The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-02
THE DUANE STREET DISASTER.
Coroner's Investigation
Over the Victims.
EVIDENCE OF EYE WITNESSES
The Falling of the Roof
Described.
A MEMORIAL MASS.
Death Traps Found In Theatres
and Churches.
WHAT IS NEE ED.

The Investigation into the causes OF the falling
N the wall Of the Shaw building upon the roof OF
Bt. Andrews church-by which Mary G. Connors
was instantly killed and by which the congrega-
ton or the church were so infuriated or crazed
with fear that in their flight to the street they
rsmpled four other persons to death-was begun
yesterday morning in the Coroners' ONCE The
rooms were crowded. District Attorney Phelps
was present, his appearance being q response TO
the following letter sent him on Saturday.
ooSosEs,. OFFICE NEW r. XosT. Feb % 1874 .
thy anil 0 nasf
oTsy
:Gss e ssss
sSsve suspicion. ana desire That nothing shall Be left
s ST.
10 B. X PHELPS, ESQ., District Attorney.
In opening the case Coroner Eickhor said:-
1--WE Will now proceed to inquire what was the
drst cause OF the deaths OF Mary G. Connors,
Michael Mccarthy and three other unfortunate
persons who losr their lives on the evening OF the
2sth day OF last month in ST. Andrews church,
whittier they went in devout moods, thoughtless
OF dying before the altar. Somebody must be re-
sponsible for causing their Deaths The wind is
not the only culprit. The storm which occurred
on the evening mentioned was not unusually
severe, yet II overthrow the wall OF q building.
What Is needed from this investigation IL the dis
covery OF whoever is to blame for allowing an
innrm wall to stand until blast carries 1t down."
REV. THOMAS CARROLL
was the FIRST witness called His testimony was
rs follows:-I live at st. Stephens church and am
q clergyman; on the evening OF February rs, 1875.
! was IN st. Andrews church; had been called
there TO preach; was preaching for about twenty
minutes, when l heard the wind blowing against
the window; I stopped and rejected, as the wind
was very strong, and then continued
my discourse; soon aterward saw
and heard the plastering coming down
from the ceiling Of the church on
the east side; immediately afterward there
was great panic and confusion, and !, at that
time, was unable to form an idea OF the danger;
thought the wind had lifted the roof or or had
blown IN the side wall; the dust prevented me
rom approaching the exact state Of the church at
the time; l escaped from the church with the
others, but returned afterward; / went through
the sacristy door, and then through the base
ment; went to the Park Hospital, and anotnred
the people who were lying wounded there; that
evening was the first time was IN the church.
Ind was not aware OF any danger.
PATRICK F. MULDOoN
testified as foiows:-I am Q roundsman of police
attached to the Twenty sixth precinct; on the
In st. Andrews church.; Father Carroll was
preaching; about twenty minutes past eight
O'Clock heard q rumbllng noise which thought
was caused by number OF empty ice carts going
through the street, was sitting In the body OF the
phurch; heard q crash and saw mortar, bricks
and art falling and q NUMBER OF people were
thrown down; l jumped up on my seat and
begged the people to remain quiet, as the
danger was all over; l think the first noise was
"a NJ thol ono hrto fho
states OF the roof Of the church; think that few
seconds elapsed between when heard the strange
rumbling and the time heard the crash and saw
the plaster and bricks falling into the church;
after the crash a great number OF people were
jumping over the side OF the gallery into the body
Of the church; caught In my arms one woman
who had been hanging to the side OF the gallery;
then some more bricks came down, and retreated
two pews; Father Curran asked me to go to the
front door and get the other half OF the
doorway open; one half was already
open; the people were lying against the
door. and 1t was found that their pres
sure alone kept 1t closed. as It was not
bolted; when they were removed the door was
cSurcn openea; passing the stairs Ieaaing to the
gallery on the east side ! noticed number or
women with their faces looking up the stairs;
1t was Win difficulty that they coud ce removed;
renamed at the middle door by Father Curran's
direction; the firemen soon came; noticed some
men pEling women out rom under the ruins and
heard cries for IN us saw Snf
did not see any dead in the cnurch: reached me
front door by going over the backs OF pews part
picked up woman VINO was moaning; some
people were lying IN the vesrbule, and had TO
Inc east side gallery " do not know where the
people were killed; there are three doors Oh
Duane street beside the Zoo. door on Cy .o Han place.
know the walls were dangerous; had never any
lntimation to tnat effect; heard at the time Of the
Ore that they might lall upon the church.
LOUIS Il. ROUSE
was the third witness, and sad:--l live at No. 81
In the vestry OF st. Andrews church; was acting
Is usher; there were ABOUT 800 people in the
other usher was in the vestry With me; heard
the rafting OF the windows and thought that nail
ped preaching for a moment: very soon there was
crash and some OF the people arose and came
open ss the seor esns rom
City Hail place to the vestry; when |
lows; turned back and went up the vestry stairs
TO keep the people In line as they were coming
ran down the middle aisle To the front door and
found IT partly open went to the east door and
at the top. and the fremen and police were trying
to get the crowd back TO get the door open; no.
the boy Feeney they were lying in the vestibue
1T the foot OF the stairs on the east side OF the
peope at there the eastern door from leaving It and
going out OF the middle door.
JAMES j. WYNNE
testified as follows;-I live at No. AZ Park street
and am telegraph operator at Ponce Headquar-
ters; on the evening OF February 20 was attend
Ing services IN ST. Andrews church; was seated
IN the west side or the centre aisle; heard |
rumole ike that OF a tornado passing over the
city; heard a crash and almost Immediately |
aiterward another crash and looking up saw
the ROOT coming ia the aises now became nhed |
with people, and there was great panic and con-
door, which was hall open; endeavored to reach
the bell, out could not on account OF the pushing
and hurrying OF the crowd; ] saw a pros
tfate the centre door, aud
young man trying to ward of the crowd from
her. helped TO raise her up: noticed the crowd
at ne east door and heard the crash oil the break
ing OF the casing OF the stairs tnere; when the
casing gave way | DID not see any people iall ]
think the crowd was dense that no could
flann and