Another worker falls

The fourth construction worker to die while building Marina City was William Jones, age 44. He was a plasterer for McGurn Brothers and had been working at Marina City for about five months. He was married and had two children.

On September 24, 1962, Jones slipped on sand as he jumped from one balcony to another and fell 40 stories off the east tower, landing on the State Street Bridge.

(Above) A worker stands at the foot of a wooden ramp leading to the east tower. Jones landed about in the center of the incline.

McGurn Brothers, meanwhile, would soon be in a dispute with the general contractor, James McHugh Construction Company, over their attempt to cancel a plastering and lathing contract. The plastering company sued McHugh for $1 million and on January 16, 1963 filed a $299,348 lien against them.

Plastering and lathing is done to interior walls of a building. Although drywall had been around since 1952, city code prevented its use in high-rise construction because the wood studs it connected to were not adequately fireproof. Eventually, metal studs would be invented but until about 1965 all high-rise construction in Chicago used plaster walls.

(Above) Another view of the ramp, looking north with east tower in background. (Click on image to view larger version.)	Two men prepare to move the body of Williams Jones to the city morgue. This view is also looking north. The unfinished office building is behind the truck.