The New York herald., 1869-11-21
SHOCKING CATASTROPHE m BR0oXL YN.
A Family Cut or frsm Escape in Burn
ing Building-They Adopt the Alter
native OF Jumping frem Fourth
Story Window and are Killed
Interesting Testimony Eli
cited by the Fire Marshal.

terday and furnished another chapter TO the series
of fatal occurrences which already mark the build
tngs Nos. SO and 95 on that street. The occurrence
In question is one Of peculiar and fearful nature,
involving it does the lives OF three human
belngs-a father, son ana mother fhe Victims
were Thomas Wallace sober, STEADY ana indus
trlous workman; mis- WIFE, Ann Wallace, ana thelr
child, Thomas, aboy OF five years This family lved
IN four story brick building, No. SO Furman street,
situated al the foot OF orange street. Just at the base
OF the Helgnts. The building together with No. 50.
was occupied by Messrs Anderson, Douglas
Pierce as q white lead manufac tory; and Wallace,
who had been the employ OF this firm for eighteen
months past, occupied room on the upper noor,
where he had lived quietly with his family that
the officer who patrols that plot was not aware of
the fact that anybody resided there.
Some time during Friday night early yesterday
morning a fre broke out In the second third
story Of tie building, and the connagration burned
slowly until 1t gained such headway as 10 awaken
the unfortunate occupants OF the upper story. The
suppositon Is that the smoke was 80 dense in the
room, and the STAIRS the only avenue OF escape,
being fre the fearful alternative OF jumping from
the window was alone presented. The poor people,
IN Their desperation. after calling for help which
does not appear to have been forthcoming with any
degree of prompttude, took the awful leap tothe
sidewalk The height from the latter to the fourth
head, was killed instantly. The boy fatally in
jured, his head beng crushed at the side
and several bones broken He was removed
to the Washington street station house, where
DIR. Cochran the police surgeon, attended him. but
the little sufferer breathed his last short time after
his arrival there. Mrs Wallace sustained a frac-
sure OF the SKULL and both legs and ribs
broken She was removed to the City Hospital,
where she now hes in hopeless condition.
THE ALARM OF FIRE
was given first by patroman Of the Forty-second
precinct who repaired TO the station house corner
OF Jay and York Streets whence the fire was
telegraphed to Police Headquarters at 6:20 A. M,
and from the Central ONCE to the City Hall bell
tower, when the Fire Department notified.
1t was, therefore, nearly half an hour from the
time that the fire first by Mr.. Bower whose
testimony given below before the apparatus
arrived on the scene OF action
Tle loss sustained by Messrs. Anderson, Douglas
4 Pierce on stock is $4,000, and on machinery
$4,000, all OF winch Is covered by insurance.
THE HL-sTARRED BUILDINGS
covered with brick arched roofs, on the top of
wnlch rests from two to four feet OF EARTH which,
until q recent date, was cultivated gaIden.
There Is no scutt or any means OF egress through
the roof nor IS the house supplied with fire escape.
These structures have bad record and for years
past 1t has been remarked oy Their former owner
that more deaths and casualties have occurred in
them than anywhere else in the nelghborhood.
Several years ago during o visitation OF the choera,
that disease carried away number OF persons who
lived on the premises. Next a workman was scalded
TO death by the accidental upsettlng OF Kettle
OF glue upon him. In the month of April 1858.
fire uroke out ana five tremen VINO were
standing on the garden roof,n were carried into
the yawning guiph created by the walls giving way
and burned or crushed To deatn. Another fireman,
who was injured at this time, died OF his injuries
several months later Subsequently three worSmen
engaged In rebuilding the structure were killed by
the walls falling on them, and yesterday two pro-
baby three, victims were added to the number Of
premises The stores along this street used for
Manufacturing purposes and IN the building adloin-
ing that In which the fire occurred a large number
OF young people are employed as operatives The
safety OF these people Is endangered owing to the
failure OF the authorities TO enforce the laws for the
protection OF life In case OF ire
THE INVESTIGATION.
