The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-02-20
Fall OF q Church In View Fork.
tSew York Trfhune. 3tsaE

AZ I.Ea II. H. ySSteTG6y the ROOF OF the
New York Presbyterian church, on the
southwest corner Of Thompson and west
Houston streets, gave way beneath the
damp, heavy snow upon 1t, and fell with q
terrific crash, crushing the greater part OF
the walls. and hurting mass of broken
timber, bricks. and mortar upon The ada.
cent sidewalks and street railroad tracks.
Although there were about fifteen persons,
one-half Of whom were children, 10 the base.
ment of the building, and considerable
number passing along the street close by.
no one was injured. Sexton Joseph Greer
and his family, consisting of four adults,
were in apartments in the basement of the
structure, in which they reside. John Todd,
of No. IS cast Fourth street. and his wife
and two little children, who, in consequence
Of the storm, bad remained after the morn.
ing service, in order to attend Sunday school
at , i. NJ, were in the lccture-room in the
basement. and six or seven young girls, pu.
pills of the school, had just arrived One of
The latter was entering the building almost
at the very moment Of the crash, and mar
rowlv escaped instant death.
The walls in falling were forced outward
while the timbers of the roof caught upon
a portion Of the walls not demolished in
such manner that the main floor of the
church was enabled to resist the pressure of
the ruins, and to protect the inmates Of the
basement which was almost entirely ,lun-
iurcd. The upper half Of the walls, and all
Inc furniture and fixtures Of the audience
room. including n. new organ, were totally
DESTROYED, involving an estimated loss Of
about $50. 900, the fire insurance on which is
of no avail against damage of this nature.
The building was of brick, with brown
stone trimmings, and was erected about 40
wears ago. 1t covered an area about 80 by
IS feet. and its roof, which was fiat, was
without supporting columns, and was only
sustained by light trll$s-work. The walls
were dangerously THU, and of somewhat
limsy construction. The lecture-room, re-
Gently rctittcd III IN expense Of 81 200, was
moi damaged.
The Rev. w. W. Page. pastor. had just
been to the church from his residence, No.
Narck place. Sullivan street between
Blocker and Houston streets, with some
dcliracics for the children, and was only
few yard. distant ION his way homc) when
the church fell. The basement of the church
WAS used for one Of the free choral schools OF
the Orphcon Society, and among the narrow
escapes was that Of jerome Hopkins, the
composer, who happened TO hc in tho church
Just before the roof fell.
4 Srvcnth.Avenlc car had just rolled by.
| and a woman and several men were passing
| in different directions through both Thomp-
son and Houston streets, hGt fortunately
| upon the opposite sides from the church.
| The tremendous noise and conclusion caused
| by the fall Of the building alarmed Police
| INSPECTOR McDcrmolt, who was at his resi-
dencc. No. 12S Thompson street, and he has
| tened to the scene OF the disaster. Finding
! n painful rumor prevailing that several per-
| sons had been buried beneath the ruins, he
promptly summoned the reserve platoJns
| from the Eighth, Fifteenth, and Twen-
ty-cighth Precincts, and at once began
| TO clear away the rubbish. An alarm of
fire was also sounded. and the tircmen,
who quickly arrived, earnestly joined in
the search. The tracks Of the Seventh
Avcnue railroad, in Thompson street,
and Of avenue { railroad. i'm Houston street,
were completely hlockaaed for several hours
with rubbish and uprootcd trees. When the
ruins had been rauSackcd, and 10 injured
PERSONS had been found, the railroad tracks
were cleared and travel was resumed. by
inytation of the Rev. Mr.. McCampbcll, pas
tor Of the Presbyterian church in Spring
street near Earick street. the congregation
OF the destroyed church wolshippcd in the
former cdlicc lust evening. II is announced
that the regular weekly praycr-ineeting will
take place AZ the residence of the treasurer Of
the congregation, T. Is. Rich, at No. 2l4
Thompson street. on Wednesday evening, by
which time it is hoped that a temporary place
of worship and Sunday school-room will
have been secured.