The New York herald., 1870-04-03
THE FORTY-SIXTH STREET CALAMITY
Investigation Before Coroner Keenan-Testi-
mony Adduced and Verdict Of the
Jury-Nobody to Blame.

The calamity In Forty.slxth street, near Eleventh
avenue, which occurred during the hurricane on
Sunday of last week, resulting In the deaths OF Ben
jamin Donnelly, his wife, Rose, and three Of
their children, the particulars OF which have
been heretofore published in the HERALD,
was the suJect OF investigation yesrer-
day afternoon before Coroner keenan, at the
City Hall. Most OF the testimony adduced went to
show that the building which fell and killed the
Donnely family was properly constructed and OF
good materials. In the opinion OF several OF the
witnesses the storm Of rain and wind was the
OF the building giving way. Below will be found
synopsis OF the most important evidence and the
verdict Of the jury
John White, Of 631 West F0rty-sxth street testl-
ned that he lived next door deceased; on Sunday
afternoon last the witness saw Donnely In his yard
assisting in putting up board that had been blown
the house in about quarter Of an an hour
afterwards the witness, IN looking out OF
his window towards Eleventh avenue, saw
the brick building next to deceaSed'S house
fail to the ground; as far as the witness could judge
the first or second story gave out first; 1t gave
at the bottom; be ran down stars imme-
diately and out on the sidewalk, and
the brick building IN. ruins. and that part Of
1t had fallen on deceased's house; work was imme-
dately commenced to remove the brick ana timber
from deceased's residence; at first we could not see
hear anything OF deCeaSed's family; while others
at work the witness went for oiicer to keep
order; when he returned the witness heara that
body had been recovered from the ruins.
Wm ID. Tasman, Of No. 277 Eighth avenue, being
sworn, says he IS a stone cutter by trade; am in
spector OF buildings in Department OF Inspection
and Survey OF Buildings; saw the fallen building IN
FOrty.sixth street; l have inspected this BUILDING
every working day since 1t was commenced; there
was nothing unusual in the construction OF this
building; l examined the materials OF which 1t
was made, and found them to be Of good quality;
the walls were Of proper thickness and the law re-
guatng buildings was complied with IN every par.
ticuar; there were no complaints made by any one
In reference to the buildings 1t had not been con-
affected BY frost was the eastern gable; the
frost twisted that wall, and the foreman
commenced to take 1t down the next day;
he did 1t OF his own accord; there was nothing
knowledge; my opinion is that the cause OF the fan
was from the northeast wind striking the high east
ern wall and throwing II over taxing away The sup
port OF the beams, and thus throwing rhe eastern
wall the rest OF the building going down in the same
way common TO leave buildings in this state the
building standing alone there peing no house within
200 feet OF the eastern side and none within seventy
five feet OF the western gable Is the reason that this
building fell; know OF no precautl0n that could
have been taken to prevent the falling; the walls
were all well braced and anchored; they were braced
chors attached to the beams; there Is no law to pre-
vent the erection or buildings In winter.
Edwin X. Orrell, OF 1888 West Forty-hlrd street.
examined the materials Of the fallen building In
enough in the mortar and the sand was too coarse
A number OF witnesses were examined but no fur
ther testimony OF Importance was offered, and
under the charge OF Coroner keenan, the jury rem
dered the following :.
VERDICT.
sThat the deceased parties came to their deaths
from injuries from the falling of building in course
OF construction at 627 West Forty-sxth street on
the 27th day OF March, 1870 They hnd the fall was
occasoned by the extreme violence Of the storm on
said day."