New-York tribune., 1870-12-16
YESTERDAYS GALE.
TERRIBLE DISASTER.

FALL OF BUILDING-FOUR PERSONS KILLED
AND SEVERAL INJURED-CRMINAL RECK-
LEsSNESS.
Thirty-one days ago, November IA, Joseph
p Hale commenced, at No. 523 West Thirtyfthst, the
construction Of pianofore factory TO be eight tories
gh feet 'front.' and 200 feet Deep extending through
to Thrtysxth-s The walls 10 inches thick at the
base and narrowed 10 u inches for the two upper sos
The plans and specifications submitted to James NJ.
Macgregor superintendent OF Buildings, and ap
proved by him. Before the walls were halfway up the
builder Samuel Cochrane Of No. lS West Ffytbird-st,
informed Mr. Hale that, in his Judgment they were en-
trey inadequate 20 sustain the immense weight resting
on them. He received reply that 1t Of his
business, that the Superintendent OF Buildings had ap
proved of the plans and specifications and that all that
required of him, as builder, 70 go and
struet the factory In accordance with his instructions
The work was carried rapidly that the building
might be incosed before cold weather and had far
advanced that the walls up the greater portion OF
the roof was on, and the toofers intending go
with their Job yesterday.
Soon after the carpenters commenced work In the
building yesterday morning. they noticed that 1t swsyed
and ereaked wlth every gust Of wind The high narrow
structure received the full force OF the gale that
blowing from the west there being high buildings be-
aud the North River. The swaying soon became
violent that the carlenters IN alarm, fed from the
building, and refused 10 go back.
Soon after the workmen had left the building II
east the wall that side bulged outward, and with
crash heard blocks away the building toppled and fell
crushing two small buildings aud buryng the inmates
beneath the ruins. ...
One OF these side buildings onestory blacksmith
shop, owned by Gregory Flynn. HIS assistant, james
Benson, WAS engaged In sh0eng horse at the time.
Hearing the cracking Of the large building, Flynn aud
his assistant rushed toward the street and succeeded In
gaining the sidewalk just their 'shop was
crushed TO fragments. Benson received . Sc
cut the head from flying brick,
but Flynn was unhurt. The honse in the rear OF
the blacksmith shop Of brick, two stories In
hight. and occupied by four fsmiea Matthew
Cairns, the proprietor and his wife Mary. lived on the
second floor, together with John and Ann McCaferty
aud their children, Robert j. age a, Lizzie a. and VII
lam, months The lower floor occupied by Joseph
p.es,sn and als VIE s9d BY James snd Mary Reilly
ana nelr family AT the women AHd children, alo
osirns were IN the building when the crash csme.
Ie" VI Ioe On the lower floor succeeded In eating out
Inc remainder wore buried under the falling building
i'oInaeoh OF the catastrophe at once conveyed
10 the nfthst Police Station two blocks distant
aho ne Instantly proceeded To the scene and set 10
WORK ~ rene'e upse under tho ruins In this humane
task they were soon jOiseA by bodv OF drmen Ths
bricks and tirnbers were thTa~p 80 A. i e ine
Mathew Cairns and his wife were Soon n IeasSd Tsv
nsn @ ~ ~ ptnsss aud slight cus about tbs
htabt son 10 her aries md ktrae8 10 & 9 nI vsl
oser was badly Ell sSoSs tssd tse s.sb s,.b TsDsis e
sasy Injured Is insiern, seS gss s9o7ed 70 tna
Tie ttie r Lizzie was also TAKEN oa, rose a sarsesns
have escaped with few slight scratches The rrnsp
barrel quite dead. when taken out thsre ra x, over
mark OF violence OF any Kind visible, but a close e.
animation ee lowed that hls neck was broken.
Mary Reilly. ~ Bhe bud appsIe ntly been struck Nv
some TIMBER or bricks ~ her bead wac crushed her