New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-29
TIE DIS4STER ar ST. JOSEPHS tR. c.,
CHURCH.
CONTINUATION OF THE CORoNER's ISyEsTIGA
TIoN-IMPORTANT EVIDENCE.

| CONTINUATION OF THE CORONER'S INYEsTIGA.
TIoN-IMPoRTANT EVIDENCE.
The inquest on the bodies of Badger Tighe,
Lucus g. Andrews, and Lawrence O'COnner, who lost
their lives by the falling OF two arches in BIT. Josephs
Or ca Church. in course Of erection, at Hudson City,
which occurred week ago yesterday, was continued
before Coroner Warren last evening Vim. sowel, Jr,
testified reside IN Hudson City, and am carpenter
by trade the morning OF the accident not being az
work, paid visit to the church to see now tho work
progrcssingi went up tho gang~ay at inc rear Oh
the building TO the top scaod where these men Tee
m wSfAiN AZ vi" the Wy work saw Mr.. White and
M napnn Of the work did not hear at the time
whether there defect IN the work or not when
ont the top CENTER" turned and went down the gang
way aud was followed By Mr.. White aud Mr. Andrews;
The foot Of the gangway Mr. Andrews sent my stop,
brother to tho shed at the rear OF the BUILDING 70 sot
or ~ foot pole there some inaudlbe conYeIsatOb'
which / did not understand, passing between heSsTs
l.f transep and started to enter the building at tho
basement window opposite the end OF ths 9d .nuivn
looked at this work for minute or So but ala not notice
anything that would warn me OF approaching danger en-
tered the old church by an aperture IN th S rear
wall aud was inside about Ten ieet Whe1
heard something! before had tmo TO turn
around these arches came down win terrible orasn
mean the arches supported by the right hand trasep
saw three cngng on TO one OF the poles that
stood upright, and Immediately nailed tnem 10 KNOW
whether there were any men In me ruins before Gond
got heard some OF the men oiylng 9nt anu
nmedIately ran over to the debris and found Roger
rgbe and Lawrence o'Conner lying side by side put
INV hand Tghes breast and found that his heart had
barely perceptbe then assisted In removing the stone
and plank by which they covered and helped carry
OC6nner out and that Is all saw Of the accidenti
IL s my opinion that had this work been properly braced
and these centers left remaining until the brick aud stone
had become thoroughly bonded with the mortar, the
accident would not have occurred; think the pillars
would have supported the arches had the bracing been
properly done; further believe that the ncemenoy OF
the weather had great deal TO do with the falling OF
this work. examined some OF the mortar after the acc
dent and found that there bond whatever exist
ing between aud the brick there was brace across
the chance think required one noticed no brace but
spur brace about II feet high the piers were not built
at the time the other work but were lately bu
think piers freshly built would hayo tendency to
shrink more than the walls that were built
year ago; my father drew the plans OF the church
William &. White, builder Of Jersey City, testified On
the day OF the accident went up to see Mr. Andrews
about material wanted, and also to SEQ Father
Vanuti; went up the scaffOd, and while talking with
Mr. Andrews looked at arch from which =" center
had Just been struck and asked MIR Andrews why there
were cracks just above the arch understood him To
say that he had had consultation with Mr.. Sewe the
light before concerning the cracks that they came TO
the conclusion that 10 the shrinking In the pier that
caused the pier being fresh aud green work and tho
main walls being all dried out from last year told him
did like to tako out ceners quite underetood
him he and Mr. Sowen thought that 10 was perfectly
safe we started down the gangway aud went III tue
church by the right hand transept wall while we were
examining the lower piers To II they were perieoty
straight, called his attention TO stone on TOP OF o
brick work that seemed To have been Jared ana
that mOment tho walls came down with u crash sno