBi Only some of the tie-rods were .^•xamined and a. half years ago. He could not ■ay whether the one now ia question was ex- ^Mained then. Some of the paint was very good "and some very bad. The Coroner: What wis done then ?—No was done at that tijae. An Inspector's Escape. Wm. Lowes, platform inspector, said he Iran on dnty at No. 2 platform. He jnst starting the Hastings express, which Was dne out at 5.33, when he noticed some pieces fall on to the platform. When the train had gone he saw the tie rod hanging down. His attention was drawn to the boat train coming in Which be was arranging should be turned into another platform, but before he got halfway to the telephone the roof feU on the spot where be bad been standing. The roof fell at 3.45, After some further evidence the inquiry was adjourned till Monda.y. January 8tb, at 10.30.

BAREFACED FRAUD ALLEGED.

ACCIDENT AT CARDIFF EMPIRE.

THE NEW BLAST FURNACES | FOR…

[No title]

Shot Through the Head. .

CARDIGAN LICENSING CASES.

STORY OF A SWEDE.

THIRTY-THREE YEARS' SERVICE

A TRAMP'S GRATITUDE.

WELSH NATIONAL lyiUSEUM.

I--THE LITTLE PLOT.

Greater Newport. I ,

SWANSEA COUNTY COURT.

PEDESTRIANS IN PERIL.

THE ALLEGED POACHING AFFRAY…

Abercynon Public Hall and…

DEPRAVITY AND DIVORCE. --

OWNERSHIP OF A PENLLERGAER…

LLANTRISANT CQL-LIER'S DEBTS.

SWANSEA v. PORT TALBOT.

ANOTHER ROOF COLLAPSE.

ATTACK ON GAMEKEEPER.

Alleged Embezzlement. I'

MR LLOYD GEORGE AND MR EVAN…

..:....,.. -------.---.-----------,---AFTER…

iNew Regime at Whitehall .

Tinplate Prosperity. .

MERTHYR TOWN COUNCIL.

DEATH OF A DEVON HERO.

BOAT GAVE A LURCH.

AFTER" THE MATCH.#

CKLISTER'S DRINK.