The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-22
The Broad street Catastrophe.

The Broad Street Catastrophe.
COMMENCEMENT or THE coR0NER's INVESTIGATION.
The Broad street catastrophe was under investigation
before Coroner schrmer at tho FIRST ward station house,
yesterday. The affair caused great deal Of excitement
in the lower part Of the oty During the eatre day the
ruins thronged with anxious crowd Of Spectators
and many the opinions expressed As the cause Of
the accident and the quality OF tho building Materials
some said the store intended for the grocery
business and that 1t had the reputation OF being al I'M
safe building for time; whe others thought was
oerably good structure and attributed the accident 70
placing TOO much -four The third floor On the Coro-
nsrs inquest Of the clerks testified that there were
aSns SEQ barrels Of -four in tho store At the time Of the
accnt, but that he did not consider the building over
loaded He admitted that the store was "gvng little"
to his language, and that some carpenters had
been there that very afternoon for the purpose proppng
nup.
The body Of Mr. Ely was placed in . hearsc and rc-
moved to his late residence in Brooklyn followed BY
large Of deceaseds friends and acquaintance
Mr. Ely was about nty eight years Of age, and was ma
tive OF New Jersey. His body win be taken to Freehold
on Friday, and there inferred In tho family barying
ground
gang of lAborers were employed all day in removing
the rubbish and searching for the bodies Of other persons
supposed have been caught under the ruins but up TO
late hour last evening new discoveries had been
made The side walls Of the building remain standing,
but their position 10 rcketty that their fall may DO
looked for at any moment
Sergeant Snodgrass Of tho First precinct police stated
to reporter that miracle that fifteen or twenty
persons not killed About two minutes before the
front wall fell, he In company with the members OF En-
CINE Co. No. %, standing the sidewalk opposite
the store door One Of the porters called their attention
IN axuh in hn raar nj fha hnil
thinking that might set the place on fire. they started
body for the next door, and penetrating 10 the
men had elapsed from the time of their leaving the
walk when the second crash took place, and tho front
wall was scattered all over the street aud side walk
The following is report Of the testimony thus lar
clicited-
Charles Capp, being duly sworn deposes and says
live at No. 2l9 Washington street. Brooklyn; am .
clerk the firm Of Kent IOwber, Nos 81 and 56 Broad
street, in the about half past five O'Clock on
Tuesday afternoon when the first crash took place. was
in the front part Of the store the door, don't know
which floor fell st but the crash appeared to be in the
rear got ont Of the building soon as could; the CO
ored porter in the cellar at the me number Of the
clerks the store besides Henry Weed the porter
when got out Of the building the street,
queny went back 10 the store any one
hurt; when got back saw that were all safe ex
cept the coored porter; Immediately called for him. aud
found out that be was IN the vault aud perfectly safe;
Weed the white porter sent TO notify the insurance
patrols he failed 70 find the insurance men, but brought
down Engine Company No. 20, to be IN readiness
to put out any fire; when the hremen arrived about
dozen of went into the store 70 turn of the gas We
up far the second story, and turned of the
gas. finding we could not do anything further we ca ne
down stairs the police then appeared the ground and
requested to clear out the crowd and lock the doors
which did, when got outside the store stood on
the sidewalk talking about the accident, add remained
there half hour perhaps when the second crash
took place. was standing the door, when hearing
noise inside, l ran out OF the way, aud few
seconds afterwards the front wall came down; ran
the street, and the dust cleared of a
little returned TO the ruins and helped to dig those
persons who had been caught by the WALL did not
Mr. Ely; l am not acquainted with him; the first
person taken out Of the ruins was woman number OF
others were then extrcated, among them Mr. Ely and
policeman Stewart; renamed at the until about
s O'clock there alarm for fire, and great crowd
gathering about the place. thought would BIO Of no
vice SO went home; can't say how many barrels OF
-four in the building but should judge there were
about 300 thereabous the third floor there was
flour have often had the full of -four
it could hold the building not damaged in any way,
but knew II was not very strong one We notified the
Of the store that giving little, and he sent
his carpenter 70 the place yesterday; the carpenter
came and brought some pieces of timber, which he
put in the cellar, and then left do not know
ing wan in the cellar was cracked near the arch,
and it was for the purpose Of Strengthening this
arch that the carpenter sent for constantly
receiving and delivering goods, 80 that would be impos
amount OF merchandise in the store; know that last
winter had the store packed "a full could hold
when the accident happened the store not quite full
AT this stage OF the proceedings Coroner Schrmer
marked, that In consequence OF the attendance
important Witnesses he would be Obliged to post
pone the inquest until ten O'Clock this morning. He
tended summoning number of mASons, carpenters
otbcrs for the purpose Of asceranng the real facts
the case and intnaed that pains would be spared
give the matter thorough investigation. The jury Their
repaired to the scene OF the accident and after examining
the ruins separated with the understanding that they
would reassembls this morning at the Coroners office
No. Centre street.