New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-12-07
TALH. OF A WAREHOUSE I'm 'FRONT.'
STREET.
The Building Completely Wrecised-Two
Men Seriously E2Ert-OthCrs Believed
TO be Under t'e Ruins.

AT about o'clock p. m. yesterday the large
double fyesory building, Nos IA and l6 Frontst fell
with tremendous crash, completely filing the street
with a mass of bricks, timber flour barrels and flour.
No. II was occupied by Patterson Bros. and at the
time of the accident contained about 1900 barrels OF
hou- and small amount OF butter in frkIns. No. IS
was occupied by {. b. Colin and contained 5000 bar
rels of flour.
Several days since, owing to the immense weight Of
the articles stored IN The buildings they commenced TO
settle. aud showed evident signs Of weakness. The
occupants procured WOikmon, and since that time the
latter nave been buSly at work putting in supports 10
the rdors the various floors. In spite of the
my thus given the propretors still persisted in taking
in -four, large quantity having been received by
them but short time before the catastrophe occurred
Hud the building fallen Is minutes before it did. the
loss Of life would have been very great The most Of
the workmen it is believed had Just left with the
ceI.ion OF two, named John Wilson, residing at No.
1871 West Twcutyiithst., and James HagaD, residing
az No. ~ Hester-st. fearing rumhing sound these
two ran into tue street. but not in time 20 entirely
cape Both struck by portions Of the falling wall
Hagan escaped with few slight bruises aud was ena
bled 10 go TO his house. Wilson partially buriee.
but was soon after GOT ont by the First Precinct Po
ground.
On being taken TO the staton.house and surgical aid
procured II found that he had sustained q CON-
pound fracture Of the hip and He removed
Bellevue Hospital where he is reported 10 be in oriti
cal condition.
The men who were rescued say that none others were
in the building when they left but ii il feared that
may have been caught, and beneath the ruins
force Of aborers viii probably be employed to-day
remove the debris and lot til their labors
pete viii it be positively determined whether any per
beside those mentioned above were IL the building
at the time Of It's fall
Immediately after the occurrence the fire bells
rung and the hTemen the spot, bur there
proved to be need for their services. The police
from The adiong precirts, they arrived were stl.
toned in such manner 10 keep back the crowd.
which, as usual on such occasions, eagerly press
ing forward 10 gain view Of the scene Blrricades
were finally placed The street at either end OF the
block ana alter Dighiia fires were III, their glare
plainly revealing tie scene OF destruction
The building extended through TO Water ST., and The
portion which has fallen il about IS feet in depth 1t
was built IN 1852 and intended 10 support
the immense weight placed in it. The loss on build
inc will probably amOGnt 10 about S2O,0O. The con-
tents are owned by number Of merchants. tho build
ing being used as storage warehouse. Tho loss viii
probably amount 70 5000 or course there viii be
no insurance on either building or stock.
The direct of the catastrophe is said TO have
been in addition TO the immense weight. the piling Of
the barrels of -four fash with the front wall, which
unable to withstand the immense pressure.
The cars Of the Belt Railroad. which passes through
FrUnt.st viii be subjected TO Inconvenience until
such time as The wreck can be cleared away. IL Is
fortunate that passing at the tine Indeed.
IT is almost miraculous that large loss Of life not
the result OF the catastrophe