The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-19
THE SECOND AVENUE CALAMITY.

Continuation az tho Coroncr's Inquest-The
Evtdeuce--Shehan SILL In Custody, &c.
Tho inquest on tho victims Of tho recent tenement
house calamity was continued yesterday by Coroner
Cover at the Twentynrst precinct station house Tho
testimony OF several policemen and also Of Mr. James
Webb and James McGregor taken.
.aesg TESTIMONY or MR.. wKaa
James Webb testified follows:Occup.cd the fourth
floor in tho house 500 Second avenue the night OF he
fire witness remained up very late reading 80 his wife
and about halp eleven O'Clock his sister
inaw went down stairs to get twenty five cents worth
OF whiskcy; Kane gave her pitcher full. containing
more than pint and witness thought NJ tho time that
his family wont 10 bed he had scarcely got into bed
when Kane knocked at his door. and cried out Mr.
bis wifo and family into tho halfway, which was then
filled with smoke: looking over the banstors, he
the names leaping from stair to stair; the smell
seemed to be that OF spiri.ueus subsia nee
and not wood. II tho stairs saturated with
some innammable liquid did not notice odor
OF kerosene; witness carried two OF his children
up the roof and then returned ard assisted hs
sister n-law and baby up; hts sscrniaw then asked
where his wife was, and no went down to hook for her
he stumbled woman ylny at tho foot Of the ladder
leading TO the hatch picked her up and took her 10 the
roof thinking that It was bis wife; finding when he rot
up that BIO had made mistake, he went down again and
found with foot the iaddef who seemed
be unable TO climb up In consequence OF having his
hands burnt; wtness pulled him up, the flames pur
suing them closely; witness then 10 the concln-
sion that his wife barnt, the flames being close
tn the roof; witness remained with bis two chdrcn
tho roof time. probably teeu minutes. tho fro
mon then aud witness helped them get
the hose mp, but ten minutes more elapsed before
they succeeded in doing 80; tho Areinen bringing
up the hose TO tho top OF the roof with an old rotten
rope: when about half 10 the top tho rope broke
and tho hose dropped after they had Gxod tho hose,
one of the nremen told him that woman bad Jumped
from tho house into the street witness then went down
into the street. and found that his wife lying at
drug s,ore he helped remove her from tho drug
to his BROKERS residence, Eighteenth street. where
she died the following day The first person witness met
on coming down was Kane who said to wiin'ss, The
barber has finished ns at las leaving the Impression
his mind that the barber had 80, the rlace fro
witness had difficulty In he'll wing Kanes statement,
knowing that there had been sono htsaton between
Kane and Puuigcr
- rksrIxoxY or NJ. sGRvGon.
James Mciregor, sworn:-Am superintendent Of the
department for the inspection and surveying OF BALD
ngn tho law did not compel Ore escapes 10 Do paced In
the building burned because was one OF two buildings
properly tenement house; witness thought tina. tue
stairs ought TO have lad sraigh W TO The roof mos,
house. ore now being s 20 built w, 0n 'hsas s
II people would 90 IN 10 The roof when
ere breaks out hey would be saved Minis out
, s q: BIZ storage ass Of 40 the
dwelling houses but they had thought II too strngent
houses with twenty.seven or twenty.eght families 10
them which witness had reported in 1892 % being with
rs escape had not up to the present time bccu
prov lded with hem, and litigation bad ensued As q
the right OF his department To Jurisdiction, the STATE
law giving power 10 compel the OF fire escapes having
boon paved after the houses were built
Pnniger tho barber and CRU were recalled apd both
stated that the found In tho ruins did not belong 10
thom.
shshan, Kanes bartender who was placed under
arrest yesterday In attendance during tho greater
part OF the investigation lie seemed 10 be suffering
from attack Of fever. his fac being greatly lnshed
Ho moist bandagc round his head, and towards
tho close Of the examination the Deputy Coroner gave
him prescription and sent him 10 bed He II, however,
sti under arrest and Knnes offer to ray h!s expenses
al hotel, where guard might be maintained over him,
WAS refused
Tho investigation will be resrmcd to-day OF haf-ras,
two O'Clock, and as only two Witnessed remain TO be
amined II will probably be concluded