Assistant Fire Marshal p. Ready was early on the
scene and instituted an offical inquiry on the sub
jecl- AT the examination held By hun the following
important and interesting facts were ellclted:-
TESTIMONY OF JACOB BOWER.
Jacob Bower, sworn, deposes and says:-l live in
Eldrldge street, near Iompklns avenue, Brooklyn
Z. D., and work for ]. buckingham 4 Co, No l3o
Furman street, was passing along Furman street
at SIX O'Clock this mornlug, and when passing Nos.
93 and e5 fire IN the building No. 93; the fire
appeared to be between the second and third floors;
both iioors were IN blaze; saw the smoke coming
out OF the windows in such force 10 convince me
that there was large lire lnsiie did not see any
BODY in the budlng but heard voices crying for
help; they called for hep and wanted me TO get
them a rope; they were the fourth noor, dis
tance OF about forty 1eet fron the sidewalk; ran
to the Dock and called on Harbeck's watchman to
get some assistance while | went TO get light; he
started from his watch house TO get assistance. and
went and procured a light and came back inme
dlately; don't think was gone I'VE minutes; when
came back saw Thomas Wallace lying up against
ThOmpson'B or Harheck's stores, on the opposite
side OF the street; think he was dead; there
several persons, including policeman there then;
saw man nave a child IN his arms, wnile
two men were carrying woman away-Mls.
Wallace, | Think she was still alive but the
chlld. think, was dead; dld not see any rope or
ladder there at that time; the hremen mad not got
there yet; did not hear the bells ring; think 1t
was about SIX O'Clock when got there; the men
fpnl,t thp ini n VA hanft Epatv
don't know who owns the building and believe il
Is occupied by Anderson, Douglas Il Pierce
white lead factory; have been in the engine room
OF tnat building, on the ground floor; am practi-
cal engineer ana am licensed; consider the engine
safe, / 1t; the engine located on the lrst
floor IN No. 95 and the fire appeared to be In
TESTIMONY OF PATRICK M,NIEL
Patrick McNiel, sworn deposes and says:-I live
al No. 10 York street and WORK for Anderson
Douglas Pierce, Nos. 93 and 95 Furman street, as
an engineer In their white lead works. left the
building No. 95, IN which the engine is located,
about half past I'VE O'Clock last night; LETT the fire
.'banked app In The iurAace the engine machinery
does not not connect with building ad dining; No.
- Is used Tor storage PURPOSES and 10 this latter
situated; Thomas Wallace, his wile Ann and
one chld, aboy OF five years, occupied the fourth
used the front room for cooking purposes and mad
q common stove IN It, the pipe oil which ran INTO a
stone wall; the sleeping room was In the front, OF
the sitting room; there open room In the
rear; there were windows IN the rear; the house
Is built up against the heights: never saw scutte
In that building; the floor was reached by stairs or
wide steps, such generally used IN a factory;
the elevator was in the north side OF the
bulding; 1t was In good order, fit for use:
II works bV hand by fall; / have
Wallace work 1t; 1t was working
order last evening; IL was used for hosting goods
only, and not for The purpose OF persons getting up
down stairs on; doA't know whether the hatches
shut or not; cannot say whether there was
any other means OF getting out OF the fourth story
OF No. 83 than going down stars or Jumping out OF
the windows, or going down by the "ialh 1.-THE rope
used In working the eletatorl the only windows In
the building were those fronting on Furman street;
the only nres in the building, tnat know OF, n
the furnace anu In Wallaces stOre the stars In
the building were wooden; | got TO the building
thls morning at twenty minutes past six O'Clock;
when arrived the blaze was rushing out the third
story windows OF No. 93 Wallace was lying dead
beside the walls OF HarbecKis stores tie opposite
side OF the street: Mrs. Wallace was living IN house
near there: she was not dead; WALLACE was balY