New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-18
ALMOST A CATASTROPHE.

TWO TENEMENT HOUSES IN RUINS
AN INSECURE PARTY WALL FALLS AND DRAGs DOWN
Tux ADJOINING BUnDTNGs-IJvRs or ONE-HUY-
DRIED PEOPLE SAVED THROUGH TIMELY WARN
ING.
Two large and crowded tenement houses in
East Twenty-third-st. began to show signs Of falling
about D. saturday, and after an hour Of gradual
sinking tumbed into a mass OF ruins The slow yet omi-
settling of the BUILDINGS before the final crash
singular providenual the inmates nearly
100 in number The Of yest0ry, narrow brick build
ngs East Twentythird-st from No. $40 to No $50 in
elusive built about 26 years what once
a marsh, in which the tide and fell The houses
have been insecure for account Of the ooseness
OF the filling which supported their foundations. About
years ago they condemned by the Depart
ment Of Buildings. but after some repairs had been
made they again allowed to be occupied No COM
plants afterwards made to the department, and
the tenants appear 10 have had great faith In
the stability OF the buildings although the passage Of
heavy cart through the would make them cmblo
perceptibly.
The first warning OF the approaching accident tho
breaking OF large plate-gass mirror. followed by fail
OF pasterng in the liquor store OF Henry WASH on tho
first floor of No 81 Mr.. Walsh rushed up stairs and
the other occupants that the building about
to fan and then to the Eighteenth Precinct Station
and informed Capt. Allare of the danger The entire
reserve Of policemen tho station soon az
the place, and Capt Allairc, seeing that the party
wall between Nos 3f2 and 344 settling in tnreat
enng manner ordered all the people In both houses TO
leave tae holse Immediately. The widest confusion be-
gan prevail among the tenants, and IL required tho
utmost efforts Of tho police quiet the tumu and COM
pei the enforcement OF Capt. Allaise's order.
Many OF the people were unwilling to
/ leave their rooms without having hgst moved
out the scanty furniture and wearing appar, which
many their sole possessions. Ascending
tie narrow starcases blocked by the terrified yet stub
born dodgers the police compelled every body quit the
place once, without waiting to anything. In
many casas the officers obliged to their clubs
to enforce obedience TO the order
became apparent 10 Capt. Allarc that No. $40
would be involved in the ruin Of the adjoining building
aud gave orders that all buildings in the row.
from No $40 No 800 inclusive, should be cleared OF
their occupants. Tue order promptly executed.
On the top floor of No. 3t6 Ellen Monks found In
bed in the last stages OF consumption She tenderly
carried the street and placed in ambulance.
| which conveyed her Bellevue Hospital Her aged
father who decrepit to walk, sent with ner.
An old lady named Ruth Harkins and Ellen McEnnery
who had lately birth to a child, were also sent 10
the hospital Meanwhile, the superintendent OF Build
ings. W. W. Adams. the Comm Of Charities and
Correction Inspector Murray and several companies OF
frcmen arrived To lend thelr assistance in OF need
Every possible precaution had bee taken by si5
to prevent loss Of life. Fifteen minutes afterward tho
party wall between 3l2 3ii fell the cellar.
The roof bent, and after falling little way, remained
! clugug 10 the au]Oull- DuudlnB. lhe Mdlis,
front aud rear, bulged, and then fell outward.
! There was sudden crashing Of timbers, rapid
| succession OF duh sounds, made by tho fal--
ing bricks and plaster and dense cloud OF dust OBJ
scared the buildings When the dust cleared t was
that the a1ors OF the two buildings bad sunk at an
angle and remained wedged with the debris OF the party
wall their fall they had forced the adjoining build
ngs Nos $40 aud 49, much OF shape tearing away
whole squares OF BRICK and mortar. and rendering
their fall certain II left TO themselves. An in
vestgatAl OF the ruins made by Super
| intendent Adams and Capt Allaire. and it was
decided that Of the tenants should be allowed
TO their rooms in the remaining buildings until
their safety had been assured. Before D. ~ TIE poor
people who had Oeen forced nom thcr holnes louhl
shelter with their neighbours who kindly opened tnelr
ors to receive them strong giird o. ponce was
the crowds Of curious spect tors who cont ned until
late hour aud gazr upon the fallen Du IS
Tue police remained on d9t, near the ruins al night.
Morning had scarcey dawued when thr people from tho
! immediate nelghhOrlO0d began to hock to the scohe.
Those had tenants OF the ruutl buildings wefo
clmOrous for their household furniture, bdi me police
refused to PeE ANY Peoh 10 pass The o wn S ' Wno
haq been ensagd to pun DOWN PATS sn or ' nS
such other parts as could be se,ured in that
way, on the ground at an early hour.
wall aud an oyerLannng section was pulled down. Then
a elton On the corner OF No $40 IWentytith-st was
overtnrown Ali the work OF Snoring ANA plOpplnS
up the iOOrs continued under the direction Oh uoo
win & Co.. Between 4 aud O'Clock IN
the afternoon permission was given 10 several adVenUr-
persons to enter the runs to get Out necessary
| articles or furniture
The owner of thrs property IL Felix Aston OF No >
West Nnth-st. These tenemcns erected about 70
years ago They built very ceapy and the fOun-
dallous party wall Lad parallel and Without
cross to render It When the hv"story
tenements raised the bricks were laid
in poor AoulIxaRpd without sufficient number
| OF cross brieSs@6nd anchor irons. The first
that was noticed alarming nature about seven
years ago Then the door OF the liquor store az No BAG
Twenty -tGd-st sagged that IL could n0t be smut.
Information given the Department OF Buildings,
and lt was ordered that the tcncmcn be enpurd OK
their occupants the walls thoroughly secured by
shores and The opinion OF The experts who eX-
amincI yesterday that the coarse OF stone
formed tue foundation OF the party wall
had spread account OF the prssufeiud the un Ter
miuing D the soil. The premises Will be directly
under the charge OF the superintendent Of Buildings,
Walter W. Adams, until everything is rendered It
is generally believed that there viii be no further destiuc-
property the adjoining teYements That were
weakened by fail, have Dtcn care ny shOrcl So 10
hold them ny until permanent suppo1 can he arranged.
! IL impossible to estimate Inc damage wsth
| any degree accuracy, because there were many
| families and few able 10 state what they mad
lost Tue buildings Oll aud tue damage To tnenl "a
estimated exceed $4,000, though tne tencmeDts
were very aUd ave stores IN hight sup rntend-
ent Adams will thorough investigation TO DO
| made