New-York tribune., 1875-03-04
LOCAL MISCELLANY.


THE INQUEST IN THE CHURCH DISASTER
CONTINUATION OF THE CORoNER's INvEsTIGATIoN-
TESTIMONY OF THE ARCHITECT AND THE BUILD
ERs OF THE SHAW BUILDING.
The ipduest in the st. Andrews Church
disaster was continued yesterday by the examination OF
Mr. Shook the architect Mr. COddngton one OF the car
penters engaged TO put beams IN the Shaw build
ing and one Of Mr. Coddington's workmen.
Frederick Krottenhaler, the employe OF MI CoddinR
ton testified that he had engaged for three weeks
putting beams and tmbers in the walls as temporary
supports until the ofrcbuding could be deter
mined He did not personally examine the wall
putting the tmbers where they we're ordered, Win
out exercising any personal discretion IN tue matter
tmbers were put IN from side wall 10 side wall, ABOUT
six feet apart the fourth. ffth and sixth stories
they were put In old holes where the iron anchors
welc they were nailed In with anchor nails the ends
OF the beams we're inserted four inches in each wall;
on the day of the disaster, about noonme the beams
were all In poson and the scaoding for the masons
had been boisted on which they were TO work in taking
down the wall; lower beams were to remain the
upper beams having TO como out as the walls came
down. from each the beams In the upper story braces
we're put old holes one end being nailed TO the
beam and the other wedged In the hole that 1t could
not 10 moved; sometimes the end OF the upper part
of these braces would fastened to the burnt end
OF the old beams, which were allowed to remain
Witness knew OF no other way by which the braces
could have been better fastened The wall nearest the
church could not been braced from the outside as
t was about 30 above the roof OF the church. He
knew also OF means Of taking 1t down except as
they were going TO do It, Tho roof OF the church would
not have been sufficiently strong in his opinion, to act
as base for outside supports the wall For space
of IS feet In tho rear of the building there were no
braces-nothing to support the wall; withess had no
orders to put any supports there There was an nspec
tor of the Department Of Buildings present every day.
and hc seemed satisfied, saying that everything WIS
going all right. Witness was not AFRAID 10 WORK IN
the building
Daniel Coddngton OF No 7Attorneyst.. of the firm of
Dever a. Coddington builders, testified that his firm
took charge OF building about tho thd day AFTER
the fire. Soon aferward Mr. Shook. the architect, Or
dered that scattering beams be put In the upper
sores to the walls and the trainers were pu 10
work Tor that purpose few days later witness was
IN the bull ing every day. and when his work was fn
ished Mr. snOOk said he thought hat was all ne wanted
safe after The fire, but noticed that the east
wall mad cracks n II, nnG no csmGsr '"rfe Roar5s
were nailed over that part By order OF MI Shaw only
tne upper part was Out OF line; Mr. sh00h directed
eyery,ning work was begun by the witness few days
after Feb H. when the contract made; witness con-
sdered that tho building mad Oeen properly spcuea pu.
thought thc TWO op rest tncT could hayg
been pulled without endauSerlng the huJoihng oud
nSs some Debris might haIe fallen in tno church: Mr.
shaw was very ,reui not 10 have any one, hur Nc
ii there mad been great loss OF property but tnGre
must DC no loss OF life or lmD.
Tim r. Sno0S the arcEIIect OF No. IL Chamjcrsst.,
testified that he mad been an architect ABOUT 81 years.
Tie qay after the ire he advised Mr. SHAW, VINO con
afed him TO get es!inltes of loss aud cost OF rebuild
lug compare with the estimates OF ne insurance com
panes as wanted to iako Ee rebuilding INTO his own
LANDS The Insurance companies allowed Mr.. Shaw to
repair the bIiding himself The witness nad cnase "
the budiug OI iu IL he received notice iron tne
Department OF BIding., aud ssnt his auswtr - ~
str.lcted BiOwn e. Adams. house movers TO 90 what
ever was necessary to strengthen the oean,. nc a'so
gave Mcssrs. Dever d Coddingoh authority 10
Strengthen the walls. H. did nO consider the walls
unsair for tie moment ana In and out OF the build
ing rCQdcnty during the MOrk. lie was salsEcu lhaJ
tIe worK Was we ne. The heat hat not injured the
walls much. he fOund evidence tnat Inc rost hau
expanded by heat IL contracted again uIIcr coa' anu
tue cracks cO cd up bus thr walls woGid nc iJ rei
and nc Thought walls were j cd III that manner
he directed that the rear ana pof'ho o tie c'st Wis %
should b. taken four stories, ana the west wlii
three stories. The east wall was out Oh ine, anu 'hc
west wal out OF plano, nut he considered thc 1eams
fastened t. them suicent 10 brace Them lie had sen
walls much out Oi plumb, ana had IUunu IL dulcht
40 pul DOVE. Fresh NOES were cut 10 i,dt III
tho temporary beams and also IN the foGrlh
story TO put the permanent beams Ih'se no uou9t
weakened thc wall, Dut not enough ~ cai'' thc i IL
the braces had been put III win uFce tlr walls bSht
have Weakened bat he considered thal the Work
throughout had been properly dOAc L3 diI hJJ nIft
The ws wall pm down because IL would nave Injured
bweeuey's HOtel ahd the aG Iniug bjding'. He coh-
serea II more judciOus to strengthen I'm IL lt could Dc
rake do u tue right way. Thcre WAS no restriction on
M Shaw part AGAINST pulHg IL GO"n hhch u ieI!
on Thursday gh he Thought, from his examination.
taI fue nlct par. or the fell lItO the snlw build
ing aud the churcA, Oeldg kch"i ou' b 10
sneak, by tne upper part. Tno eOpl1g soneS were
toni,d ia the 5Iaw lot, while tHo lnel OF the window
fell ON Church. 1ne nurrc me was uhdOuDlraJ thc
cause ar tbe falling OF the wall In his opmIol nctnag
could have been to rcnier tue walls secure R'pe
tacAng would not have prevented the walls lfom Iii,
hrtcrs ON lie Church might have prevented iIil out
word bat rot inward. lie considered from Tue NOTICE
of the Department of But!lngS, t1dt tue walls were
unfit 10 rsUuli upoh' anu ne S"on''eu " 'n'' Duh
Tao inquest was thcn adjourned until this morning.