The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-11
ROTTEN TELEGRAPH POLES.
THOUSANDS OF THEM IN THE cIrY-ooBoNEns

THOUSANDS OF THEM IN THE CIrY-ooRoSEns
INQUEST IN THE CASE OF MRS. MGUrRB
Coroner Eickhof held an inquest yesterday morning
In tho Of MIRA Anna McGuire aged forty-hve, Of
No Hester street, who was killed on the 30 inst BY
the falling OF telegraph pole on the southwest corner
of Grand and Suffolk streets After great deal OF
testimony had been taken the was adjourned 70
,his morning AZ eleven O'Clock. Every ono seemed
reluctant catm ownership OF the rotten telegraph
pole. shis point not clearly settled whom tho
adjourned
The following the testimony
Amos Whitney bong sworn, d. live at No $50
Madison at No $50 Grand street,
the morning IN question standing in the 'front.'
Of my store and tho telegraph pole corner Of SUI
folk and Grand streets slowly falling; as il tell
struck lady the southwest corner OF Sunolk and
Grand streets; did not see the pole wnen II s.afieu
but only saw when IL going; when tho LADY was
struck she fell over; started to go TO her. ou before
got there several persons wore before me;
noticed the lady Was dead; two children who wero
with her were also kp ocked down; know nothing as
70 the ownership Of the pole that FELL did not notice
wire on the ground but cannot say whether Is was
continuous line or hot
James Crowley being sworn. said:-I am the Super
nendent Of the Police Telegraph the pole that fell ON
tho OF Suffolk Grand did not belong
TO the Police Telegraph line; do not know when
company the pole belonged TO; took the responsibility
OF cutting down four poles that we're decayod AT the
base in rand street. the poos were repored as unsafe
been down at If they belonged TO the Police
line; the Board OF Health has power, to remove any
thing that is dangerous to life in the Streets anu II
our opinion, it is the duty OF the Board OF Health 10
remove anything that Is dangerous as the poles n
the same dccayed condition.; there are number OF
poles IN tho Bowcry the side, from Fourth
street to Canal street, and also in Spring street.
between the Bowery and Broadway which are 10
dangerous condition and which ought to be removed
The following report, marked Exhibit A., was then
read to the jury
Pollok DEPARTMENT CRY NEw YORK;
NEW YORK. August 10. 1876.
sinThe old decayed poles standing held up by
So~ery to CANE"
H~ey :" Broadwsy DIVISION street. from Catherine to
Th Thirty mr., street Al liable f.lI moment
pole in Grand 1t is probable the wire
BY boy. snssngnS their kites in Another Pnle
day last, several The poles mentioned
TO be these poles though alter erection Of
ss % g. as by all The Old s
stock Several poles in the vicinity OF the which fell in
shortly nfter tho accident occurred they in very
ton to the need OF Of ali tn. poles above
mentioned Il should be done Immediately in order avoid
want. JAMES CROWLEY
Supervisor dcnt Police Telegraph.
John II. Emerck, bong sworn, sad:-I am Superin-
tendent Of the Freecgraph line; the pole fell
the OF Suffolk and Grand streets did not, 10 the
best my knowledge belong the Fire Telegraph lnc
am not aware that there any decayed telegraph
poles the side Of tho Bowcry belonging 10 the
Of the Bowcry a decaved conditions think the old
posts reverted the contractor tho city accepting
the new system
David Ii. Bates being sworn, said:-I am supcrln-
tendcnt the Atlantic and Pacific and Franklin Tcle-
graph companies the pole that tell on tho corner Of
Grand aud suffolk did belong TO the Atlantic
and Pacific or Franklin Telegraph company; saw
the pole this morning and examined NJ cannot say
who owns tho pole; have oice nearer that place
than Fulton Market side and Tenth street
the other; have Inc running Grand or Suffolk
street.
