The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-05

strengthen the walls; l also intended to have
some new holes for beams were cut IN Sbe walls.
hut do not think that they injured them a chan
was left q beam was put into the channel;
think the walls could have been thrown down
been thrown down be ore the Fire Department
went away on the day OF the IRE.
down and rebuilding alter you got possession Of
the building as existed from the time Of the Ore
Until the 18th OF February
MIR. Titus-I don't think It did the upper part of
the walls had not been made secure by beams. nor
had any holes been cut there Tor braces; the car.
penter and Trainer were not under my control; l
think there were some eighteen scattering beams
put IN before went TO work; do not think
tnere were any braces in the sixth story in the
rear; the last rear timber was put IN the fifth
story within a few days after the signing OF my
contract; cannot say how many men were in the
building at WORK Immediately alter the IRE; my
contract was only Tor the mason work: am IN
the habit OF taking contracts Tor dangerous work;
IN DANGER ALL TIE TINE;
worked the safest way as thought; considered
taking down the wall was left to my Judgment;
had no directions from MIR. shook in regard TO
to take down the walls except IN the way l was
going to work-namey. by putting in temporary
not consider that was responsible Tor the falling
o. the wall; had only to take y down and went
penter had nothing 10 ' do W with TIL tearing ring
down the wall; think It is doubt;
Jul tnaC bne wall cOuld nave been DraCed
was great danger while working inside the build.
ing; 1t was about the worst Job I ever nan to do
knew the Department OF Buildings had pronounced
the walls unsafe: there was nothing done that
know OF to secure the building except to put the
some braces put IN on the SIKH story. but there
were none put 70 that part OF the wall which fell;
:arorwunder whose direction Was s the work car.
ried on to secure the wals9
Mr.. Titus-Mr. Snook's direction.
JurOr-WaS the work NJ hA
walls completed before you took charger
Mr.. Titus-Tne trainers were at WORK after the
18th OF February; they had TO wait Tor tho timbers
begin your work.
DAY the trainers were working for me IN ersctlng
scafio!ding; had the wal not fallen down that
have begun next day; a0 was as siaad "H sSas
the walls would be weakened bv the thaw-
ING sr op ice Mr. %ao suocS ses
MIR. shaw thar i wanted beams put
In before re- 0oe the walls down wanted them
folds could have been put up with uprights from
IMPOSSIBLE AND DANGEROUS
to have put scanoldng up seventy-six feet along
that wall; certainly told Mr.. Shook that con.
for Mr. shaw immediately after the fire, about the
iS;a Of January my estm n, included the cos. OF
Sunday alter the calamity discovered red
q crack reaching along the line Of
OF of the wall ''V Which A ie and 'n Which, Ror' Oo
doubt, ran along the length OF the wall; had
seen that crack before signed my agreement
caused when the bea ms fell at the time OF the IRE;
tue ends Of the beams acted as levers; this crack
unless the observer was In the church steeple;
neither could 1t have been seen from the Inside;
with safety to myself and men Mr. ' Shook od me
that some masons had suggested that poles could
BE built sFss'sf n. 'sa assS a sSSa n
that way; ! would not have Willingly
ssps By ts side Of r the Ta Il 1aa
as they did stand; the walls not having been
taken down by the fromen before they lcit the
have been secured with toggles and braces; alter
the nremen lett it the building fell into the hands
or the Department OF Buildings.
JOHN b. sNOoK ARCHITECT RECALLED.
He testined:-l considered the walls moment.
moment worked upon them considered d Twas Was
Juror-Haye you had much experience in put
t srss, up buildings that have been damaged by
MIR. snook-l have had some experience.
JurOr-In cases within your experience were the
walls pulled down or built upon
Mr.. Snook-Some parts OF the walls were pulled
Witness contlnued-Mr. Titus told Mr.. Shaw he
was little AFRAID OF the east wall Mr.. Shaw sent
,or me- and went wtn MIN ana mr. Titus to the
terested one ala not at the time think he meant
what he sald and do not think so now. judging
from his subsequent conduct; Mr.. Titus told me
that he had an idea that the west wall mad been
pushed over by the east wall.
JurOr-What was going to increase the cnance
Of danger9
Mr.. SnOok-I suppose the longer the walls stood
the greater the danger OF their falling think there
was danger from the heavy wind; Considered /
could go ahead and get through with the Job as the
walls stood alter the fire discovered no large
crack extending about eighty along the line or
the beams OF the sixth story before the signing OF
the contract; saw the crack alter the wall had
fallen and am OF the opinion that IL was caused Dy
the fall OF the walls and not by the falling OF the
beams
The inquest was adjourned until this morning at
ten O'Clock.