New-York tribune., 1874-06-25
THE SYRACUSE CALAMITY.
DETAILS OF THE SAD OCCURRENCE.

| DENTs-rHE EXCITEMENT sUBsIDiNG.
| SYRACUSE, June 4-Further search this morning
in the debris of the Central Baptist Church disaster
failed to find any more bodies. The list of killed
numbers thirteen. Last nights list is correct, ex-
cept in the case of the reported death of the boy
Ostrander. The number of wounded roots up lC0,
OF whom 20 are serit usy injured. There have been
nd deaths to-day. The scene Of the disaster has
been visited by thousands during tho entire day.
squad of police has possession Of the building
pending the coroners inquest
The occasion Of the gathering last night was fes-
tiva given by the ladies of the church and concert
by "The Little Old Folks" At the rear OF the
church are the Sunday-school rooms occupying the
first floor. and the church parlors occupying the
second floor. This part of the edifce in use for
the festival and concert. At the time of the acci-
dent supper being served in the central parlor
which had been prepared for the occasion with
| tables, &c. This room, which was 40 feet square,
was filled with people, the session room below being
| deserted, save by few persons. The number in
the supper room is variOusly estimated at from $50
to 800 mostly grown persons. At the time the uoor
gave way the children of the congregation were in
one OF the outrOOms being prepared for the Ancient
Concert" But for this fact alone, the list OF the
dead must have been very much larger. as many Of
the helpless little ones would have been crushed to
death in the mass of humanity crowded into the
shaped vortex formed by the falling floor.
At the moment of the falling of the floor, the
| scene within the parlor was one Of happy enjoy
ment. While all were pleasantly engaged without
single sign of warning the floor suddenly sunk
beneath them, and in an instant the happy throng
found themselves buried in mass of struggling
humanity, intermixed with falling timbers, furni-
ture etc. and in utter darkness, the gas having
fino sI,od tv fha in Of
The descent of the floor accompanied with
terrible crushing of timbers and from the endan-
gered human beings went up horrible cries for aid.
An instant after the fearful descent had been made,
all was silent as the grave but Immediately after
heartrendng appeals for help were to be heard from
hundreds of those who were in agony Immediately
after persons were issuing from the doors and
windows, which were smashed out by the fright
ened people, and an alarm was sounded.
The uninjured within the church who were able
to free themselves from the began at once to
assist in rescuing others. The fremen and police
were quickly at hand aud labored nObly in the work
| of rescue Entrance to the church was at once
stopped and none were allowed to enter it, except
those engaged in taking out the sufferers. The
within the building was terrible in its details
and that without the ediice was heartrending In
deed. Fathers and mothers searching for their
ing for husbands brothers for sisters, and children
for their parents of whose fate all were uncertain
and in dread. Quietly, but rapidly, the work
of extricating the people was carried on
by the aid of lanterns, large number
of which had been secured. While some
busted themselves with shorelng up santing Sec
tions of the floor, many others were aiding. men,
women and children to free themselves and as fast
"a the living and dead were rescued they were passed
out through windows and doors, where ready hands
assisted to convey the dangerously injured and
dead to physicians offices, and the neighboring
houses. The work was vigorously but slowly prose-
cuted and toward midnight, the last of the living
and the dead had been taken out.
The excitement without the church was terrible
and as each body. either dead or severely injured
was being carried to the adjoining houses, the mass
surged back and FORTH all terribly anxious to ascer
tain who it was and whether dead or alive. At the
hight of the excitement not less than 10000 people
were crowded into Montgomery land Jeiierson-sts.
and in the adjoining premises. The excitement at
the scene did not subsde until long after midnight
at which hour the dead had either been removed to
their homes to various undertakng-rooms in
the city, about which excited groups were to be seen
as late as o'clock this morning discussing the ter
| rible details.
THEORIES AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER
THE TRUSS SUPPORTING THE FLOOR VERY M
PERFECTLY CONSTRUCTED AND RoTTEN-LIsT OF
THOSE INJURED, AND THEIR CHANCES OF RE-
COvERY.
SYRACUSE, June 24.-Varous theories as to the
cause of the accident are advanced The floor
which fell was suspended by iron rods from o
wooden truss under the roof. These rods went
through the lower but not through the upper chord
| of the truss. The lower chord had been splced
wrong side up and at that point was the first to
| give way. The floor, having no props beneath 1t,
sank in the form of the letter " Most
of the deaths were caused by the falling
| timbers of the truss. Some, however,
were smothered by the plastering. The
floors Of the church were supported
| originally by iron pillars. A short time ago the
| church Building Committee. with the consent. as
they say of the architect. removed the iron pillars
| The result was the calamity of Tuesday night The
| truss was very imperfectiy constructed, Besides
being splced, the most prominent builders in the
city declare that it was rotten. 1t was put in green
and has the dry rot. The following persons are the
most seriously injured: ..saJ5i
Mrs. Dr. Wainwright, whose husband was killed, Is
injured internally; she is reported better tonight
Mrs Rufus p Burdick, leg broken between the knee
and thigh and severe bruises about the body.
E1.Alderman Barnes. right wrist broken, side and
| head injured. He is doing WELL
Carrie Ostrander, daughter Of Philip Ostrander, dan
gerousy injured about the head and sds Her recov-
| cry is doubtful.
Frank Candee, clerk at the Candee House, seriously
| injured about tho spine: will probably recover.
Mrs. James winnie seriously injured about the shoal
ders and side. and also internally.
Frank c. Ainsee hip JOINT badly injured and leg cut.
Mrs. Josie Smith dangerously injured about the chest
| and spine She was struck down and he'd by tho tim
| bers. Improving.
John Mead. seriously injured internally. He 10 ex
pected to recover.