The New York herald., 1873-04-09
Avail Gives Way and Falls Into
the Genesee River.
DREADFUL SUSPENSE.
No Bodies Recovered and No
Names To Be Had.
The Crowd Watching the Rushing Waters
Disregard a Timely Warning.

ROCHESTER, N. Y, April 3, 1873.
A terrible disaster occurred here this evening by
which from twenty to thirty PERSONS from present
appearances, have lost their lives. Last Fan the
foundation walls for the new city building on Front
street, backing upon the river, were laid and
supposed to be above ordinary high-water mark.
A few days since the work OF laying the division
walls was commenced. At noon to-day IL
was apparent that the water was coming
through the wall next to the river, and men were
stationed there this evening to watch. Timbers
and oists had been laid for the lower or
street noor and there was nothing to prevent
people from walking on these timbers to the rivers
edge. Before dark there were a hundred persons
on the WALL but as night came on the number
thinned out to twenty-five or thirty mostly adults
TIMELY WARNING UNHEEDED.
One of the foremen Of the works about eight
O'clouk observed that the waters were washing
over the top of the wall, and he urged the people
to leave telling them that the wall would fall but
none seemed to leave. He requested the regular
watchman to drive the people of, but he said that
they were old enough to know what they
were about, and confined himself to preventing
any more boys from going to the wall. Mr..
Potter, in despair, with friend named
McFarlan, turned, and had just reached the side
walk when the wall went out, and there imme-
the secret The tremendous pressure from the
river forced the timbers towards the street, and
the rebound OF the waters sent them back towards
the river, carrying many human being into the
swift rolling current OF the Genesce.
MEN KEPT DOWN AND DROWNED BY FLOATING
TIMBERs.
The floating tmbers prevented those who had
been carried to the bottom or the basement from
coming to the surface, and they were drowned.
Those who were saved (only five are known TO be)
were rescued or got out themselves within min
ute, and then all was still. Joseph Ringlestien,
foreman OF Truck Company No. l. was on the west
side of Front street, corner of Market, when the
wall went out, and he rushed to the spot to save
boy, named Hysner, whom he pulled from
between the timbers. The lads father, Henry
Hysner, who was nearer the river wall than his
son, got out by his own efforts. He says that he
was walking on the oists towards the wall, and
had reached within seven feet OF it when tall
man prevented him from going further. While try
ing to crowd by him the wall fell and the
TALL MAN SHOT OUT INTO THE RIVER,
while Hysner was thrown toward Front street. He
was wedged in by the timbers SO that he could not
sink. and after great deal of rough usage he man
aged to reach the street WALL He says that he saw
the heads of two men close by him, but he could
not help them, and they drowned. AS he reached
the wall his little boy clasped hlm Dy the neck ana
cried out for JOY. carpenter, name un-
known, got out unaided. Hysner says that
there were a great many people on the wall
thirty at least. Two boys who got out say that
son OF L. A. Pratt, shoe dealer, was certainly lost.
The lad was aged sixteen years A man who was
standing on the Central RAILROAD bridge says he
saw boy with one arm claspng plank pass under
the bridge, and just he approached the high falls
as though he was aware OF the fearful leap he was
to take turned his face to the bridge and then dis
appeared. He only saw this one person.
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN ROCHESTER,.
Policemen were promptly at the scene Of the dis
aster, and prevented people from rushing upon the
standing walls thus saving many lives.
The Common Council was in session. and on the
report reaching them an immediate adjournment
was had. The excitement Is intense, and every
moment some one appears to make inquiries about
missing ones. Search Will be made in the morn
ing as far possible, for the lost. The waters are
still rising in the river.
Word has just been received at Police Headquar-
ters that aid is needed to remove the people from
the houses In Exchange street, near the Erie Rail-
way depot the houses there being inundated.