The New York herald., 1875-02-27
THE DUANE STREET DISASTER.
Sorrowful Scenes at the Church
and Hospital.
PUBLIC SYMPATHY AROUSED.
Handsome Subscriptions Already Flow
Ing In.
ACTION OF THE CORONERS
Three More Deaths Of Victims
Anticipated.
OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
What Building Superintendent
Adams Reported.

The terrible accident which occurred in St.
Andrews church. Duane street, Thursday even
Ing, was yesterday topic OF general conyersa-
ton ana cause OF profound grief in all parts OF
the city. When the news had spread that several
persons had been killed ounded while attend
ing to their devorons in the church, n interest
was everywhere manifested not often conse-
quence OF even a calamity which brings sudden
death and manning to many persons In our midst
In the lower sections or the city, especially, the
people were most earnestly sympathetic and at
an early hour hundreds OF persons lined the SIDE
walks in the vicinity OF the disaster,
eagerly observing the buildings and dis
:ussing the causes which might have
ed tothe unfortunate occurrence. AS the people
came down town TO their daily avocations new
accessions were added to the crowds, and all
through the forenoon, afternoon and evening the
police were busy in keeping the passageway along
the street clear. Men, women and children seemed
to look at the church edlhce with wondering
gaze, and fingered around in the Immediately al
Joining streets with demeanor showing that
they felt deeply all the misfortune, sadness and
suffering that mad so suddenly beiaen so many
worthy persons The poorer classes seemed as If
sudden bereavement, personal to all OF them, had
stricken them down. In the iulness OF their aston
ishment and grert they were loud in genuine lamen-
tation. People OF this class in large numbers
had also come from the uptown districts,
many OF them having, IN years past, been
worshppers in st. Andrews church. There was
unbounded sympathy in the language OF all Tor
the poor stricken families that had suffered by the
sudden, appalling disaster Most painful scenes
occurred at times during the day In
THE IRRESISTIBLE EXHIBITION OF FEELING
on the part OF relatives and friends OF The de.
ceased victims and Of those wounded people who
had 20 narrowly escaped death. The stoop lead.
Ing TO the eastern door OF the church was pointed
to py thousands as tie spot where the child had
been trodden TO death in the frantic effort OF the
worshippers to escape. Toward his door most
people present turned their eyes, conf urng up in
their minds, no doubt. the dreadful ten minute
scene that hid SO recently occurred Immediately
within. Expressions OF kindly feeling nd condo
lence were freely uttered when the priests OF st.
Andrews Rev. Fathers Curran and Flynn, ap
peared among the crowos No fears seemed to be
entertained that
FURTHER BREAKING OF THE WALLS
would occur, and the cnildren were allowed to
move about in the neighoorhood OF the church
without any hindrance. The work set on foot In
the forenoon 10 remove some portion OF the rear
wall In order to avoid all possibility OF further dan
ger, was promptly stopped oy the Coroner's or.
der, who insisted that the buildings and the
debris should not In any way be disturbed until
the Coroners jury had seen the rains and formed
an idea Of the full nature OF the ACCIDENT. As
will be readily understood, the scene at
the hospital and everything that pertained
10 the dead victims formed sub
ject OF constant and sympathetic inquiry
among the people. None OF the wounded died
during the day, fact which gave a hopeful view
for the ultimate recovery OF all these sufferers.
The strictest inquiries were made among the off,
cias supposed TO be respons Die for the proper
condition OF the buildings. and the public have
spread before them to-day ali the facts which
could be CLEANED from reliable sources.
THE PASTOR CAUTIONED
From q statement made py the Rev. Father
Curran the pastor OF the church. IL appears that
rumor circulated TO the effect that at some time
recently he had been notified OF the danger
threatening the church edidce and cautioned not
~ allow his congregatlon TO occupy the east gal
lery Is absolutely false. No oflcia other person
notified the pastor that any danger was imminent,
or at all likely The only possible foundation for
sucn q rumof Is that on the night OF the nre when
the names we're in full force, and be (the pastor)
was hurrying to and from the east side OF the
sanctuary, to remove the sacred vessels and the
vestments, he was cautioned By some one to take
care OF himself as there was no telling whether
the wall at that side might not iall In. No person
ever had given him q warning since. The pastor
also stated 1t was not true that the doors OF the
cnarch we're locked. There was FULLY enough OF
room for egress only for the scare.
GENEROUS AID TO THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAM.
LIES.
The only rsdeeming feature OF such a distress
ing calamity is the sympathetic charity which 1t
svokes in the hearts OF the geneIous scarcely
aad the news OF the awful disaster gone forth
when noble men came promptly forward to
aounce that they we're ready to gave as much as
they could to relieve the sunerings OF the stricken
families whose Dread-winners were dead or
wounded, or who were unable to bury their dear
oDes Messrs. Martin B. Brown and william A.
Butler have subscribed 800 each Tor this purpose,
and handed the amount named TO Father Curran,
and another gentleman, whose name was modestiy
Withheld gave the same amount. Others gave
smaller amounts to the pastor, who was not
little uonched Dy such prompt and timely gene
rosity. letter printed below suggests the pro.
prisry OF Q general subscription which might
alleviate much oil the distress.
THE FUNERALS
VIII, as far could be ascertained yesterday
mostly take place on sunday afternoon, about
ewo O'Clock. Last night wakes were held over the
dead The writer visited the residence OF the
Pseney family, who lost beloved boy OF fve and
che McGinnis family, whose loss OF the mother was
siso . most severe one, and the scenes at the
WaKss we're OF Q sad and painful interest. No less
than nvs homes we're husned In tue stiffness or
death, while more than thirty others resounded
with the moans and lamentations OF the disabled
and the sick. Fortunately no additional deaths
occurred yesterday, so that the list OF the dead
published In yesterdays issue OF this Journal re-
mains still complete and correct. 1t is a fearful
task, however. to be compelled to state that tue
aoctors consider the death OF three OF the patients
t the PARK Hospital as inevitable.
THE THREE HOPELESS VICTIMS
slludsd to are Michael Splane, Mary Jane Martin
and Patrick Lavelle. Micnael Splaipe, q young boy
Of thirteen, mere child, presented most dis
vsssing spectacle. HIS face was horribly disng-
ursd. Q terrific gasn running back rom his right
eye 70 the side oI his head. HIS expression was
one Of intense agony, and the relatives OF the
enid, - they crowded round his blood'stainsd
eouSA. sssmsd almost rsrAyssd by the sheek