With a crashing roar that was heard for blocks, causing many people to wonder if the horrors of an earthquake were to be added to those attendant upon the conflagration of Friday night, the towering east wall of St. Joseph’s church responded to the pressure exerted by a chain and windlass Monday afternoon and toppled over.

A squad of firemen who had been operating the windlass to which the chain was attached scarcely had time to flee to a place of safety before tons of bricks covered the windlass. Bystanders who were watching the work held their breath as the high wall heeled over to the force of the chain and a strong gale of wind from the west. Assistant Chief Fire Marshal McGrath was standing to one side of the church ruins watching the swaying wall and when he saw that it had passed a point of balance, he shouted to the firemen at the windlass to run. The men scattered like sheep, but as it was the wall fell with an awful crash, sending clouds of dust into the air and shutting out the view of the spectators.

Apprehension as to the fate of the firemen caused uneasiness among the spectators until the dust cloud settled, and then the men were observed near the fence at the east, bricks and debris around them, but all unhurt. Several had narrow escapes from injury by being struck by flying bricks. Several report being hit on the back of their legs, but not seriously enough to cripple them.

The wall which was about 100 feet in height was left standing when the flames gutted the church Friday night. A strong west wind Sunday and Monday caused the wall to sway in an alarming manner. Many people complained to the police of the danger of having it remain standing and at 3 o’clock Chief of Police Nolan and members of the police and fire department prepared to pull it over.

The house moving apparatus of Frank Swineford was secured and by the aid of the high extension ladder, a chain was placed about a portion of the south wall near the east end. Pulley blocks were utilized and the firemen and police manned the windlass. The first attempt resulted in the uprooting of a telegraph pole which had been used to attach a pulley block to. A change of base for the pulley was effected and then the windlass was operated again, this time successfully for a small section of the wall came out, and dropped to the ground with a crash. Then a fifteen minute delay on further operations was occasioned while a section of the chain was dug from the brick pile.

Finally the chain was placed about the southeast corner of the walls, and a steady pressure brought to bear by the men at the windlass. The wall swayed to the east under the force of the wind, and before it went back the windlass took up the slack in the chain. There was a cracking sound heard and the wall swayed back. Assistant Marshal McGrath warned the men to be ready to run. Again the wall swayed to the east and this time aided by the tension brought to bear by the chain it was drawn out of a balance and with a thud that shook houses for blocks, fell.

Spectators who watched the work of the men were of the opinion that needless risks were run by the placing of the windlass too near the wall. There were other places equally as convenient where the men would have been secure from flying bricks.