The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-23


TEE BROAD STREET CATASTROPHE.
~~~~~~~~~~~~>~<>~~>>~o>~
C0rone,'s investigation Testimony OF
Edward u. LOSvbcr, 3. ". H0lisster,
John II. Johnston, Rufus X. Deiaficld,
Thos. Snodsrass and Others--verslict OF
the Jury, CO nsurtUg the Owners and
Occupants or the Building.
The Coroners Dques, in the Broad calamity was
resumed No Centre street yesterday morning at ton
O'Clock. The following report OF tho evidence elected
together with the verdict of the jury
Edward j. Lowber, being duly sworn, deposes and
says:I reside No. 100 Henry street, Brooklyn
merchant left the store about ten minutes before the
accident occurred; on Monday morning notified the
agent Of the that there defect In tho build
ing that afternoon he sent his carpenters inspect
premises; on Tuesday morning the carpenter had his tim
beers there and went TO work. the first indication had
Thursday Friday morning OF last week by the
poers noticing OF the bolts which fastened the end
twenty thirty feel from the place originally occupied
II had been broken OF II was shown 70 whom
M and mmeaa{ gave HIM dre 60 70 60 into 10th, the
down stsiTs went iu0 the cellar and that the
wall had cracked two three feet from the OF
then directed him get braces and put in the opening TO
prevent any further spread OF the wall in
without any difficulty or heavy pressure, was
forced back Its position when he reported that he had
closed the slight opening or crack concluded the pres
could not he so very great from the pillar which
could not have been forced into It's place
easily therefore did deem there any DANGER
mere particularly as there were NO Indications OF any
movement Of the floors above which we always con.
sdered the weak part Of the store; told the porter to
keep watch on The wall ~ the cellar and TO report 70
Monday morning last he reported 70 me when frst
arrived the that the wall spreading out side
that it would require the attention Of a builder;
called Mr. Deladed, the agent at ten O'Clock that
day. and stating the to him requested him 70 send
his carpenter there Immediately write him note at
and send by bis boy; said that felt considera
bly, alarmed at the walls moving In that way the carpen
ter came, have before stated, and commenced his
work the about noon and had put up mis- grdcr
braces the cellar intending To brace the Orders
the braces the morning. he continued his work that
afternoon until five O'Clock; at time during his work
did he express any fear or alarm; the wall fell about
twenty minutes after he had left; when we first
moved into the Orders put In each cellar
sustain the first floor; the character of business
required that the first floor should be very strong and
had strengthened accordingly; we 1t no time had any
doubt dstrust Of the sodty and strength Of the oua
da,ion walls had discovered any indications
viousiy had more weight upon these floors than we
had at the time Of the accident; previous to the
accident the floors showed no Indications Of moving
having an unusual pressure upon them, and would,
have doubt, have sustained much greater weight
in my opinion the defect in the foundation walls had
the floors been sroug the result would been
the same; when first leased the store the owner
gave US verbal guarantee that the building
would not prove defective we considered the beams
the weakest part Of the building; they lighter
further apart than Is usually the case In stores built for
the grocery BUSINESS Is not unusual for floors to spring
from the weight placed upon them: store is ninety
feet Deep about forty feet in width the beams rested
upon built tor the purpose aud extended into the
SIX thousand barrels -four In building the time OF
the accident since observed the defect took
goods but the contrary, we delivered about hun
bred and fifty two hundred barrels; there two
square openings the partition wall in the cellar had
been constructed before there and the other
we had made for our own accommodations the cellar walls
tvrn feet The
mortar used in the construction Of the walls was not
good rs It might have been
" HOLSTER, of No 1888 Third avenue, deposed fol-
Iows-l am carpenter; on Monday was requested by
Mr. Deafed examine the walls OF the store Nos 81 and
found the cellar wall under the centre piers had com
menced to crack and was giving way reported the fact
to Mr. Deafed when he gave me orders to secure the
wall as possible ordered some timber that after
boon amt the next morning commenced supporting the
first Of beams with girders and stancheons got
up two Orders and FIVE stancheons and then quit work.
when put up the last stancheon observed TINT the
stone wall under the iron columns was cracked and split
10 two i'm the centre, also that one Of the
there immediate danger and expected to
my work the following day; when went there first
to ehove up Of the weight out OF the
upper foors then could make further REPAIRS
considered the building safe 0ne the breaking OF the
stone the partition wall by the column having been
forced into IT, In opinion caused the accident
the great weight the floors above upon this pillar that
cracked stoDe the founl alton had any
and the appeared TO be proper strength thick
from the opening about twenty rear WALL
the that speak Of was on the foundation and
medately under the pillar; It was not cracked when
the cellar the crack took place twenty
minutes before left; the braces put IN by Mr. LOwbers
porter were quite sufficient for the purpose
John T. Johnston residing at No. Fifth avenue-I am
president of a railroad company and do business No.
co Wall street, the stores Nos. 81 and So street
were s oa sS Sssns TOT my s they
floors laid in cement and the building throughout
heavily timbered; they were built for warehouses; and
tara hu
the first floor taken out, and heavy iron girder
substituted, was also done by my orders, by
| DAYS work, and in the best possible manner:
considered the both before and after the alteration
been fully equal to any ordinary load that should
be put in store the alterations were made about 1885,
told the parties that thought the stores strong
enough for any ordinary load but gave verbal qua
juror was under the belief that the stores were
not intended for the grocery business We're they
tended for the dry goods busnesss A. They were finish.
ed for the goods business but built for warehouses;
| always considered them equal to any ordinary load
| q Do you think Messrs. Kent 4 Lowber had the
such matters, perhaps, but. in my opinion l
think there was an overload; there is no
store built strong but what ii be broken down
| by overlooking; cannot give any opinion to what
would be considered an ordinary load what weight the
| stores could sustain
Rufus 4. Delaed deposed follows:I reside on Staten
Island but do business in this city, agent Of the pro-
prletor OF the buildings Nos 81 ana So Broad street
BY juror executed the renewal Of the lease there
was no mention Of guarantee for the solidty of the
| premises, and no alluson made 10 it whatever.
O. Did you at any time receive information that the
premises not fit for carrying the grocery busnessi
| A. No.
@ DO you attribute the accident TO the faulty condition
Of the cellar wall the overlooking OF the sore2 A.
| could not say what caused the accident; / have
often been in the sore, aud always considered it solid
structure; never saw it overloaded during nay visits;
always kept the building in proper repair and prompt
in my engagements with the tenants; the building was
leased for the grocery business but understand some
5000 barrels Of -four stored there commission
Thomas Snodgrass, Sergsunt Of the First precinct DO
lice, residing at 40 Whitehall street, deposed follows
was present at the time Of the accident standing
at the corner Of Exchange place and Broad street when
Engine Company No 20 came down; went TO the stores
81 and SO Broad street, with number OF fremen
and officers entered the building; the front was
standing, and / thought perfectly safe; some Of
| the nremen went up stairs ana turned Off the
| gas; the colorcd porter informed me that there
| was fire IN the front Office, ana / ordered him to
put out did not consider there any further dan
ger, and ordering the Offices and remen out shut the