New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-10
JERSEY BUILDING PERILS.
TWO BOYS KILLED IN JERSEY CITY BY THE FALL OF
AN OLD DWELLING.

TWO BOYS KILLED IN JERSEY CITY BY THE FALL OF
AN OLD DWELLING.
For a year past the residents of Railroad
ave- between Monmouth and Brunswick SITS, IN Jersey
Cit have noticed and spoken or the unsafe condition OF
a bllding at No 25s Rairoadaye The building whioh
wal two-story and attic frame dwenghouse was OLD
weakened such extent That the neghoors Oh
the family residing in 1t became alarmed ior tne
Salty of the occupants and Donald Morans. who
livai ut No. 2j6 Railroad ave, made compaht
abolt SIX months ago to the Chief Engineer
of the Fire Department in which he affirmed that the
bung was liable fall at any time and njure not
only the family residing there but the passersby Act
ing On this information CheEngineer Farler and FIRE
Commissioner visited the house and ordered the
family 10 remove from It, The house was then occupied
by aMrs. Reilly, who owned the building, which had
beenlcf TO her by her hrs husband whose name was
Dola, She was married afterward and continued to
res a, with her second husband in the building until
driver out by the officers.
The Fire Department about making preparations
to deuosh the building when communication was re-
ceivcdrom City Attorney Lewis IN wnch 1t was stated
that TIE Fire Commissioners had no right TO take Sch
a step and that the only power In relation 70 the re-
moyal of buildings which vested IN the Fire De
partmnt was that which authorized their destruction
10 preent tine spread confagration. The OPINION
was delivered in reference the Of another build
ing which had been reported unsafe, ana It's effect was
to ITO, action in relation to the house at NO. 25S Rloa
ave heretofore referred t.. IL was then asceFtaned
a. stated by Chief .neer Firriar last ig tnat none
OF Boards IN the city had any power according
10 thecharer order the removal ot building on the
GROUND that II was unsafe, aud here the matter
rested TIE family, however, obcYed the lulunctions
OF hf Chief AMI the Commissioner and moved ONT The
bulnC. after ~ vacated. was broken mo ny Ooys
IN the neignbOrh0O1, and in short time become sort
OF oyen uay-house for them. The owner, AFTER she
moved away, gave permission TO Il builder named John
smith TO sand for building purposes underneath me
house, Through this permission the foundation was
undo .mued, aud excavation was made beneath tie
hou which was without doubt the chl"f cause ~ lis
fan After this earth had been removed Donald Moans
the door neighbuI, a-an Dee iine appreIeustge
aud rported condition OF the Building 10 the FIRE De
partuept second time, but hld any authority
TO act IN matter the building was allowed 10 remain
Yesterday NJ ( y. III. tine tlmbcrS IN tue FOUNDATION
gave way In consequence Of undermining by The re-
nova OF the sand. and the whole structure zen WIN
James Hussey, Peter Fiannigan, Patrick hordns aud
William Mclaughlin. The two former, age . ana 5
wears respectively, killed outright. the others
were rescued comparatively unuJured. y crowd gdth
cred around the place shortly afterwlrd, and were Oud
IN their deluncatOns OF the city officials lt appears
however from the statement OF Chiei Fdrrler thd the
outhorities were fault they hah done all that
yas with the charter TIC bodies OF me de-
ceased removed 60 their parents residence ~ No
l5G R,itroad-ave., next door TO tue fallen piAtLg,
and the County Physician notified An inquest VIII
lie held
A CONTRACTOR INFLICTED.
In the Passaic County Court OF oyer and
Termiuer at Paterson n j.. yesterday the Grand Jury
presented two bills Of Indictment against Alfred Speer
Of Pass.lc. char ing him with nauslaughter in the
cases OF Counc Imam Mclean and william +. Batkley,
VINO were killed BY the tail OF his Juinlns Dec 1878
Mr. Sheer pleaded not guilty, and ueid III $4,000
ba.l to appear tor trial In the April term