The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-17

The Fifth Ward Liberty Pole.
ACCIDENT IN ATTEMPTING TO RAlsE IT-HoBODY
HURT-EyERYBoDy FRIGHTENED -scRAMBLIEd roR
MISREPRESENTATION OF THE PoLE-sCENEs AMI
INCIDENTS OF THE RAISING, ETC., ETC.
The new Fifth ward democratic liberty pole about the
raising OF which in place OF the old pole which raised
in 1884 much excite ment has recently occasoned
in the vicinity, broke yesterday afternoon while being
raised and after nearly three quarters
been spent in hosting il almost perpendicular posi-
ton Fortunately was hurt though great fears
were entertained among the hundreds who collected
TO witness the raising.
viii be remembered that the old pole was shvercd by
lightning few months since, and that demonstration
got up the Fourth Of July to take steps y re
place IT, The design first to have the new pole
built Of iron entire; but, owing to fears the difficulty
OF raising it, and Of its safety from the changes Of the
atmosphe, after being raised this idea abandoned
Subscriptions from the democracy and friends of the fire
men, who in the habit of trying their engines this
pole, poured in Literally, and 1t finally determined
have the new pole Of wood with iron temple of liberty
at the base. This was to have been raised Monday
but owing the inclemency Of the weather the
was postponed day, and all day yesterday the vicinity
of the place crowded The pole was 1sO feet long
above ground and built in four sections with three join.
ings These ionings were lcngtudnay oblique com.
monty called, believe, 'sca joint like those the
keel of ship The sections secured together by
heavy iron straps and 1vecighths Of inch iron bos
and believed that the onings quite us strong
any other part Of the pole The pole was to rest in
solid framework feet square and eight feet
under ground, and in addition to this there TO be
heavy braces running up eight feet above ground The
pole WAS thirty three inches in diameter at the base,
taperipg OF TO eight inches diameter at the top The tim
ber was OF the best yellow pine, and the contractors
Nessrs King Mount to receive 81 900 for
sruction. The design to have iron temple OF
liberty, with Cornthian columns surrounding the base,
and appropriately decorated with embellishments
Throughout Monday and yesterday crowds collected to
witness the preparations and many suspicious giances
were made toward the huge shears species of der
rick consisting Of two high poles supported ropes
joined at the top, b. means Of which the pole be
raised with heavy pulies The ionings were al length
all made, and the entire pole viewed with I'M
satisfaction by the patriotic citizens of the
and the white surface was soon black with the names
which the crowds penced upon il. During Monday night
some Vandal was discovered by the wachnan with a
in his baud, almost the very act of saving the pole
two. He quickly rendered horS du coBd, and the
sehoohoy could not have translated in his case Veti,
ridi ric, I'll came with hand saw and conquered" !"
As the hour OF three yesterday afternoon approached,
which time IL announced the great pole would be
raised the crowd increased and became impatient The
last man finally down from arranging the tackle the
painters had painted the last figure having marked the
height Of 100 feet lo5 no. li5 from 40 every single
foot to 11s. The spre which To engthcn the whole
to 2o5 feet was inserted; the last rope ar
ranged and finally at quarter past three clock, the
word was given TO go ahead and the horses and men
at the two windasses moved cherry or The pole was
raised by heavy tacNbou 1l0 feet from the ground and
another about 30 feet the latter being
the highest splice Joint Slowly the vast raised
at the upper end the base beng secured against some
poles driven in the ground, that about the middle
the pole came Immediately under the " shears and
the hole 10 which the pole to rest The order is given
to " stop and the vast crowd looks and wonders
whether is nest 70 But cracking sound heard
and the workmen running bIisi,y around The
large gilt ball. the points OF the compass tie vane AMI the
liberty cap, gayy painted in red white and blue having
been arranged after ha hours delay the order IL
again given TO so ahead" Tie pole gradually
stIaghtc shape and presents quite grand spectacle
rs 2C feet steadily up. At length the whole pole
has reached The angle o forty I'VE degrees aud every
where heard the expressions She's going up well,
" She rs dong finely and the greatest praise gwen
To those in charge Of the work. became necessary
10 move the base end nearer the hole, the main
pulley raised the mass nearer 70 perpendicular position,
and the upper pulley kept apparently Just taut
enough 10 keep the length of the pole from strainng ON
the centre to obyate the danger Of its breaking by
own weight. rope was rgged to the lower end and
any quantity Of willing hands found among the
crowd 10 haul il toward the hole The self i'm posed
performed with will, and the roue found soon
10 be unequal - the strain, and way letting down
some Of the workers most unceromonously but they
were soon up and at again, though few little
frightened at first. Even crowds of little boys took
hold, aud general glec Infested al the apparent
approach OF the successful raising Of the pole but Is
often the their hopes destined 10 be dsappont
ed just as they had acquired the greatest confidence Al
ten minutes to i've O'Clock cracking noise heard
near tc top Of the derrick, and for moment the most
fearful suspense felt, certain whether
the pole or the derrick was breaking Another moment
settled the question, however, tor the top ef the
pole began slowly to desccnd-the great weight
above the main tackle, owing, probably, TO the
loosenlng of the upper tackle, had broken the
fall Just above the main tackle gear Faster and faster
the top descended Gnt, with tremendous crash the
beautipl liberty cap aud gided bail shiyercd
10 atoms the pavement The shock looscned the other
ends, and following another in quick succession down
they came, scattering spnters every direction, and
bursting large hydrant which stood directly the way
AT first the crowd seemed II stricken with terror
uncertain which way the fragments would fall and
variation OF few feet either side might have caused
the loss Of many lives. But the police bad cleared the liz
tie square from sidewalk 10 sidewalk and pole fell
in tho centre nobody was Ejured-not Of the
workmen, who nntbnkingly stood mnding his horse
one of the windlasses
Prom the sublime descend 10 tho ridiculous, and
soon as vas known that Do'soiy wss hurt there
rush, as with accord, To sPnters
tees OF tho occasion; and the crowd;ng pushing and
sefamhng eontras,ed strangely with the brcashless
pcnsc which but q moment before had filled every
susom Now and then cry raised that tho shears
falling, and the terror stricken crowd would scampcr
OF like many frightened sheep. But the central HI
lary by allowed W oyershadow the gene.
raj regret q, the accident, ant though nobody seemed
think of the contractors whom the loss must fall all
admitted that II twas great pity" The iremcn will
mise expected treat on Thanksgiving and Evacuation
days, and many vii regard The accident, occurring just
before tie holidays, a. pubic calamity.