New-York tribune., 1875-02-27
QUESTIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY.


BLAME.
Active measures were taken by the Depart
ment OF Buildings yesterday to determine the causes
of the accident at st. Andrews Church on Thursday
night and TO the remaining walls OF the burned
building adjoining the church from all danger OF falling
superintendent Adams said that on JAM l3, the day
after the fire No. Is Duane-st, General Inspector
Fitzpatrick reported to him that the walls of the burned
building were in an unsafe condition On Jan. "a
the Superintendent sent notice TO James NJ Shaw the
owner Of the building, requiring him to brace up the
walls and TO put the building in a secure condition I'M
medistey. On the following day letter was received
from John Shook the architect who had constructed
the building acknowledging for Mr. Shaw the receipt OF
the Superintendent's notice to repair and promising To
have the matter attended to at once Mr. Shook also
called at the SuperiDtendents Office and assured him
that he would himself the securing OF the unsafe
walls al once On jan 80 Inspector Croft, who was at
that time in charge of the Second Building Inspection
Distrct-which includes the burned Oulding-repoted
to superintendent Adams that the walls OF the building
at No. 25 Duane-st had been temporarily made safe by
proper braces preparatory to taking the walls down
On Feb Inspector Croft again reported that the top
story and gable walls were properly braced
The old walls which built in 1862 varied In thick
ness Those Of the first story 20 inches thick and
those of the second and third stories 16 inches, while
the walls OF the upper stories were only IL inches thick
The law of May 22 1874, pescribes that no wall OF the
class in that building shall be built less than l6 inches
thick The proper Of thickness OF the walls was
provided for in the permit to repair On Feb. a. In
spectOr VIM c. Hanna of the Unsafe Buildilg Bureau,
reported to Superint Adams that he had exam
ined the premises at No. 25 Duane-s and found that
the walls were IN good and safe condition 10 be al
tered and enlarged in the manner proposed oy the arch
tect and builder and he recommended that permit TO
go on with the work be given them.
The portion of the wall which fell upon the church.
tn Lac
bulged lltte but it not considered as unsafe as
the easterly wall, next to Sweeny's Hotel which
four inches out OF plumb The north west of the
wall stifened by stout chimney which, the super
intendent thought, undoubtedly prevented 1t from
topping over upon the rear of the tenementhouses
fronting on City Hallplac The western wall was
properly braced anchored by the floor beams which
had been put in pacs along the whole wall from the
front Duanes to within 25 or 80 feet Of the rear 1t
was the portion of the wall not thus secured which
toppled when swayed by the wind. Most OF the
bricks fell into the alley. five or SIX feet wide,
between the church and the burned building
but the upper part OF the wall and the cop
ing stones fell upon the church roof, crashing
through in two places between the rafers which aid
not break The portion OF the wall which fell IL
inches thick about 90 feet in hight and from 25 TO 80
feet long The three stories of the wall not at
injured and perfectly safe TO be built upon In
"a hours more the whole wall NOad have been made
u
Superintendent Adams called yesterday the Mayor,
and submitted report OF his action relative to placing
the damaged building OF Mr. Shaw in proper repair.
He wished that he and his subordnates should be set
right before the public as he claimed that some OF the
reports in the morning papers did them injustice The
following his report and the accompanying docu-
ments:
The Hon. WM H. WICKHAM Mayor ! respectfully
submit TO you the facts 50 iar as hs Deparnneht is
building at No Is Duane-st.. which occurred the
evening of the 25th ns causing the death of several
records of this Department show that on the 18th of
January last a fire occurred on the premises, which
the the walls standing. On the 18th of January
report was by the Inspector that portion OF the
westerly wall was considered unsafe and notice TO
that effect served upon the owner as the law re-
through his architect. John b. Shook, that the
would be immediately attended to- The Inspector OF
the district directed TO VISIT the building daily and
report further Immediate action was necessary
the regular weekly reports made By the Inspectors
down portion considered unsafe The District In
spector visited the building on the day OF the accident
five feet each story by tlIDoers.
In Justice to the officers OF this department would
beg to refer TO a statement in the morning papers
wherein it is assumed that the wall was in crumbling
condition, and lett to stand in that condition since
the fire. The facts, will be shown, contradict this
statement, and / would further state that, IN the
opinion OF the several officers who examined the walls
after the fire. the wall not considered dangerously
injured by the fire. In This opinion they are sustained
by experts not connected with the department.
done my whole duty. The parties were notified,
and they certified their WILLINGNESS to comply forthwith,
and that from reports OF inspectors tuey did pro-
ceed TO the building by braces, and that al no
time was informed Of the discontnuance OF work for
anv length OF time sufficient 10 warrant me i'll further
proceeding but on the contrary the wall was progress
lug, best OF my information, in the usual way
which, in the judgment OF the inspector all that
eO9e nc eohr o the terrpe camty and do not wish TO
Wi
ton copy of the notice and response referred 10
aDDiication was filed on the 2Oth inst to repair the
building in accordance with tue present building Law.
Superintendent OF Buildings
DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS, NEw.YORK, Jan. Is, 1876.
~ q; w ?a,1s, SSss Of s S9s saGy ag S q DP'n
respectfully report that have TIN. aay Examined the building
f rom the ' noTsea corner Of CITY spae and Du.He the
S @ feet Of ns loo @ bS a M sG
cry and end the be unsafe and dangerous the
west aide badly sprung and OUT wall
seoaS sseoaS story causing ns:ro
commencing about 70 feet back from front entirely
destroyed by fire. leaving the entire hight Of walls without adequate
bracng M -, H. T. FITZPATRICK Inspector
wrote 10 Mr. Shaw informing him OF the condition of
the building aud the needed repairs 10 make the build
ing safe. ana concluding as follows You VIII also
take notice that unless you immediately certify to this
Department your Willingness TO make the said building
safe and secure, survey will be ordered TO be held
thereon law directs and all costs and expenses
Incurred therein to become a lien said building"
NEw-YoRK Jan. Is, 1876.
W W. ADAMS, Superintendent Of Butidings.
DEAR SIR: MIR. James M. shaw has received your
notice relative to unsafe walls in his building, No rs
Dnanest., lately damaged by IRE; and Will have 1t at
tended TO. Yours truly, JOHN b. SHOOK, Architect.
TIE FIRE DEPARTMENT BLAMELEss.
Chief Engineer Eli Bates Of the Fire Department
stated yesterday that the Fire Commissioners could not
in his opinion be held responsible, even by the utmost
stretch OF reasoning for the falling OF the wall upon st.
Andrews Church The jurisdiction of the Department
over any building ceases when the fremen extn
gusned the that called them 10 it, and surrendered
the building TO the next claimants. Sometimes the