The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-23
THE WARD SCHOOL CATASTROPHE.
Additional Particulars.
o~0NNNo~NNNNNNNNN@NNNN~
CORONER'S INVESTIGATION.
Funeral Ceren o MES, a
&C., &c., &c.

The disastrous occurrence at ward scnooi 20 on
Thursday last is still the engrossng topic ofconversation
about town. and especially in the neghborhood of Jeer
market Greenwich avenue is througed with pedss
TRANS Who in going up down town extend their walk
In that direction pass the school house and
upon the spot where the tragic trsnpred Careful
parents who had dreamed Of danger to their chill
dren while the little at school, Who in fact kept
them there much possible believing them to be in
place complete safety talk Of placing them in
smaller edinee schools in such cant be found. Hun
dreds have inspected the post which supported the
railing at the bottom Of the staircase, and all who
look it, in crying shame such work 1t did
deserve the Of safe but on the con-
trary must be considered wonderfully insecure and
altogether unsafe It not stepped in the floor
strapped to its place by bands Of iron boted with
strong bolts screwed with long heavy screws
Three four nails sbout twevepenny) and one large
cut nail spike, not than Eve six inches in
length driven straight through part of this post into
the stair work the base, all that held it, there
to be sure two three screws and two three
other nails driven through of the post but they
not placed in position to afford much resistance
And TO the large nail discovered tina it had PEN
etrated fractured piece wood and consequently could
have aided but little in holding the pillar in its place And
then the pillar post itself made of black walnut
speees Of timber by no means adapted to purposes
where great strength requisite The piece Of timber
to all appearances when in its place. large enough
and firm enough; but on inspection 1t will be observed
that the foot Of the post had been than half cut
away TO make 1t conform to the shape Of the stairs In
fact, 1t was she'll, having the appearance Of
strength but wholly wanting that virtue 1t would be
well for builders and contractors to cell at the station
and look at this piece of work to avoid the
introduction similar pieces into edacas which they
sy be called upon construct The Coroners inquest
was continued yesterday and the proceedings will be
found below. The funeral Of four of the deceased chill
dren was held yesterday, at the Baptist church in
Sixteenth street. After the sermon the four
coffns placed in one hearse and the carriages
formed and drove through the streets three abreast IL
large and mouInfu procession, and witnessed
with the deepest most painful interest it passed
through the streets. The calamity has called forth
many acts Of individual and associated benevoence
Yesterday The butchers and dealers in Washington
ket contributed upwards Of $3.50 for the relief of the
sufferers other contributions will doubtless be report
ed to 1t is said that the Coroners investiga-
ticn is to be thssoughnot only to the facts of the
itsebut to the which led to the
dsporable result. We append the proceedings far
they have gone
TIE coRovER's IvQUEsr.
Yesterday morning at eleven o'clock, the Jury Of In
vestigstiou empaneed by the acting Coroners-Ader-
man Ball and Justice Bleakleyme in the court room Of
Judge Mech, at Jefferson Market.
The names Of the jurors called enoue appear
ed to transact business The Coroner suggested the idea
of at the school house. the Of
the calamity and there view Of the premises and
such notes Of the location Of the and the
struction and banster would BE-
ssy be understood during the examination CT the wit
The jury thereupon proceeded forthwith, &C
companed by Alderman Ball and Justice Bleakley, to
view the building In the of the observations
particular attention drawn to the banisers the
parting Of which from the stairs Is alleged 10 have been
the principal Of the alarming sacrifice Of human
lives and more Immediately to the newell, main post
at the foot Of the stairs This very improperly
fastened in fact It could not be said with any degree of
truth that 1t had been fastened at all There but
few nails driven which penetrated but imperfec;ly into
the stairs which BY the force and weight Of the children
rushing down stairs. drove from Its weak position and
with 1t carried along the banistsr, and rail from the
height Of some twenty Eve feet which FELL together with
the unfortunate children, TO the stone tagging below
The rail, the bsnisters instead of being dovetalsd
n, TO ht the mortce made In the stairs OF two
inches were only made with about half az inch bite
entirely inadequate for the strength required.
Mr. VIM ii Geensy one Of the jurors who is builder
by profession took down the following Dimensions
Well hole opening, IL feet inches square, length OF
steps feet inches; between the banister aud vain
sco,ing feet between the hand raiand Gaping Of
average 2f.et inches; height Of rail on landing feet
IA inches 40 feet from the bottom Of well hole upper
landing Of stairs banisters inches In diameter at
moulded central hall In uppe- stories, feet inches
To- To- s anna hs
hall way ear stairs, 2 feet ircbes.
The above dimensions together with other facts In.
volvDg the workma nship CT this building will be two
subeet Of investigation before the jury. After
Guiding the view Of the building the jury returned
back TO the court and the following testimony
tsken The first witnesses called TO the stand the
physicans:-
THE TESTIMONY.
DR. John Lide Of No 90 Prince street who being du-
y ssysI accompanied the jury Friday TO the
places where the several bodies viewed BY them were
lying dead except that Of Sarah Bogardus all Of them
bore the appearance Of sudden DEATH most Of the
ties pre.nted the appearance Of persons who came to
death BY sufooaon; except few who bore the appear
Of violence by fractuTe the internal organs II the
jury wish, individualize those (the jury
deemed not pecessary the maj 5rity Of the
caused BY su cation ard njurirs copjoning In
formed that all those children bad to their death
by the injuries received OF the school house
DR. Edward 9. Franklin being srorn ssys-I reside at
NO 1t0 WsverleI place; was summoned on Thursday
the Ninth ward Station IIou.e, who had been injured
hurried to the place and lying the bsmmock the
dead and dying together Nth these badly injured after
pacing many Of them which found dead the hunks
spprot ched badly wounded but ttl alive Isdminis
tered to the immediate medical In the and pas
ed on 10 others requiring my attention. aud thus my time
occupied until they were taken home; two
70 their residences had CONVEX alton with
several q the children injured end learned the wounds
we're caused by falling down the sslrcase or well as II s
called oftbe schc ohouse understood that the Injuries
we're caused By falling the staircase or platform az
ter the balusrade he'd given way OF the children
ATTENDED died shortly after brought into the sta
ion house three oilers attended stl living; at
tended DR. L.den and the jury Friday, in viewing
the bodies, and With the opinion just given BY
him should say the three children not In ntcon
diton 70 give testimony before this jury at present
II was proposed to examine Of the school chill
drsD and the Corener requested that during the exsm
nation Of the scholars the school should be requr-
ed 70 leave the room, and await Ia another apartment
blow stairs.
TIE teachers among whom we're a number of very in
el6gsnt pretty young women, appeared somewhat reluc
tart TO leave the room.
Henry NJ. Gray being swoi n. sad-r reside az No 20
Jones STIR et sm fifteen years Of age; go TO Ward
SCbcol No 70, In Greenwich heard Of difficult
" in the school on Thursday last about two o'clock
in class A. De rsons iujurei that day