New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-05
JERSEY UNCERTAINTIES.
FALL or A TOP-HEAyY BUILDING.

,,yo wFII-KNOwN RESIDENTS INSTANTLY KILLED IN
PAssuC-THE OWNERS EXPLANATIONS
At quarter of 10 m. yesterday, large
four-story frame building about being completed at
Msin-sve and wsshingonplace opposite the depot III
Passaso N j.. fell TO the ground instantly killing two
gentlemen who were conversng on the sidewalk IN
front OF the building. One Of the gentlemen was Geo.
Mclean, the leading member OF the Town Council OF
Passsio among its popular and esteemed citi-
zens The other William Barley of the firm OF
william Barley 4 CO., Importers of drugs of No. "a
Cortlandt-st, in this city, who had recently taken
up his residence in Psssaic Mr.. Barley about
10 take the u O'Clock train for New-York, and
Mr. Mclean seeing him the opposite side Of the
street. crossed 10 shake hands with him only few
seconds before the building fell and buried them both
in its ruins. Mr.. whitehead who keeps the Eureka
Hotel adjoining the fatal building approaching the
two gentlemen when he heard "a creaking noise
bead. and utteriug cry of warning TO Messrs Barkey
and Mclean 10 the other side of the street. barely
escaping the fate OF ms friends Three men were at
work the building at the time, only one of whom
John Vreeand carpenter, who was in the upper
story, suffered any injury Mr. vreeland had two ribs
broken and was also injured but not seriously in the
back Robert s. Elliott, jeweler. residing next door
60 the fallen building, and member OF hook and lad
der company which arrived promptly at the Of the
disaster also severely Injured in the head during
tho efforts 10 clear away the wreck. The two bodies
removed from the ruins half an hour after the
accident when it found that Mr. Mclean had been
horribly manged his skull being crashed in, and both
OF his legs broken in two three places He dis
covered 10 feet from the body OF his friend and
II supposed that hearing the cry OF Mr. Whitehead
he started TO run, but too late. The body of Mr.
Barkley found the sidewalk where he stood when
last and showed mark of injury except bruise
the side OF his head, evidently caused by falling
timber which probably struck him with such force 10
cause instant death.
Mr.. Mclean 80 years OF age, aud leaves wife but
no children. Mr.. Barley a widower. ~ years OF
and leaves children. body was brought 10
this city last evening and taken to the residence of his
brother. in Twenty-third-st.
All sorts OF conflicting were in circulation yes
teday afternoon among the citizens of Passac in regard
10 the condition OF the building and those who should
DE held responsible for the accident but those who said
The most were evidently so excited and preudced that
their opinions hardly worth repeating The building
was erected and owned by Alfred Speer, the wine
producer 1t was the largest and have been the
finest building IN Passac, being As by 80 and three
stories high, with ornamental Mansard roof 1t was
begun over year and. as Mr. speer says built
according to written plans and specifications made by
J. " Carpenter an architect OF Paterson, who has
Office at Broadway aud Chambers-St Ill this city. The
lumber was purchased by Mr. speer accordance with
the specifications OF the architect. builder named
Craft framed the lower portion Of IT, when the work
was stopped by the action OF the Town Council |
who discussed the project Of widening Man-ave |
which would render necessary the moving OF the build
iug further back Two three times, Mr. speer says
work stopped for this reason, but finally, the |
Council took action he concluded finish It where
stood and had completed the top story the outside
whom the Council again interfered aud passed ord
uance TO widen the street The building then bad to be
moved bach IS feet, which done about six weeks
ago Since that tune workmen have been finishing II, |
but fortunately owing the weather the usual force
was at yesterday None of the floors had been
laid In the building and partitions mad been erected.
that the ordinary bracing OF finished building was
lacking The French roof however, with tin top and
slate sides nearly finished ana the structure was
somewhat topheayy. as the entire lower portion WAS
Oulya shell. This fact in connection with the high !
wind that blowing at the time Is supposed 10 have
been the cause OF its tumbling down. From the |
noise that was heard 10y Mr. Whitehead 1t |
ia thought the building first gave way IL |,
the third story under the French roof which, falling in
great weight carried the whole structure to the
rsshine no IN to the cellar The moving Of the build
ug feet backward supposed TO have weakened it,
we're put in when II was fsrnteed had Recently
beer taken out Mr. speer has been confined to ms house
by illness for past and has not the build
~ the brade had been,removed or il was struck by
heavy gale amounting u a whirlwind. He saws he
spared pains expense ia It's erection aud supposed
OCCUPY the top floor himself for printing Office The
lower floors 10 be leased as offices and stores,
portion of the second floor being intended for billiard
|
On the other hand many Of the residents Of Passaic
that it cheaply built. and had been generally
regarded unsafe. II does not sppear, however that
Town Council had taken steps TO render II more
secure. demosn IT, they had full power TO do
tho village charter. Mr.. Mclean OF the Council,
intimate friend OF Mr. epeer and had visited |
him at his house business only threequarters OF an
before ne killed by the fallen building. COro
JAS A. SprOul summoned jury yesterday afternoon
the facts consisting OF the following resi-
dents OF Passaic: Henry y. Summons, foreman; Edo
kip Peter Van IdeTstein, Henry Mcdonald Thos. K.
Watson g. b. Fritz, samuel j. Post, Patrick McGulre,
Nicholas Alyea, II. A. Tolbert Chas A. Barker, and
Washington Harris. |
Jury viewing the bodies OF the killed which
lay In tho depot adjourned TO Saturday at p. NJ,
RFPRIFVE OF NECHEIIA