New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-15
DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT.

day Fourth District detail OF men from the var
GUS fire companies having been selected The drill was
ordered place the plaza at the Junction OF East
Broadway and Canalst, and was under the charge OF
william ii. Nash, the Chief of the Fourth Battalion
Chief Engineer Bates also on the ground and had
general supervision.
About 1890 a. IN the fremen began to assemble
large crowd had collected the open space to see the
experiment, and at this time gathered In close
proximity to the remen It became necessary to have
police for the order and Capt
McElwain OF the Seventh Precinct Police detailed sergt
Snyder and eight paromen for this duty the Captain
taking personal command Of this detailed force.
The aerial ladder in position at 10:45 A. m and
made to raise to the required hight
by OF the wndlass. Chief Nash, after shaking
hands with Mrs Scott Uda who present to observe
the result of the experimental drill leaped the upper
section Of the ladder and followed by Philip Joseph
Maus Of Hook Ladder Company No 6and Wm Hughes
Of Engine Company No. 9, both OF whom occupied posi-
tcns lower down the ladder but still on the upper
section. Thomas c. Ice of Hook and Ladder Company
No 0, Robert j. Gould Of Engine Company No. 10, Cor
neiius j. Kingsley of Engine Company No. IL, and
Michael Cuslck, Assistant Foreman OF the Chemical En-
gne Company Canal and Essex-ss. next took their
positions the base OF the ladder; and the signal
then given to hoist It, Steadily the heavily weighted
apparatus rose from the level position to nearly up
right one, and, it assembled Capt McEwan OF the po
lice ordered the paroen TO drive the crowd to-
ward the sidewalks. lie thus cleared space OF about
80 yards in width left the middle Of the street free
BREAKING OF THE LADDER
As the ladder toward the perpendicular 1t swayed
great deal When it reached the angle of between go
and rs degrees VIM ii. Nash 80 feet from the
ground. Chief Bates at this moment gave an order to
stop the hosting when suddenly the ladder snapped at
point from the base the remainder nearly
20 feet in length being hurled TO the ground with great
force, with the upon it. Chief Nash was thrown
from the top OF the ladder with terrible velocity He
no of
aud picked up insensble, although not quite dead
Maus thrown with such force that his face and body
were fearfIlly mutilated Hughes also hurled very
heavily to the ground but although very much injured
he retained his for several minutes The other
four men, occupying lower positions the ladder were
only slightly injured, and able to assist their
less fortunate comrades The upper portions of the lad
der were broken into splinters.
The injured men speedily removed stretcbers
to the Madison Street Police Station and alarm was
sent out by telegraph for the whole OF the ambulance
corps the city repair the Of Disaster as at
that time not known how many had been
injured force Of the Seventh Precinct Police
was ordered immediate duty. Almost as soon as
the three injured fremen taken to the Madison
Street Police Station only few blocks Distant the AIN
balances at the station each attended by surgeon
and Charity Commissioner Thomas 8. Brennan arrived
OF the same personal charge Of the ambu
lance oorps Hughes still alive, but after died
Nash was alive when taken to the police station but died
before any assistance could be rendered. while Mr. Maus
was declared to have been killed instantly
SCENES OF EXCITEMENT.
The excitement at the of the accident was In
tense and 1t required efforts of the police TO pre-
vent the people from impeding the actions OF the police
and hremen. After the injured men had been taken
away, hundreds gathered around the fatal spot. The
police gathered the broken ladder and took 1t to the
police station await the action Of the Coroners jury
The crowd then rushed toward the police station and In
n shorfti Inn a
sonst that the police formed rene to keep the people
ct distance from the building The newsof the disaster
soon spread every direction and the relatives OF the
nremen rushing toward the police station. where
their piteous inquiries added to the excitement Com
missioner promised that the remains Of the de-
ceased should taken their homes posi-
ble and special messenger sent to the CorOners
Office where Coroner Croker issued permits for the re-
moval Of the bodies
The body Of Chief Nash removed to No. 149 Gin
ton-st that of Philip j. Maus to No 159l9 Essexst and
that of william Hughes to No. 10 Monroe-st, the resi-
dence Of his father.
CAUSES OF THE DISASTER.
The ladder made Of brittle wood, the rungs
being fastened IN their places with wooden riyets The
boring Of the holes in tho uprghts for the rungs had
impaired their strength and tho cross boring for the
ryets made the main supports weak ut those points
The actual OF the breaking will be determined by
the investigations to be held by the Fire Department and
the Coroner the general opinion yesterday that
the weakness the ladder In its construction and the
brittle nature Of the wood used the ain causes OF
the disaster.
Coroner Croker impaneled jury yesterday afternoon
and visited the scene of the accidents after which the
,ury viewed the bodies victims and inspected the
wreck Of the ladder The jurors then discharged
until the day holding the inquest which has not yet
been appointed.
SKETCHES OF THE VICTIMS.
william H. Nash, Chief OF the Fourth Battalion, was
QQO nrrfr I'm yvarh l aerupA I'm N
army and was several times promoted for gaanry He
was appointed fireman on July 20, 1868, in Engine
Company No T. and during the following November was
promoted TO the rank OF Assistant Foreman Of Engine
COMPANY No. 28, becoming the foreman in less than
tbrae months after He was promoted TO be Chief OF
battalion Jan. l. 1872 His record for galanry shows
that he saved woman at IRE IN East fourteenthst.
two children at fire IN Division-s five persons al hre
in ForeythsL; u and wife and five children at q lire
IN C1ntonst and several others whose names are not
recorded. He received the Fire Department bronze
medal for gaantry at res. He leaves wife, son,
and two daughters. He wss prominent member OF tne
Masonic and odd Fellow traternities and bis funeral has
been taken In charge by New iorK LouSe NO oSV VI fee
Philio Joseph Mans was SO years of age, and
exempt member OF Live OAK Hss was oncned fireman
under the present Department oct 10, 1874 ana
assigned to Hook and Ladder Company NO. . with
which body be serving at the time OF his death He
mourn his loss He member Of Enterprise Lodge,
William Hughes was about 26 years Of age, and had
been married only about three months He was appointed
fireman Jan 1872 and has served IL Engine t9 On
time Of his death.
INTRODUCTION AND USE OF AERIAL
LADDERS.
THE INVENTION BROUGHT FROM ITALY By MRS.
sCoTT-UDA-PURCAAsE OF THE RIGHT BY THE