The New York herald., 1871-11-30
TIE FALLING BUILDING CASUALTY.

Tide the Cause Of the Crash.
Yesterday afternoon Coroner keenan, took up the
case Of the three buildings recently In the course Of
erection corner of l22d street and First avenue
which fell on tho afternoon or the 18th inst bury
ing Charles Nelson, one OF the l0borers deep In the
euins. Several witnesses were examined and we
xive below tho most important portions Of the tes
timony elected and the verdict OF the Jury.
Charles Decker OF 1873 East 18th street dcposed
that he Is the owner OF the buildings that fell in 1921
Atreet between avenue and First avenues they
were three sixteen feet eight inch buildings, con.
Bisting Of cellar basement ana three upper stores
they were built OF hard brick, with lime and sand NOR.
tar; they were commenced the latter part OF August
and the building went on IN the usual way for about
three weeks, when all the walls went over in
westerly direction; took down the walls and built
Ehem UP again; We found the reason that they went
over was that the bottom, on the westerly side vas
soft; after they were topped out wc
found they were going towards the west
again; was then notified that the buildings
wore condemned as unsafe; the superintendent
Of tho department sent committee OF Inspectors
TO examine tho buildings; suggested TO the commit
Zee that the buildings could be pressed back and the
westerly foundation carried down to solid bottom;
thcy said the witness should see II Mr..
Goodwin could snore the walls up, ana If so, it
would bo satisfactory to them; made a bargain
With Mr. GOODWIN, and he snored the walls back to
Che wall and below the original foundation % found ID
water; there had formerly been q creek running
through tf tnls ground; pumped the water out with
steam anu Kept the ground dry; the build
when We got 70 the bottom foSii the the
ahard bottomi then commenced sixteen.inch wall;
the buildings fell on the l7th INST. that day started
10 take down tho rear walls and towards night the
II,
all the la6orers escaped except deceased; In the
braces that threw the walls over; thinK they ie
just rs tho rear wall had beeh taken out; If there
had been braces on the eastery side don't think tho
walls would nave fallen; the foreman had charge
Patrick Mullins, mason and builder, had con.
charge Of The work above the timber foundation;
the cause OF the ial in my opinion, was from three
the third cause was from the foundation being soft
Thomas veitch, an Inspector IN the Department
OF BuildingS, deposed That he had cnarge OF the
district where the fallen buildings were situated;
examined the ground before the foundation
to carry any building that would BE put upon IT, with
proper precautions being taken, as Mr. Decker had
after two stories had been put mp they settled and
che walls were ordered 10 be taken DOWN, which
the day the buildings fel asked Il, the foreman
Patrick Molloy, when he intended TO take out The
the rear walls ne sad M ne da not KNOW the witness
braces on tho eastery wall" In the opinion OF
witness the fail was occasioned by the want Of the
braces on the easterly sloe.
James M. McGrcgor, superintendent OF the Build
Ing Department OF this city, deposcd that Sergeant
Inspector West reported the fallen buildings unsafe
and Mr.. Decker, uelng notified, agreed 10 shore
np the buildings IN the best way; committee re-
ported that, II the same were screwed back plumb
Inc westerly wall be taken down and rebuilt
on proper bottom OF laid timber ard that the en-
vi IRE brick walls and foundations OF all the buildings
pg ps Whei down and DC REBUILT In the opinion OF
nj; mcvregor the cause OF the al was the soltening
~ ~ .ila iounuatlon from the nigh tide having oosed
a,,e SOL unuer tncn don't think sprr braces on the
caS,..y Tua sue would have prevented the fall
,. ine I,sc was then given TO the Jury, who found
tIiat deceased came to his death from injuries acct
v ihc }oU Ereved W on the lIh day OF November ISL
was WORKING ana the Jury arc of the or,non that
.ne .ns ahg na1 81 ie buildings was occasonod by
Thus ~ the verdict II viii he seen thai no ono vos
to blame for the tumbIing down of thc unfinished
man. ~ SA