, 1860-03-05

TESTIMONY BEFORE THE CORONER,


AoACE1aE A0c1dentHs
From the Cincinnati Commercial, ed.1
A fatal accident occurred yesterday morning,
by which thirteen human beings were sacriiced.
either through carelessness or incompetence,
and which, it either, or both, we hope will be
thoroughly brought to light before the investi-
CATION OF the Coroner now pending.
The particulars Of this direful catastrophe, as
we hnve by diligent investigation ascertained
them, are az follows: as most OF our readers
are aware, the old St. Xavier'a Church i,us been
condemned to make room for more stately
building, and it has been for several days past
undergoing process Of demolition. Iester-
day morning, at about half past eight o'clock,
while fourteen Of tie 1aborers we're busily en-
gagged ~ undermining the north wall-a pro.
cess which was deemed the most expeditions
in razlng 1.-THE mass, ranging some thirty feet
in length. and from twenty to thirty il height,
Weakened ny the late heavy rains, sottered and
fell, and Of the fourteen unfortunate people only
one, John Marmion escaped with his lf:
It WAS by the merest accident that this solita-
~ Individual escaped the fate Of his compau-
ions. lie had passed from the outside Of the
wail through an apeFature to the interior when
sns enS symptom e The fao
lie succeeded in Saving his life. Another, Ste
phcn Clarken, was not SO fortunate; be was up.
on the outside, when he perceived tl,e wall CIV
ing way, and he Immediately ran from the fall
ing ruins. Unfortunately the poor fellow
thought, too soon, that be was beyond the
reach Of danger, for turning around to view the
extent OF the disaster, q nass Of the rubbish
struck him On the head and abdomen and he
was felled to the ground. lie was removed TO
his residence on Sixth street, east Of broadway,
wheEe be fingered for some hours in agony.
anl then brcathed his last.
SCENE OF THE DISASTER.
IL suot: time hundreds Of persons were up
Ar tf.ne nh at@r3r rrft, ,1$o
aid with pixies and other implements in 1the
speedy endeayor to extricate The victims, but
alas the mangled condition of the poor fellows.
as they were e1huu,ed from the toa1bs Of brick
and mor'ar-destroyed all hone that might have
been entertained.
twas remarked that they had fnllen within a
short space OF eact other; their feet appearing
| almost to form the center Of CIRCLE One bT
one, as they werc recognized By their wives, for
unfortunately nearly oil we're married, and were
fathers, the scene was replcte with a2ony.
The poor people mostly resided in the vicinity.
aud hence it was that intelligence Of tile disaster
| reached them Immediately. Aswith the despair
| OF bereavement they hung oscr the scarcely
| discernable forms Of those, whom they had SO
lately seen in the vigor of health, more heart
rending picture Of hopeless misery can hardly
! be conceived.
LIST OF TIE KILLED.
The following is an accurate list Of the VIC
| tins. as they were recognized by their nearest
| friends:
| Timothy Sullivan. agcdso. He vas identified
| By his brother He resided on Seyenth street,
| near Broadway.
| Daniel Brady. aged 30 years. He resided on
| North street, between Seventh and New, aud has
left wife aud one child.
John Duffy, recognized by his wife, resided
at lei East Eighth. Left wife and two
children.
James Kicrnap, young man from Brown
county, Ohio. lie was well educated, and intel
hgent. lie came to this city to pursue his
studies, but being without means, was con1reti-
ed. in order to remain in the city, to work as
! laborer.
Timothy Shay, tailor by trade, but bcingun-
able to obtain employment at his legitimate bus
mess, be accepted the temporary employment
By which he met his death. lie. resided on
Seventh street, near Broadway, and has left six
children. and wife, who expects to be shortly
| confined with tue seventh.
Thomas Martin, recognized by his b7other-in-
law, Michael Carney. lie resided on Sixth
street near Broadway, md leaves wife and two
children.
John Mauley, recognized by his brother
Thomas. When dug from tile ruins, his heart
| was beating spasmodically, but it was speedily
stilted in dea,l. lie lived on Sixth street.
near broadway, and has left wife and four
| children.
Thomas Sayrcs, identified bv Catherine, his
1
Sycamore md Broadway, and besides his widow,
| has left one boy child.
John Sullivan. identified by Michael Sullivan.
lie lived in an alley between Eighth and Ninth
streets, and Main aud Sycamore.
John Russell, identified By his wife Elizabctl.
lie resided Ill Longworth's building. on SIKH
<:Te.s east Of Pike, and has left vile aud five
children.
Tie heart and portion of the lungs Of the
last yicti:n Was literally crushed FROM his body,
sind found among the ruins at four o'clock IN
the afternoon.
Patrick gallagher. who resided on Third
street, between Clark und 3till, formerly po-
liccman under the old Democrat1c administra-
ton.
Stephen C1arken, whose near escape we
have already mentioned. He died at bis sis
tcr's residence, Oh Sixth street, near Broad-
| way.
The last on The list is Richard Fitzgerald, who
resided on Race, between Pearl and Columbia
streets. This is u dcpiorablc case. Four
months ago his wife died, leaving four children,
thc oldest not nine years old, and the youngest
jet an infant at the breast.
| DELAY OF THE INQUEST.
| as speedily IS possible the Coroner was sen.
for, but he VAS engaged in attending to his otli.
ciai duty in The investigation CT a case some
distance in the couu'ry: AZ Il Nr. Justice
Chilsey WAS requested to attend, but be decilcd
officiating until :: o'clock +. b.. ut which time,
{snr0nar natl hn 1rr1n hSS
be proceeded to emnsureIa - inrv 1pf@' wto aftcr a
wards examined the ho1ics of III. Jccea sed ,s;ch
had been conrered to The hassmant ce g
Xavicr'a College, adioinino thc scene NJ d;sastsr
| aud in wbicl, hn;iJ!nr lie ;nonest .xas iii
At this time Coronar f:arr mnde h;s annsar.nca a
when Just;ce Chidsey res;ancd lis fan,norarI
Office.
x.ur7 NJ TIN ,rov
Thu f,,1oa;n- no,,,1...a.
1ne lo'lo"'hg gcot4emeo comprise the jury
e. Miller, a.. korte, D. poreyberty, Wm
a. AcFa!l, s. S. Ashcraft and Isaas Rogers, wlo
after taking survey Of the dead and The scene
of the disaster. proceeded to a sitting q room IL
order to hear the testimony.
NorEs7-nS TIE CORONER.
Peter Rran testified tn the fo,rox1nr 1wau
hired to oversee t|:e workmen and fcen Ike
time hired somc of The iahorsra an, H. H.
priest hired Others. / have taken dnrrn bnt
few Luitdings so far was with the mon thrso
minute. before the accident bad mt ths snnor.
1atcndeuce Of the work. nor iii th;or H.
wall unsafe. 1t vas from Is to 80 feet hirb any
from 81 to 20 feet long, There yere son,e
bricks taken from the top of the vii thars
were no Gross walls. / did not mt INV Mons
under the parts which were untlcrm;ncJ toart