New-York daily tribune., 1859-12-21
FALL OF A WAREHOUSE.
A MERCHANT AND A POLICEMAN KILLED! |!
SEVERAL PERSONS INJURED.
NARROW ESCAPE OF FiREMgN
GREAT LOSS OF PROPERTY.


injuring six or eigFs other persons The warehouse
was double buldG y four stores in hight 90 fee,
deep, and IS feet in wiJtb. Upon the various ebors
were stored about 5Oes barrels of iour, and s2 pOa
or $50 COO worth of groceries.
At quarter before O'Clock, Henry Weed por-
ter in the employment ef the firm, while passing
through the store was startled by a cracking noise
ike the gradual breaking of iiuber snd beng struck
with the idea that tie building falling BE to
the Office in the rear aud alarmed Messrs. b. +. Bald
win, Clas. X and Geo. A. Clspp and Ii. X. Bachelor
clerks, crying to them TO fly TO the street. il they
valued their lves. The clerks, with Weed and
another porter named Lewis Ba-nett colored, forth
with hastened to the Sidewalk, which they resched
with safety.
Mr. Weed ran to the house Of Engine Company No.
90 in Temple street. and called upon the members for
assistance Without delay the fremen hasened to the
ground, which they reached a. the same time with
squad of policemen under command of Sergeant Snod-
grase Of the First Precinct. Foreman Seely OF No.
20 Engine, with two or three Of his men, and Mr..
Weed the porter, entered the building, and, ascend
ing to the upper floors, turned of the
ess-lights and put out the fire in the Office
stove which work they speedily accomplished and re-
turned to the street. Sergeant Snodgrass then
John Stewart in front Of the premises to drive away
TIE crowd who had been attracted thiiher by the ap-
pearance of the fremen and police. Shortly after the
doors were closed the portion of the building sank
gradually and with crashing noise into the cellar.
Al this moment the colored porter emerged from the
coal-hole covered from head to foot with hoar He
said he had been down into the cellar to torn of the
gas and was not able to get out sooner AT precisely
IA minutes past O'Clock, without the slightest warn
ing the front wall of the structure fell outward with
tremendous crash burying beneath the ruins all VINO
CHANGED at the time to be the sidewalk. With the
font waI came crashing downward the remaining
portion Of the building. For several seconds many of
the fremen and spectators who had stationed them
selves on the opposite side of the street. remained rs II
riyeted TO the pavement, but the loud screams and
groans emauating from the fallen pile speedily aroused
them to a sense Of action. The trealarm bells were
rung and large numbers Of remen soon arrived, AID
went to work with will to remove the rubbish and
rescue those beneath the ruins. Mr. Andrew Wliiam-
son Of Brooklyn first rescued, and was found to
have been badly bruised Officer Flayin of the First
Precinct conveyed him home in a carriage. Officer
Patrick RYAN of the First was next rescued,
having been injured about the legs. John Gillhooley,
James MesIanus. Dennis Sullivan, and Heury Conck-
iured by being struck with the falling bricks and
stones.
A Young woman, name unknown, residing at No. 46
Pearl street, was violently thrown against No. 2Os
engine. which stood at the edge of the walk. The
rubbish was quickly removed from about her person,
and she was sent home. Her arms and legs were
badly bruised
Policeman Stewart in an insonsble condition, was
next got out and conveyed on litter TO the New
York Hospital where, by the aid OF the doctors, he
was restored to consciousness. His intestines were
crushed from his body and his legs much confused
DESPITE all that could be done for bis relief by the
attending surgeons, he continued sinking gradually
and about o'clock in the evening expired in the arms
| of his wife.
Mr.. Thomas ]. Ely, residing at No. 26O Saekett
street. BROOKLYN, was at the time the wall FELL stand
! ing mon the walk with his father William j. Ely.
TIE son was thrown under the body Of the engine, and
escaued without serious injury. Upon being released,
he looked about and asked for Bis father when he was
told that the old gentlemen had probably escaped.
This, he remarked, was impossible, and begged the
fremen to search the ruins.
AGAIN the brave men set to work and at about 81
o'clock came upon the dead body of Mr. Ely, when
thew found beneath one Of the granite columns.
rude litter of boards prepared and the unsighty
remains of the deceased placed thereon and removed
TO the First Precinct Station House.. The body was
horribly nutiated the heart, liver and mtesnes beng
crushed out presenting ghasly spectacle. Mr. ri
watch, lying near him, was found TO have stopped a.
preeisely II minutes past O'Clock, Some blun-pont
ed instrument had deeply indened the case Immediately
over the pivot upon which the hands are fastened
S. Davies, a Young man engaged as proof-readef II
The Snn Office met with narrow escape. lie aP
Piled 10 Policeman Stewart for admission TO enter tn
building, representing hmself as reporter, but wa
refused on account Of the anticipated danger. Som
Of the filling rubbish stuck him on the head, Iurln
him severely.
Mr.. Ely was an old merchant, and did business a
No. 4S Broad street. lie was about 50 years Of age
aud leaves large family 10 monrn his untmely end
Mr.. Ely and bis on their way home, and ha'
stepped up TO the doorway TO ascertain what was th
natter. The old gentleman had been answered b,
Policeman Stewart, and was looking up at the build
ing when it fell and suddenly deprived him Of life
Messrs Kent s. Lowber, for many weeks past, ha'
felt that the building was insecure and had notide
Mr. Johnson their landlord make il safe BY the in
sertion Of additional grders. slight brick partition
wall extended through the center Of the building, anC
al might have been enough but for the remoys
Of one of the arches in the cellar The landlord haC
the matter in hand, and workmen commenced then
Iabors upon the premises yesterday afternoon.
Messrs. Kent & Lowber, with thsir bOokkeeper, lef
the building about minutes before the eaiastropht
occurred, bat hearing the slam they returned, and
arrived Just as the walls fell The firm will be loser
to the amount Of . 900 or go OOO and Mr.. Johnson
tie proprietor Of the building, will sustain loss Of
about $500.
F,es were kiuded il the street, and the members o.