The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-12-24
THE DAY BOOK.
Fail of WarehOuse-A Mer-
chant and Policeman Killed
e

We have announced that shortly after six
O'Clock last Tuesday evening, the building
Nos. 81 and Sc Broad street, New York, oc-
eupied by Messrs. Kent & Lowber, grocery
and commission IN erchants, fell With ire
mendeus crash, killing Mr.. Ely, well
known merchant, and. policeman Stewart;
and severely injuring six or eight persons.;-
The warehouse was double building, four
stories in height, 80 feet deep and Al feet IN
width. Upon the various floors were stored
about 5000 barrels of -four and S25,Ooo Of
$50, 900 worth of groceries.
At quarter before six o'clock Henry
Weed. a no, ter in the firm, while passing
through the store, was startled by crack
ing noise like the gradual breaking OF TIM
bers, and being struck with the idea that the
building was falling, he ran to the ONCE IN
the rear of the building and alarmed Messrs
B F Baldwin, Charles K and George A Ciapp
and Fl K Bachelor, clerks, crying to them
to fy to the street, if they valued their
lives. The clerks, With Weed and another
porter named Louis Barcett, colored, forth
with fastened to the sidewalk, which they
reached with safety.
Mr. Weed ran to the house of Engine
Company No. 20 Temple street, and called
upon the members for assistance. Without
DELAY the tiremen fastened to the ground,
which they reached at the same time with
SQUAD of policemen under command OF Ser
geant Snodgrass of the First PreciacE-
Foreman Sealy of No. 20 Engine, will Two
or three of his men, ana Mr. Weed the p6r-
ter, entered the building, and, ascendb to
the upper floors, turned off the gas lights and
put out the fire in the office stove, which
they speedily accomplished and returned to
the street. Sergeant Snodgrass then order
ed the doors to be closed, and stationed
Patrolman John Stewart In front OF the
premises to drive away the crowd who had
been attracted thither by the appearance of
the firemen and police. Shortly after the
doors were closed the rear portion OF the
building sank gradually and with crash
ing noise into the cellar.
At this moment the colored porter energ-
ed from the coal-hole covered from head to
foot with -four. He said he had been
down into the cellar to turn of the gas, and
was not able to get out sooner. At precise
Iy IA minutes past O'Clock, without the
slightest warning, the front wall OF the
crash burying beneath the ruins all who
CHANGED at the time to be on the sidewalk.
With the front wall came crashing down
ward the remaining portion OF the building
For several seconds many OF the hrmen
and spectators who had stationed themselves
on the opposite side OF the street, remained
as il riveted to the pavement, bat the load
screams and groans emanating from the fallen
pile speedily aroused them to sense OF &C.
ton. The fre-alarm bells were rung and
large number of firemen soon arrived, and
went to work with a will to remove the
rubbish and rescue those beneath the ruins.
Mr.. Andrew Williamson, of Brooklyn was
first rescued, and was found to have been
badly bruised. Officer Flavan, of the First
Precinct, conveyed him home in carriage.
Office Patrick Ryan, of the First, was the
next rescued, having been injured about the
legs. John Gillhooley, James McManus,
Dennis Sullivan, and Henry Couckin, MEM
bers of 20 engine were all more or less in
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. 20s engine, which stood at the
edge of the walk. The rubbish was quickly
removed from about her person, and sac was
sent home. Her arms and legs were badly
bruised. =.
Policeman Stewart, in an inssnsible condi-
ton. was next got out and conveyed on
litter to the New York Hospital, where, by
the aid of the doctors, he was restoree to
consciousness. His intestines, We're crushed
from his body and his legs much confused. De;.
bite all that could be done for his relief by the
attending surgeons, he continued sinking
gradually, and about 9.o'ciock in the even
ing expired in the arms of his wife.
Mr.. Themes J. Ely, residing at No 2l0
Sackett street, Brooklyn, was, at the time
the wall fell, standing upon the walk with
his father, William j. Ely. The son was
thrown under the body of the engine, and
escaped without serious injury.-Upan being
released he looked about and asked for his
father, when he was told that the old gen
tleman had PROBABLY escaped. This, be re-
marked, was impossible and begged the FIRE.
men 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, which they found beneath
one of the columns. A rude liGter OF boards
was prepared, and the unsghtiy re~ennia9ss q
the ..ee First Precinct station house. The
body was horribly mutilated, the heart, liver
and intestines being crushed out, presenting
a ghastly spectacle. Mr.. Ely's watch, lying
near him, was found to have stopped pre-
cisely at IA minutes past six o'clock. Some
blunt pointed instrument had deep indented
the case Immediately over the pivot upon
which the hands are fastened.
Mr.. Ely was an old merchant, and did bu-
siness t No 4S Broad street, He was about
so years Of age, and leaves large family to
mourn his untimely end. Mr.. Ely and bis
son were on their way home, and had step
ped up to the doorway to ascertain what
was the matter. The old gentlemen had
been answered by policeman Stewart, and
was looking up at the building when it fell,
and so suddenly deprived him of life.
Messrs. Kent and Lowber, for many weeks
past, had felt that the building was insecure
and had notified Mr. johnson, their landlord,
to make it safe by the insertion of additional
grders. A slight brick partition wall ex-
tended through the centre of the building
and all might have been secure but for the
removal of one of the arches in the cellar
The landlord had the matter in hand, and
workmen commenced their abors upon tAe
premises yesterday afternoon.
Messrs. Kent & Lowbar, with their book
keeper, left the building about ten minutes