Aun Snaughncssy, being sworn. said II live at No
50 Essex street; kept fruit stand corner Of Grand
and suffolk streets, just by the pole that fell was
ouly lew feet from tho pole; deceased came down
Suffolk street and spoke to mo; she was going 10 the
dispensary Tor medicine; while was waiting on
customer heard and saw the pole giving way1
II fell and deceased lying the sidewalk WITH
her head in the gutter the GROSS piece against heI
head; the wires pulled brick OF Mr.. Heddens chm.
ney and the wires also my feet; have
noticed that the pole was rotten a. the bottom told
my husband :. was rotten and would would fall ~ saw !.
leaned against another pole that was standing near IT,
james Cunrin ham, being sworn, said:-I live At No
g. Lewis street; on last Thursday morning was
standng on the southeast corner Of Suffolk aud Grand
streets; looking up saw the telegraph pole iailingi
| an old lady and Two three children were on she
southwest corner, about step up tho curb; the
old lady and child we're knocked down; Iiite<
the child up and found had been cut about the nose
and was bleeding the old lady dead when picked
up; she taken away on stretcher by the poce
for week or ten days before the pole fell noticed
leaning against the wire attachel 10 another pole
which stood near IT,
James smith, being sworn, said:-I am an officer Of
ahmed the pole that fell about week previous to the
day fell; ordered the post to report It's
dition, and no did so; the reports made 10 the
superintendent OF Police
superintendent Waing said that all reports coming
life or limb Immediately referred 10 the Board al
Health the proper authorities to act in sucn matters
THE CONDITION or THESE PoLEs
Wishing whether the telegraph poles
the side Of tho Bowcry were in fright full
dition represented, HERALD reporter took walk
on that side OF the Fourth to Canal street
yesterday afternoon He found that distance twenty.
SIX poles all OF shem deserving 10 be condemned, al
though perhaps onc-thrd being Immediately dan.
gerous to life. Tho following the results OF his
vestigations:-
seven Of these poles, viz, those opposite Nos sol.
296 2S4 25S log, liz and SO in pretty fair conJ
ton. There are but few worm holes and very few Of
them split
and worn away at the base, to be found opposite
Nos 344 320 3O6 272. 2lS ITS 1885, 1855, 1885, 100 and
! "a Many OF these poles resemble very closely the
logs Of n beavers dam, being eaten away around tho
base In a very fantastic manner The polo opposite
No 2ls is one OF the. best specimens OF this kind
The next class OF poles are those that literally
crumbling away, and smart kick will disodgc IRON
them mass Of yclowish rotten wood These poca
opposite Nos. 332. 32S, i25, go and 80.
There two poles on the line that, besides being
little rotten, are leaning One opposite No. 243 lcana
one degrees out OF the perpendicular toward
the street. Another at No 1885, on the of Spring
street. leans least degrees out OF the perpcn.
dicular,. right over The sidewalk besides being
little rotten.
This sums up twenty five poles, opposite No. 2Ca
being enclosed by triangular signboard making II
Impossible to discover It's condition.
The pole opposite No LA. on the corner OF Grand
street. the worst OF all The entire base OF tho pole
is eaten away and only about onethrd OF the circular
rnd remains piece about quarter OF inch thick
and inches around the segment This segment,
by the way, turned toward the sidewalk, that nj
one who did not. examine the pole carefully would
imagine that is 50 eaten away. We're II not for the
wires supporting 1t this pole would long ago have
fallen.
Another piccc of negligence manifest No
l7S Here there two poles for awning con
necied by an rod. The southcrnmost OF these
poles Is entirely eaten away, and docs touch thr
ground at ALL being supported BY the rod from tha
other pole
In Spring street, from the Bowery to Broadway
there are poles in little better condition THAI
those on the Bowery
The fro telegraph pole at the Coroners' building
OF Houston and Mulberry streets 10 con-
mcucing TO rot, and leans little the street.
NEW JERSEYS INSANE