The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-05
THE FvRMAN STREET DISASTER.

Tho Investigation Resumcd-Testimony
OF the Carpenters Engaged the
Duildings-The Case Postponed Till
Next Tuesday, &c.
The investigation of this important resumed
last night before Coroner Lynch and the following add
tional testimony taken
Charles G Blevn, sworn, testified Reside at No IS
North Third street, Williamsburg; 1 ma carpenter;
employed on the buildings known as Nos 90 and 90
Furman street, by Messrs. Board h Berry don't recol-
ect when went first there to work; the first work
did was TO make the wooden centres upon which the
arches were built the centres upon the house next
Fulton street, when went to work to make the other
centres Mr. Board superintendent those centres;
no plans there at that time; think plans of the
centres in Board Berry's shop; don't know who
drew the plans; think saw the plan of the centres
on paper and on board tho plans of the window
frames were drawn by Mr.. Board on board;
Board and Mr.. Merritt: don't know whittier Mr.
Bunting had the plans of the centres window
frames never heard any conversation in regard to the
sprngfng Of those arches to work In the buildings
the day they fell; went TO work that morning about ten
minutes past scvcn was engaged in putting circular
six feet from the wall when they fell tho day before
were working in another part OF the building, AMI hoard
parnsr II h. heard L; tod him that would not ike
to DO ono Of the who would take down those
tres my PARTNER said he heard ~ We worked in the
Building all that day. did not observe any cracks in the
centre was the wooden centres OF the main arches
had been taken down before this left the buildings tho
day before they fell about quarter to six o'clock there
had been men there working for the distllery men;
was there when the building fell heard some rafting
of and bricks falling, and Immediately after
wards the whole fabric came down with a crash; and
my partner thought we made lucky escape In getting
out; from the time we heard the NOISE not more than
moment elapsed before the buildings fell
To Jnror-The FIRST saw Of tho small arch saw 1t
turned never saw any plan Of think was put up
under Mr. Boards directions have been In Mr. Boards
EMPLOY three and half years; think Mr.. Board drew
plans for three frame buildings out in Bnshw'ck oncc
think architect made tho plans OF Mr. Wilson's build
ing in Fulton street, New York.
Coroner-Why did he have nm architect for that build
ngf A. Because Ia generally done In large buildings;
he would draw plans for small frame houses considered
tho arches too light and thought that the wooden
thought that all tho arches thin. and partlcu-
larry the small four inch arch considered IL unsafe TO
go In under these arches 10 take down the cnres the
upper seemed to be constructed SO as TO get height
enough TO put up hoist wheel there only spot
where could crawl in between the upper and the
Abraham Van Diem, sworn, testified Reside at oS
South Tenth street. am carpenter and joiner by
fcssion have been in the employ Of Mcssrs Board 4
Berry for the past five or six years. engaged the
buildings in Furman street. Invent there day and
worked on getting out the centres for the arches after
that the trainers did the workthat Is the framework;
the boarding Of the centres done by men from
shop Mr. Blevin drew my attention 70 the crcaking Of
the centres and remarked that he would not like TO have
the job Of taking them OUT agreed with him, because
thought there must have been STRAIN the
noise every little whilc seemed TO me that there must
have been very heavy pressure upon the cenircs did
not sec Mr. Board at the buildings the day they fell
no was there the day beforc him about half or
three quarters OF an hour after the buildings FELL
told Mr.. Board then that bad heard mortar fall.
ing on the floor; Mr.. Blevin and myself had
been to work hanging sashes, and heard q
rumbng noise and crashing, and rushed for the door,
think the noise from the centre Of tho buildings
saw plan in Tire shop Of the front elevation Of the
building; don't know whether the plan drawn by
Mr. Board or not; have known Mr. Board to make work
ing drawings have known Mr. Board 10 work from plans
that architects furnished; believe Mr. Board Ia
sidcred first class mechanic no put up buding for
Mr. John 7. Wilson, In Fulton street. New York he had
plans furnished by architect for the construction Of
this building
TO the JuTy had been sent to take the centres out
think would do 80, but would not like the job; I
don't know whether Mr. Bunting there the day the
buildings fell think he there the day BEFORE think
Mr. Merritt was In the buildings the day before they fell
could not say whether it before after heard the
crcaking Of the centres; Mr. Bevn told that it
his opinion that the four inch arch thin agreed
with him; they had been wheeling dirt the roof at
that umc could hear the jar occasioned by the dump
ing of the barrows on the roof
In consequence Of the absence Of Mr.. Board, the
further investigation OF the adjourned till
Tuesday afternoon at O'Clock when the inquest will
be closed