New-York tribune., 1873-09-03
TIE BUILDING DISASTER.
OPINIONS OF EXPERTs-FVE DOLLARS WOULD HAVE
SAVED EIGHT LIVES.

OPINIONS OF ExPERTs-FrvE DOLLARS WOULD HAVE
SAVED EIGHT LIVES.
The inquest, by Coroner Herman, relative
TO the death of the eight victims of Ninth Ward
building disaster continued yesterday. The follow
ing il tue substance OF the testimony elected by the
Coroner:
william Jose testified am architect. and reside
at No Iowery drew the plans for the alteration OF
the house No. 32l West Elcyenhst owned py Haizuer
Der Bro considered the old walls strong enough for
the part to be built upon them several Dlds or tue
work received but Mr. Halzderber chose hls own
carpenter aud the specifications 0f the contract
were OF the old beams should DE used again
examined the old beams so used and found theI all
sound considered both walls aud foundations strong
enough il would have cost S3OO more 20 nave DuIi.
foundation and entirely new walls III my pp,h0n ION
the falling of the walls was due 10 the remove al oI tne
beams which braced the walls and to previous damage
Waiter W. Adams testified I am superintendent of
the Department of Builincs the application to alter
the house No 321 West Eeyenthst., was made on May
a. May 2s my inspector reported tie ouins 10 o
u GOOD and safe condition 10 be altered as dchcipeu
and recommending permit, which was granted on June
a when the building fell suspended Inspector Iu.u3
and made Investigation; found that lie had visited
the building the day before, and that Whch the Olu
beams upper story removed he was inspect
ing unsafe building IN lludson-s and was unable TO
/ restored him TO duty; in my opinion the fall,
ing the walls was due to the removal
those had previously served rs braces TO support
the walls don't think the weather had any Injurious
effect upon the walls they had been standing 80 years
aud the should have become hard ana mperVous
the ram don't think the testimony, yesterday thtt
places sho ws that the walls rotten the mortar
had spoiled by the fire, but only IN the fireplace
itself there is law for preventing the construction OF
alteration OF buildings by Incompetent or persons
who builders by trade, and the lack OF snch
we have experienced in the Building Department;
we have great trouble with speculaors who become %
business; as the law stands there Is nothing 10
prevent them; shoemakers and others who take no
on to style themselves builders hang up their signs az
such and into the business; with good proieNsioa,
builders who have been brought up IN the business we
re-
and know n large number OF such men VINO Would nOt
erect unsafe building even If there were no Ia"
Jcsse Newman testified 7 carpenter, aud live at
No IA WashinHon-st; made contract WIN NJ rioert
ner of Ninth-aye do the framing for me; attribute
the falling the walls to their soitchng py the wei
weather. , , ,,ro
at No 1856 Nnthave. don't know what caused the Dld,
ing fall the second ana third uer Oh Deans - % n n a
the temporary partltlon cOnsldered everything 'aio
when left the ground 1880 o'clock ~
Gilbert j. Bogert testi1ed live at No. 50 Chris
topherst. have been builder for Is years; nave seen
the ruins OF the fallen house; saw the mousse wheh IL
was in course OF erection about 80 years IL was then
considered good house AS thefe was In the N,ntn
Ward; with proper care II would have beeh sae 10 hter
IL as was intended by the If braces had been
placed between the walls properly neY "Ouu nVt hao
faen think the accident was caused ny tne Sutlns ot
of the channels for the floor beams and the leaving oil
the upper part OF the walls unsupported me chanhel
weakened the walls; don't think the rain had any
John L. hamilton testified am carpenter by trade
the ruins OF the fallen building at the REQUEST OF ME-
Crawford the masOn think that II the OLD moor Deans
had been left in by the frdmer and the walls properly
hroced the accident wOnd have Occurred DOtD the
carpepter aud the ought 10 have seen 10 thht;
fully agree with the last witness as to cause OF the accl
dent; think a careful man would have taken greater
precautions.
il Fuller testified am mason. and live At No.
$40 West EIeventh-st Mr.. Crawford the mason asked
me some tune before accident IL thought the beams
We're strong enough told HIM thought they
knowing the way the beams were in could not under
stand why tue building had fallen until heard that
they been taken out consider that the wall fell on
account OF the taking away OF the beams which sup
ported t; the cutting OF the channel for the new
beams weakened the walls, bat II the old beams had
been left IN building wonld not have falen II would
not have than u TO have braced the walls for
the necessary timber already the ground; dOut
think the rain had anything to do with the accident
The inquest was adjourned to 10 a. m to-day, when
President Laimbeer the Department of Charities and
Correction and other well-known practical builders,
will be examined.