The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-04

itv when I sent the answer 70 the De,
told me to go ahead ana do what was
proper and necessary; | engaged Brown Adams
j tod them to do whatever was necessary to
strengthen the beams that were III the building;
think that MI. shaw sent Tor Mr. Devoe, VI the
firm OF Devoe 4 CUddlngton and | told him 10
put beams into the dilferent stories In order 20
strengthen the walls; had examined the walls
at the time and did not consider them unsale ior
the moment; thought they were sale enongn LOT
men TO work in the building; the workmen ac-
cordingy went on with the work: | went TO the
building from time to time and gave the men
directions how TO put the beams IN aud When tney
were put IN was satisfied with the way in which
the work had been done; l received no lnstruc-
tons from
THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS
as 70 how the walls should be secured the only
notice from the Department OF Buildings which |
nave seen is the document marked No. /: ala not
consider the walls dangerous at any time; 1
Thought they were safe up 10 the moment they
fell; / do not think the irost injured The walls
much; heat will crack a wall so as to allow smoke
and fire TO 90 through 1t; sometimes lrOst VIII
''raisen a wal-that Is. spread II; rom my exam
nation | found no evidence that the 1rost had
penetrated the wall more than an men; after a
wall has oeen expanded by-heat 1t VIII be con,
tracted by cold; 4 the heat mad cracked the wall
the wall would be Injured by the experience;
| considered that The walls had been injured; |
considered that the rear and portion OF the east
wall should be taken down Jour stories ana the
west wall two stories, along Its entire length;
little of the part OF the west WALL below the
two upper stories, should also be taken down IN
order that the rear wall could be tied" securely
eas sne wa sweenys HOTEL Should be taken
down two stories; one reason for taxing down
the rear and portion oil the east wal lour
stories because they are only twelve
Inches thick and | wanted to build
them up strong and comply with the
present law relating TO buildings was the arch-
tect OF the building when II was erected origin
ally the walls were ninetyslN Ieet rom the moor
OF the alleyway OF the church 10 the rool; they
were ninety-tso feet long; the east wall was out
OF line; do not think the west wall was 10 a Inc
IT WAS OUT OF PLUMB;
the beams being fastened TO the walls. cOnsd-
cred Sufficient TO brace them; have seen walls
more out OF plumb than these were. and have
had difficulty In pulling Them down; iresn
holes were cut in the walls 10 put in
the beams that were meant to secure the
walls by temporary braces: fresh holes were
cut on the fourth story in which to put the perma-
nent beams: do not think that the fresh hoes
cut into the brick work mad anything to do with
the falling OF The walls; there were holes
III that part OF the west wall which Tell; 40 not
think the force used to cut the holes In the walls
had any influence toward weakening them; II the
braces from the upper beams to the timber holes
a the roof had been put IN with force the walls
might have been weakened !; l examined the work
OF securing and bracing alter 1t had been done,
and satisfied with 1t: was not ordered TO take
the walls down in the first place: did not nave
the west wall pulled down because It would nave
injured Sweenys Hotel and the other buildings !;
DO not consider that would nave oee , pi1psr
shored up before the work OF rebuilding a! tue
rear was begun, and considered
THE '.sHoRING' WAS PROPERLY DONE;
| did not consider that there was any immediate
danger OF the wall falling, yet did not consider
1t safe wall to build upon; considered IL would
he made, by the appliances | used, safe enough
until the masOns had finished their work;
/ was not restricted by Mr.: Shaw IN re-
gard to pulling the walls down on
OF his ear that MS property ia the Duiia-
ing would be further damaged; there was a
charred roof beam running from east 10 west
about twenty-four feet from the rear; there was
also a chimney, forming buttress OF about three
feet wide. and considered the rear part OF the
building was secures: consider that the upper
part OF the wall Tell into our building, ana mat the
lower part was kicked out and fell upon the
1Ound in MIR. Snaw's lot; the stone found Ia the
gallery OF the church was the Intel OF the window;
/ think that the wall Tell on account OF the
hurricane which occurred on the n,gnt OF
have been done to secure the walls tnan did ex-
ccpt 10 cut noles through the walls ana 10 put
braces up and down and through everything In
the building: l would never wish TO cut holes
through walls, as IL weakens them very much,
and the force OF cutting them Injuries walls;
braces might nave been put from the ROOF OF the
church to tue wall, and they would nave kept IL
from falling outward but would not have pre-.
vented the wall from falling inward; cannot say
whether or not toggle would nave
PREVENTED THE WALL FROM FALLING;
the EXPANSION and contraction OF the rope must
pe taken in 10 consideration l think 1t might nave
helped little to support he wall; the two upper
stories were OF tweve-inch walls; considered
from the notice OF the Department OF Buildings
purposes: decided TO make the walls from The
hfth to the sixth story except on the east side,
next to Sweeny's Hotel, sixteen inches wide;
acted on nv own judgment n strengthening the
walls: | consider / braced the walls safely and
surely.
Juror-Is 1t Gus ,omary for architects and build
ers TO submit 10 the judgment OF the Department.
OF Buildings
Mr. Suo0k-Yes, sir.
The inquest was then adjourned until this morn
ing at ten O'Clock.