New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-03
The Furmau.st. Disaster.

The Coroner's investigation into the circum-
stances attending the disaster in Furmans Brooklyn.
whereby three lost their lives, was continued yes
tcrhay N the County Court House
| Mr. William II. Hazard, a builder residing at No.
10 Hicks st. testified that hc examined the building
after il fell the architectural construction caused the
fall of the hndingnot the mechanlcal tie materials
were good the market afforded; the arches were
quite light but on abntment was wanted between The
two arches which would have prevented the falling OF
the Buildings II dirt had been placed equally over the
arches they would have been less likely 10 have fallen
thought tho walls strong enough to bear pcrpen-
dicular weight. If there mad been center arch or
! abutmeDt; the who erected tho building did
not know what he was doing; the mortar was good
aos. any kind Of mortar would grow hard by agc il
the building had been rightly constructed, the dirt
conld have been thrown on within n week; witness
stated that II plans like those Of the fallen building had
been presented to him. he would have said they would
not stand.
ho was a buildcri ho thought the walls should have
been thicker and better anchored togeber the walls
would have been sufficient 10 uphold tho arches n they
had been 10 inches thick and properly anchored; the
center arch having It's abutments resting upon the tops
Of the main arches caused tho falling Of tho building
had TIE asked witness 10 spring such arches he
would have refused the material used in the construc
ton was good but thought that IN Of the cemen,
! In the center walls there was too much sand
John j. Merritt Of No. 20 Columbia.st. sworn.
His testimony the effect that he resided where
hs low lives since 1886; the owner Of the de.
stroyed buildings Nos. 20 aud % Iurmanst.; COM
menced their erection Immediately after the fire in
April last; about 1916 erected tie house where he row
lives with four associates; they set about devisng
structure which would hold up the bank 10 protect the
buildings; witness procured a superintendent from the
Board Of Croton Aqueduct Engineers to erect them
aud paid him 500; the abutment walls at each end OF
tho buildings 10 feet III thickness; the
that supported by the aDutment and intermediate
walls are foot in thickness. nine years after the
owners OF the block improved their buildings by
placing iron beams and arches between them; the
| vault, or arch above Planned by tho engineer
was one foot in thickness aud the inferno diie
-,..It .ll Ia.
inches thick in front of the stdirway witness erected
stairway for the purpose Of shortening the span
tho iron beams. and put girders Ut iron and columns
under the h0OTs after the burning OF the buildings in
prii last witness sent fOr Mr. Bunting the builder OF
ms residences not being sufficiently familiar with that
kind OF work. he recommended Nh David Board who
10 do the carpcntcIing work: he approved of the
suggestion made. and lIni,hed diagram setting forth
tho archcs the center arch caused tho strengthening
OF It's two main arches The intermediate walls were
.aken down FAR rs shattered and were Likewise made
10 inches IN thickness; haG tho best materials and
spared expense tue arch the cause Of the build
ing falling; The center arch was resting upon ribs
which rested upon the adjoining arches snch arch
spread oyer a. and commenced % spread earth over
II 10 protect 10 from the SUM- commenced with two men
with Hhcclblrons, and the work was nearly completed
before five men were employed; the oarta was spread
over IS equally as poaslb.e manure was also employed
~ filling; thought the cause a. tho accident was IN
consequence Of tho earth being placed upon the center
ach which rested the hips o the other arches dld
not any CRACKS IN tho wall; did not think there wors
anyi was % tho building moro than any person en-
ployed % work ~ ~ about 100 loads OF EARN wcro
taken from Bcceter's Church, where yentiHtor was
bciug made and witness was glad 81 having 0DInined
u 'tc'e O. u vcs colreoraicd gouldi ~ bll"Mt