New-York tribune., 1873-03-12
4 WRECK FAILS TO PIECES.

THE OLD HOUSE OF REFUGE GRADUALLY DIS
MANTLED BY THIEYES-ITS FINAL DESTRUC-
TION.
The interior of the old House of Refuge at
Twentythrdst and Frst-ave fell in yesterday morn
ing for several hours ii feared that some boys
had been buried beneath the ruins. The building was
very large being five stories in hight and occupying two
lots extending through to Twenty-fourthst. 1t was
first used as house of refuge about the year $780, and
was abandoned in 1885, upon the removal OF the House
of Refuge 10 Randals Island. The building was then
sold TO private persons by then Commissioners Of
Charities and Correction. 1t has since been frequently
sold and resold has been occupied by manuIae-
turing companies, and has been deserted py
the tenants repeatedly, owing 10 an impression
that the building not safely constructed
AS the years passed the woodwork decayed new mDrs
were not put in, and the floors became so weakened
three years ago, that a silk manufacturing company
who occupied the building fearing that their workmens
lives would be sacrificed gave up favorable lease
The building has since been unoccupied. Gradually
everything valuable stolen by the thieves OF the
vicinity Poor families living in the nelghoorhood
stripped the interior Of its woodwork, until nearly all
the flooring had been taken away and nothing remained
between the basement and the roof but the great beams
The beams themselves were finally attacked, and SO
many were taken that was feared that the walls lack
ing support would fall in. Residents OF the vicinity
visited superintendent Macgregor of the Building De
partment and informed him Of the dangerous condition
of the building
Superintendent Macgregor Feb. Is, informed John
6 Prouy of No sc Barcayst the owner. OF the unsafe
state of the walls Mr. Prouty, IN reply, promised to
have The walls Of the building pulled down at once and
said that he intended TO put up another building on the
same lot OF ground. Meantime the theft of wood from
the building connued vagrants have slept every night
in the lower rooms and boys have played in the building
during the day. At m yesterday, the beams OF the
owsr floor gave way and the little that remained Of the
flooring ana partitions fell into the cellar few me
mepts afterward the beams of the second and third
floors also gave way and the contents Of the floors fell
upon the wreck cellar. The noise produced by the
falling timbers was very great causing intense fear
among the residents Of the neigborhood lest the walls
of the building should fall against the tenementhouses
opposte Looking toward the building, spectators saw
great clouds OF dust pouring out OF the sasess VIII
dows, but no evidence of tOtterinc walls.
Capt lyman of the Eighteenth Precinct Police, was at
once informed OF the disaster and told that there
was fear that some persons had been in the building at
the moment the floors fell. Capt lyman, with squad
of police hastened 20 the building, and, entering IT,
searched among the wreck of the floors for victims OF
the accident No bodies found beneath the beams,
however and the police the conclusion that no
one had suffered by the fan Of the floors William Abra
hams of No 947 Thrdave, affirmed, nevertheless, that
he had seen two boys the building few minutes
before the floors fell few hours later fears in this re-
gard were quieted by the testimony OF William Costello
blacksmith occupying part OF the ruined building,
who said that he also saw the boys enter the building
and that fearing their safety he had compelled them 10
leave it, few moments after the boys left the building
the floors fell.