New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-17


VIM. Fogerty. Michael Rooney
AS near as can be ascertaned, there were ON
tho bui,d;ne. ID rnasor-. IaUOrers and carpen'
ter-making a total of 80. In the above lst there
are "a of these thus accounted for;
Killed .................. Slightly injured......l2
Taken me.............. 81 Total ........''''''A
Leaving yet to be accounted for They, no
doubt made their escape uninjured.
Edward Collins was cut severely on the side oil
the head and was found with his hod beside him.
He went down with it. When he was taken out
of the ruins he was able to walk away HIMSELF
and went to an adjoining drug store, where his
wounds were attended to.
1t is said that one of the masons on Wednesday
morning remarked to the contractor that the
building had careened very much, and that his
part he thought it would fall before night, and he
would not risk his life upon it. 1.-THE time ofthe
accident the workmen had just finished dinner,
and were returning to their work
The buildings were twenty-five feet front and
some forty feet deep, making an entire front of
$50 feet. They had already reached the hight Of
four stories, and were to be, when finished, five
story and basement houses. The walls were one
back walls only were built, the front remaining
entirely open.
The contractor, George Spencer, and the fore.
man, Mr.. Fleming, are not yet TO be found. James
B. Glentworth the agent of the owners, Thomas
Adds Emmett and Mrs. Pell) was on the ground
during the night, and employed some sixty work
men TO remove the rubbish. The architect, VIM.
Thomas, we did not see near the ruins.
The Coroner will commence an investigation
into the causes of the disaster, at 10 o'clock
this morning. We hope it will be search
ing and thorough one and no withdrawing oPe-
ration. Let the best Judges of materials and Of
the manner in which they should be put together,
be summoned to give evidence, and above all, let
the jury be men of honesty and integrity The
public good demands this-for the future safety
and the lives of our citizens depend upon it.
Mr.. Abner Bartlett, residing in No. so, one Of
the large houses opposite the ruins, threw open
his doors with great liberality and provided
bountiful supply of refreshments for the fremen
and labOrers, as long as they continued at work
Mr. John H. Lyel, of No AZ, also furnished an
abundance of provisions
The wounded men and the families OF the killed
are mostly poor people, on whom this catastrophe
will fall very heavily. Those who are responsible
for its occurrence should endeavor to alleviate, as
far as possible. the suffering they have caused
but since little dependence can be placed on aid
from that source, we trust that the generosity OF
the public at large will be aroused on behalf Of
the workmen. Our citizens are never slow to
contribute relief, on occasions like the present,
and there have been few instances where 1t was
more strongly needed.
The Catastrophe In Twenty-hrst-st.
We have learned some further facts in regard
to the ownership of the fallen houses in Twenty
frst-st. Mr.Thomas A. Emmett was on Wednesday
reported to be the owner of the ground and part
of the houses, and statement WAS made to that
effect in all the morning papers. This proves to
be incorrect. The ground was owned by the late
Mr. Ferris Pe who disposed oft TO Mr.. Spencer,
the contractor, the terms of sale providing that
Mr. Pell should advance certain amount ofmoney
toward building the houses, 10 be paid in install
ments at different stages Of their construction.
Mr.. Pell dying suddenly, the ful6llment Of this
contract devolyed upon Mr.. Emmett, as bis Elk
ecutor. Several instalments had been paid, when
on Tuesday night application was made for ano-
Their advance, Mr. Spencer representing that the
buildings were being rooted IN. Mr.. Emmett re-
fused to pay, on the ground that he understood
the buildings were not sufficiently strong the
joists being defective.
On Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock, about
hours before the crash,) Mr.. Spencer brought him
a letter from Mr. William Thomas, the architect
Of the buildings, certifying that they were erected
in strong, substantial and workmanlike manners
that in bis opinion the ioistS were perfectly secure
&c. &c. This explanation absolves Mr. NINETY saA
from all responsibility in the matter On Mr..
Spencer, according to all appearances, rest tne
consequences of the criminal negligence exhibited
u tae building Of those dwellings.