The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-04
THE BROADWAY CALAMITY.
THE COROyER's INVESTIGATION CONTINUED.
SIXTH DAY.


NAY 3-This morning. at nine O'Clock, the Coroner
resumed the evidence in this lamentabe calamity The
first witness called was
Frank Whitford, who, being sworn, said-l reside at
No. 81 Jay street; am in the employ Of w. Jennings
Co.; was in the Tuesday last all day up to
the closing Of the store at about haif-past seven
O'Clock stood the sidewalk in front of the door
talking with some friends when the fire broke out Mr.
Richardson left the store few minutes before did;
think remained in front of the store door fifteen
minutes, whena gentleman running up to me- and
door Immediately ana ran up into the third story;
looked up through the skylght into the upper
stories, and ssw them all in blaze; / imme-
diaely began throwing goods from the third story to
the floor below there goods in the fourth story
Of my friends followed up stairs there was no
other person up stairs at that time there
person dare venture up in the fourth story it was in
perfect blaze not that any goods were taken
to the fourth story that day; there were no goods
taken down; there had been some taken up think 1
not Of anything OF combustbie character IN
the fourth story upper stories there was nothing put
door but dom know If there gas in the cutters
rooms the third floor; don't know whether the cut
tiers burnt gas or fluid.
A. Not In the least; when went back in the store
did not see any one - , .
gas or fluid very seldom on that floor; the cut
fers suppose, put out their lights turned OF the
meter my object in running up stairs to ascertain
the origin of the fire. sleep in the store before going
to bed generally up to the second floor to see
box the porter in the habit of attending to the put
ing out of the lights on the second story
The clothing found at the hospital here exhibited
TO the Witness who said, on examining them -
The pantaloons, think, in the basement; that
kind Of goods kept there nearly all the winter
don't know whether they had been taken up stairs the
coat recognise by the ticket it; this coat in
drawer the store floor in the front part Of the store
tho coat sleeves have the appearance of being cut with
some sharp instrument.
EVIDENCE OF ALDERMAN HOWARD.
Henry H. Howard sworn, said am Alderman Of
Cs.tt.x IoJal azfx
Of the Fire Department. was at the fire in question;
arrived at the fire about twenty minutes after the alarm
about half past eight o'clock when got to t. the three
npper stories we're ere; went Immediately to the
second story and saw some dty persons there fremen
mp the stairs towards the third story; l went up
with the pipe to try to drive the fire back but found
1t impossible then discovered skylght in the rear
building, and a small ladder brought-what is called
the baby ladderto give through the skylght
ordered pipe to be brought through this sky light
the purpose Of playing stream on the rear windows of
the main building; we found the hose too short, and
then ordered another length to be brough before the
hose the wall fell the men were about ascending
the ladder with the hose when the wall came down.
Mr.. Howard-I would like to give my evidence now
published want to tell the whole story to have it
correct before the people, The Coroner here interrupt
the are.) desire to say that by my ordering the fire.
men from where they were-as 1t was by my order
four five saved, for if they had remained by the
stairs they would have oil been murderedsome of them
who obeyed my order not killed. but sadly injured
legs and thighs broken, and in the hospital;
the- they had they would have been safe the ladder
when the wall fell ! was on the top Of the roof,
just having stepped off the ladder the wall
graEed my body and carried down the roof ladder and all
wanted to take with it, but didn't want to CO.
thereby saved my fe want to to the best Of
my belief that not pins worth of clothing stolen
by fremen from that building on that night; there
was a great deal of clothing spread about / saw
clothing thrown on the bodies when they were TAX
ing them to the hospital; as the papers have made
= wholesale charge about the stealing of clothing
want to give my opinion; in the first place, don't
believe there time enough for any to strip him
self and put a suit; again but thief would
do It, and they have not nerve enough to go into such
hot place; there are too many people abouthey would
be seen.
cut off this clothing from bodies at the Hospital will
Witness-It is usual when bodies taken from fires
to take clothing to cover them.
The Alderman here remarked that there were ndi-
viduals and editors OF newspapers who trying
to impress upon the public mind that fremen, gem
era thing to fires for the purpose of stealing Now
know that TO be false
Mr.. Genn-Mr. Coroner, speak one Of the jury,
and wish TO be protected from any imputation thrown
out against here las wishing to mpute any dishonest
motives the fremen. We wish the Alderman to under
stand that 60 not by any wish to throw any
odum the Fire Department. and We wish so be under
stood
Mr.. Howard-whoever the cap fits they welcome
to wear It, For my part I'm getting warm on this sub
ject and mean to speak out.
Juror-Mr. Howard, have you known hremen to be
caught stealing
The Alderman, looking boldly towards the jury an
swered-No, have known them; I've heard only
Of such runors, but don't believe. it, and believe
il to be false.
Another Juror did not understand the Aldermen to
refer to the jury at all in his remarks.
Mr.. Hovard-Oh, don't mean to take anything back
I've said If the cap fits any Of the jury they it,
Coroner-Well, did not understand Mr.. Howard to
reflect on the jury. presumed he meant outside
reports at least shall decide Now let this alterca-
ton drop and continue the evidence.
Tyrone do on O of
Mr.. Howard-I think it worse put up affair than a
mock building erected at the Bowery theatre, to do up
the heavy pieces. Qaughter)
Juror-Were you at the police court when the fireman
brought up about taking coat
A. Yes, i was; the man was brought before Justice
Bogart he told the story that the officer ddthat
he took the coat for safe keeping he took the in
opinion through ignorance the magistrate discharged
him with reprirnand, to be called up again IL any
charge should be preferred against him. the officer said
he did not believe him to be thief.
Juror Cook-Do you, Mr.. Howard, agree with Mr.. Car
son in the evidence he gave yesterday
of the building but dom believe that men run to fires
dressed in fire caps for the purpose of stealing the fire.
very particular about keeping thieves away from
their engine houses it not more than five minutes
after arrived at the Are that the wall fell.
Juror-Mr. Howard, did you know a fireman to be
Mr.. Howard-I have heard rumors Of such things but
never knew IT Of my own knowledge, have known
any member to be convicted for stealing not even put
on trial knew thief to be in the fire department.
have known them in other societies. and to be convicted
too; / wish that to be understood and published.
DR.. McCombs sworn, sad-I am one of the house
geons at the New York Hospital Here the doctor gave
evidence to the death Of John B. 0'Donnell)
James Roberts sworn, said-I reside in Hoyt street,
Brooklyn; was one Of the porters employed in Mr..
third stories Of said store but can't say they were
all lighted that night left the store at twenty min
utes to o'clock left in there the bookkeeper, Mr..
Delavan, salesman and three four Cafornians,
looking at goods did not close the store II all in
order TO close the clerk Frank whtford carries the
key Of the store.
TO Juror-I is expected that should go through the
building TO ascertain If all rght but only have done
10 In a while another man engaged to look
after the upper stories, and found him very correct
and therefore, had confidence in him; never believed
the building 70 be unsafe all employed in the building
were sober. steady and well conducted.
Charles Neary sworn, said-I assistant foreman OF
Engine IL at the Ere the nigh. in question
got TO the fire about ten minutes after o'clock saw
the flames bursting Of the upper stories Of the build
ing; guess about the first fireman on the ground;
at this time the third and fourth stories fire;
backed the down of the stairs considered dan
gerous; this towards the rear that the beams