New-York tribune., 1874-04-25
A BUILDERS TRAP.
FATAL CASUALTY IN BROOKLYN.


About half-past a. m. Yesterday the inhab-
stants OF stocktonst Brooklyn aud it's vicinity were
startled by crash which instantly drew them ITO"
their residences into the street when they sa" uns
column OF light smoke and dust rising rom NO. 40"
etoekton-st near Tompkns-ave. where three-story
and baseme OF frame building was approaching compe
tion A fre alarm was sounded, and In q few minutes
Engines Nos o. 10, and IA ard Truck No 2were on the
uroupd II was then discovered that the building had
suadenly collapsed and become q heap OF ruins under
which we're buried nine ten workmen who were en-
RACED upon the building preparing II for oc-
eupancy as a tenement-house. The building was
formerly located at Myrtle and Marcyaves where II
was used as a lagerbeer saloon, and bore the name,
"The Railroad Shades" few years ago IL was moved
70 it's present location where until short time ago, II
has been occupied as . dwellng-house. 1t was owned
hy John Brown. foreman Of COwperthwaite's carpet
store, No. lO3 Chatham-st., New-York. Mr. Brown
recently engaged MIR. Moses B. Osborn master mason,
and Mr. Thomas Byrnes plumber OF No l7S4 Fulton-s,
with number OF mechanics, TO reconstruct the build
ing. 1t arranged 20 have the structure which was
two stories high raised TO have brick basement placed
underneath and another frame story built on top The
building was raised and very thin foundation was
built under IT, but supporting beams were placed IN
the cellar and centerbeams TO bear the weight oi
the partition. The whole weight OF the building
by the slender brick foundation Ihe structure
was feeble and topping and only remained for one OF
the carpenters who yesterday undertook TO widen the
frar doorway, TO bring the building TO the ground AS
s severed IN two the frame parted the puld-
INC oponed large gap made In the entire structure
which instantly fell Ten persons were in the building
when II fell. Matthias Husort q carpenter, saw the
building parting ana rushed toward the street; be was
struck by some falling and his face and head were
badly cut Thomas Tbbles, another carpenter, IN
escaping sustained panulnu in the back John Il
-. .---Ned from one Of the windows
into ,ss street mad his legs and feet badly prs'T s
Hogan OF Kosciuskost. sustained scalp wound as nc
ran from the falling building The remainder were
buried under the ruins Of the building
The cries aud shouts for relief were heard by the rowa
OF bystanders who oongregated around the ruins Inc
fremen upon arriving at the went Immediately 10
work TO rescue those who were buried IN the runs
Ropes crowbars and other implements were promptly
procured and under siiu directions the hremen ell
tered npon their work. The crowd assisted and large
force was soon at work. large police force, con-
ss,ng OF reserves from ithe Fourth, Sixth Sub, and
Ninth Precincts assisted in the work Of rescuine the
suGerers and kept the large crowd from interfering
with the work.
The fremen had only been searching few minutes
when they discovered portion Of mans clothing
pressed between the wall aud the fallen timbers. Care
fully removing tho heavy woodwork which pressed
upon him they drew out the dead body OF man who
had been crushed into almost unacceptable mass
The body of found near the cellar doorwho was
evidently endeayorlng 10 escape when crushed by the
falling building. The body finally recognized by his
sons being that OF Moses Osborn mason. Scarcely
had the man ged remains Of the contractor been placed
in an ambulance when another dead body was carried
from the ruins deep cash on both sides OF the head
indicated that death must have been instantaneous The
body identified that Of Thomas Byrnes, plumber
His body was also removed In an ambulance Samuel
Davis, o carpenter, residing at Lexington and Stuy-
vesant-aves, next removed Both his legs and his
left were broken and his body was severely
Bruised lie received also internal injuries He
was removed to his home injuries believed to be
aftar ri dug mt
of the ruins, One Of these Thos Ledwb, carpen-
ter, age 20, residing at No 90 De Kalbaye HIS ribs
fractured and one ankle was broken He was re.
moved TO the City Hospital. The ether was O. ?. Muir
dock, mason, age 81 residing at No 81 Ryerson-st
His left fractured and he received severe scalp
wounds His injuries are not considered dangerous lie
aas removed to the City Hospital.
Iy noon all the persons who have yet been found
were removed from the runs but as the rumor st re-
manned that all the workmen had not been accounted
for the search was continued until nearly D. Soon
after noon Coroner Wmehi arrived and gave dIrec-
tons for the men 70 continue the search While mere
or alive; but when that hope ceased they were to
leave the runs further nndisturbed nntl me jury
persons, composed principally Of builders and Others
Inoned as a jury: william L. Ballard, Thomas Brown,
NJ Murphy, John ClarE, j. II. kiDg, E A. Monroe,
John Meyer, Henry Bauer, David Acker, William
Holmes George Hartmann, and James Collins; Several
Oi these gentlemen visited the ruins yesterday after
noon. after which they discharged until Monday
afternoon when inquest Will be held the Coroner
also took list OF prominent men, who are supposed TO
bo experts In building, order TO summon them as wit
with regard to the proper construction OF Duld
fngs.
The ruined house in falling drove IN the side OF the
house. No I40 constructed Of frame work, and COM
yeioly knocked U out or plumb that II viii nave TO be
terday II had 70 be prOpped with mbers This house
occupied at the time OF the accident by the family
ofLeu McGary. The occupants rushed out of tins
building as soon as they discovered the mshap, and
haye not been permitted TO resume occupancy Two OF
the workmen are still missing, and by some are sup
posed 70 be under the ruins. AS their names and ad-
dresses could not be ascertained yesterday owing
20 the death Of their employers, no inquiry could
be Instituted by the police at their residences.
One Is said 20 have been engaged in putting up the
marble mantelpieces He by Mufdock at his
work 10 minutes before the building fell but as his
Sooy has not been found there is hope that he may
sn the work OF digging in the cellar. This was en-
poyed only yesterday morning for the first time, aud
abe rear stha In attempting to by the rear door
lie wac caught by the falling and thus buried
ander the heap Of rubbish, which sas not as yet
been removed. boy IL also reported TO be missing,
Dut OF this no definite information could be obtained
A IRIBuN. reporter visited the City Hospital last
evening, and found the injured Ledwlth very
hopeless condition. His pulse was low, and amid ms
raving he tossed about on the bed in manner that
dered everything winch had been done by the surgeons
OF avail far the fractures concerned His
wife aud Eternaw SAT weeping in the room, and sew
cad belief that the injured could live through
night He s ~ years OF age aud has two small cbi
Murdoch was IN far hopeful condition. Al
though badly injured on the scalp, the Skull was not
Sractured and he seemed 10 be perfectly rational He
could gave description OF the fall OF the building but
wac sure he saw the missing workman, who was en-
yaged at the manepece zen minutes telQre tbe lQuse
FELL MurdOcks arm IL badly fractured but every hope
y entertained Of his recovery Some gravel or lime fell
Unto his eyes aud Affect his sight far could
last evening the other injured persons
who had been taken 10 theI homes, we're in lair
Commissioner Phraner OF the Department of Fire and
Buildings, is the General inspector OF Build
tngs In the City OF Brooklyn IN the city. lie
had an Assistant Inspector in each District 1t
O. their duty 70 report 20 him what buildings
are erecting, so that the provisions Of the law