The Republican journal., 1870-12-29

HE FALL OF A GREAT BUILDING IN New
YORK. Our dispatches gave brief account
OF the falling OF huge eight story building
in New York. The following additional
particulars will be read with interest:
The east wall of the building fell first and
crushed beneath its weight the two-story
brick house No. 514 West seth street immedi-
ately in the rear Of the factory. 1t was
known that five families lived in this house,
and it was certain, from the suddenness of
i the disaster, that all the occupants at the
time were buried. The fall of the east wall
WAS quickly followed by the collapse of the
west wall, and in less than three minutes
there was nothing but a vast mountain of
rubbish to mark the spot where the piano
factory had stood. So chaotic was the ap-
pearance of the ruins that the police and the
| tiremen were almost at a loss as to where
they should begin to search for the unfortu-
nate persons who had been entombed. With
as little delay as possible however, the men
set bravely to work, and undismayed at the
amount of labor before them, began to lessen
the great heaps of brick and timber which
had crushed the dwelling house. After work
ing resolutcy for some time, they found
Matthew Cairns, aged 81 years. and his wife
both of whom were much hurt but not dang
erously. They were at once removed in an
ambulance to Bellevue Hospital, and the
men, cheered by the prospect Of saving more
life, redoubled their eXertions. The anxiety
OF the crowd standing around the ruins was
most intense and it was with difficulty that
the police could prevent them breaking
through the lines. There was scarcely a
man or woman among them who did not
wish to ascertain the safety Of some one
whom he or she believed to be in the ruins,
and the searchers were besieged by all man. |
ners of questions.
The next persons rescued were two little
children named Lizzie and William McCaf-
ferty, aged respectively two years and half
and six months. Strange to say, the little
ones were almost entirely unhurt, they hay
ing been preserved in an almost miraculous
manner by u projecting .loist. The next
found was the mother Of the two children,
Ann McCanerty but she had not Jared so
well rs her infants. AT first it was rumored
that she was dead, but at last some faint signs
OF life were discovered, and she, too, was
sent to Bellevue Hospital. Every effort was
made to restore her. The body of Robert J.
McCatlerty, aged four years and q half was
discovered lying close to the place where his
mother was fouS& All efforts to restore him
We're lruitless, and the body was removed to
the 10Th Precinct Station House. Some time
elapsed before any more bodies were found,
but at last the tiremen came upon the dead
body of Mary Kelly. Her death had evident
" been one Of great agony, her features be-
ing black and terribly distorted. Two more
bodies have been recovered, but it is feared |
that the list is far from complete. A woman
named Hamilton, who lived at No. 514 West |
18th street, and who made her living by laun-
dry work, was seen in her room shortly be-
fore the accident occurred, and has not since
been seen. There can be no doubt that she,
too, is buried beneath the ruins. At the foot
Of the west wall stood a small shed used by |
an engineer named Donnelly, who superin-
tended the hosting of bricks and mortar to
the top Of the building. This shed lies crush
ed beneath an immense pile of lumber, and |
it is almost certain that Dounelly has been
killed. as he was seen in the she'd few mo-
ments before the wall fell. 1t is quite posi- |
bic that several persons have been killed who
have not yet been missed by their friends |
The disaster is attributed to the fact that the
building was unable to stand the pressure of
the wind.
\ j. pGE FINES HIMSELF. The criminal |
court was adjourned at noon until ; o'clock |
p. m. The Judge, however, failed to APP
pear at that hour, and about 4 o'clock he en-
tered-the court room, and on taking his seat
said Mr.. Clerk, enter u fine of 800 against
Samuel Dodge, judge Of this court, for being
absent at the hour to which this court adj
lourncd. The fine was entered by the clerk. |
While there seems to be something nonsense
cal III the presiding officer of Il court tining
himself for Delinquency, there nevertheless is
Il high moral principle Of honor involved
which IS the more commendable the more we
TEa1,-acton Rpllatip