The New York herald., 1873-12-05
A FEARFUL ACCIDENT.
Fall Of a Four Story Building,
from its Own Weight,
in Passaic, N. ].
Two Prominent Gentlemen
the Victims.
Great Excitement and Indignation of the
Citizens Miraculous Escape of Work.
men = Who Is to Blame

most appalling accldent-appanng not from
the number OF lives lost so much as from the char
aeter OF the catastrophe and the prominence or the
genuemen who came to an end as sudden,
cruel and as untimely as revolting-occurred yes
terday IN the picturesque and sedate town OF Pas
saic' on the line OF the Erie Railway, IN the State
OF New Jersey. The accident spread feeling OF
intense horror, gloom and Indignation over the
people OF Passaic, and for hours aitef de-
tails OF the terrible disaster became known
the greatest excitement prevailed among
all classes and hundreds OF persons nocked to the
scene and gaZed with terror-stricken countcnances
on the mass OF debris and scattered timber.
AT between twenty and ten minutes or twelve
O'Clock yesterday an inc0mpleted three story and
French roof building, situated on the corner OF
Main avenue and Washington place, trembled
creaked and toppled, and, with tremendous
crash, tumbled to the ground, heap OF ruins. The
sound OF the timber and what brick and mortar
there was used IN the construction, as it came to
the earth was described, by those who happened
to be in the immediate vicinity OF the disaster as
resembling that OF an immense land slide.
STRUCTURE
was erected directly opposite the depot OF the
Erie Railway, one door from the town Post ONCE
and in the most popuous part of Passaic where
numbers OF pedestrians have hourly to pass and
repass to and fro, ana though only two lives were
lost, it seems most miraculous that many additional
human beings were not sacrificed to the parsimony
OF a capitalist.
THE TWO GENTLEMEN KILLED
were named George w. Mclean, one OF the city
Council of Passac, aud gentleman universally
esteemed for the possession OF many excellent
qualities. and Mr.. william Barclay resident OF
this city, and relative oI Mr.. j. f. Barclay, Pas
saic. Mr. Mclean was one o. the foremost men in
the place when the accident occurred. He was OF
the firm OF A. g. Mclean. manufacturers OF cot
n, 5on ianrics antu recently, tns factory OF winch
was one Of the first councilmen OF
the Tn city r, OF passac, ana & leading man
for his honesty and integrity OF character. His
residence, one OF the handsomest In the ncighbor-
hooi. was at the corner of Bloomfield and Pduiison
avenues. He leaves wife to mourn his unex
J pected demise The family physician OF tue de
nicate The sad intelligence to the widow, first
smoothing the way BY telling her that
mishap. but nndIng that che could not
be restrained from irantically rushlng to
but in the gentest manner possible. The grief and
agony OF the lady upon realizing the iul extent OF
her misfortune Was beyond all bounds As may well
Mr.. BARCLAY had purchased recently some vau-
able marsh property on Lexington avenue. and
giving out contract Tor the building OF q house.
HIS body was taken IN cnarge by his relatives and
placed In coffin preparatory to transportation to
his late abode IN this city,
MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.
mere were u mason ana carpenter at WOrk ON
the top cornlce OF the building at the time OF It's
fall and their escape from instant death was
miraculous. They came down with the roof but
| in some manner were thrown outwards towards
the railway track and did not receive very serious
Injuries. One OF them, named Tyler vreeland, had
two ribs broken and received some contuslons on
the forehead. laborer, whose name could not be
ascertalned up TO late hour nsn last night, was
crash, but had presence OF mind enough 10 jump
s ws
leased finally without having suffered more than
or course the report OF the calamity spread with
the speed OF the wind, aud as soon as the horror
stricken denlzens recovered from their conster-
Whatever persons were thought TO be buried
THE Widest RUMoRs
gained currency. and 1T was feared that some
5 or 10 citizens were killed and quite as many
wounded. Just before the shell came TO the earth
Mr.. Barclay was passing along IN front of the
building on Washington place, few feet from
Main street, and seeing Councilman Mclean on the
opposite side, crossed over to address him. Just
as they had passed q friendly salutaton
Pass cams @ ms way NAM
avenue and met them. An instant afterwards a
singular noise attracted the latter .genteman's
attention, and looking up, more from instinct than
anything else, he saw the top OF the building fall
ing in: In twnkling he called to the two de-
ceased to run and save themselves. while he him
sell sprung across the street just in time to escape
the danger. The warning was too sudden Tor
they were in, and before they could comprehend
the situation the structure iel upon them and they
THE HARSH EMBRACE OF DEATH
and buried from sight. But moment prior they
we,e IN he nappy possession SION Of % n corporal
and mangled and torn and dead The fire alarm
was rung and q nook and LADDER company FASTENED
to the scene. Mr.. Whitehead pointed out the spot
where he had last seen his friends alive, and vigor
Gus efforts we're Immediately commenced to clear
away the heavy rubbish. The hooks OF the
hook and ladder company brought into
Yeuuistlon and In brief space OF time the body OF
\, Mclean reached. 1t was quite ieless one leg
was doubedu up under the body and the lower limbs
were badly crushed. The lower part OF his body
was mangled in frlghtIul way large piece or
| timber having been driven completely through the
| region OF the abdomen. tearing u hole large enough
to admit Of the entrance Of closed aand
| lage hole was also made IN ms forehead
Mr.. Barclay was discovered only few
/ feet distant rom his friend. His body was not SO
! shockingly bruised but his head had sustained in
jurles very similar to those seen on Mr.. McLean's
| though some assert that his lips were seen TO move
a second or two alter ne was extricated rom the
rubbish.
Patrick Dowd, an expressman, was driving past
lie looked up, saw the danger and sheered his
horse to one side in tune to save his life. Three
E. men Were @ digging -, cesspoo in the rear OF the
The house was in dimenslon 80 by 7a feet and
had been in course oil construction for the past
two years. II was owned by Mr.. Henry Speer, one
or the wealthiest citizens Of Passaic and VINO has
place at No. SO Chambers street, New York. The
building was very high and constructed OF exceed
ingy light timpers. A great deal OF Comment nau
been excited about the
FRAfL AND UNSAFE
manner or the construction oil the building previous
to the calamity, and many who had examined IL
expressed their CONVICTION that It would tumble
| down before completion or soon after. Under all
| circumstances IT may be esteemed a fortunate
thing that the accident took place before the WORK
had been finished and 1t was occupied and dIled by
people. The girders that run across the nrst door
were supported 10y joists IN the ceilar,
In size only two inches by four. These were set
apart about "A feet and about 10 ieet
apart in direct line along the girders. inese
gave way under the increased weight OF thc Dund-
ing, caused by the slate being placed upon the
French roof and allowed the whole 10 slnA 10 tne
| ground The work was done under the personal
superylsion OF Mr.. Speer, and BY days work. II
was said BY many who proiessed TO have know
ledge On the subject that tue construction went
forward with the meanest economy, and much
severe comment was passed upon the owner oy
sha indignant persons who congregated at she