The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-28
WHAT CAUSED THE EXPLOSION,
Fire Marshal sheldon Trying to Find Out-The
Evidence Taken Yesterday.

No bodies were found in the Barclay street
rains yesterday and the digging went forward
50 slowly as 10 provoke loud complaints from
many quarters. The explanation Of the delay
il simply that the work has been bound up with
red tape. Mr.. Greenfield has been unable thus
far to arrive at a definite settlement with the
insurance companies.
Fire Marshal Sheldon began his investigation
yesterday. Nelson Greenfield one OF the sons
describes the uses to which the different floors
and rooms had been put. the stock on hand the
lighting, heating. &c. The buildings were
lighted by Kerosene. bought by the barrel and
kept in the College place vault. The lamps
were in charge OF Michael Wolfe They had
coal furnace on the third loft Of the Barclay
street building. five furnaces in the College
place basement. and two in the first loft. He
on the second. third. and fourth lofts Of the
College place building He was not aware
that they were using ANYTHING explosive in the
OF the disaster he WAS standing in the Barclay
street store. about thirty feet from the rear. in
conversation with Mr.. Dick and Farley. one Of
the foremcn His father was behind him. aud
several employees were there at work. He does
not kn9w how many customers We're in the
seemed to be coming down. He saw the flames
breaking through the ceiling and things began
to TAIL from the shelves. Farley and no ran to
the door together; Farley got out Of the show
window and pulled witness out After he got
cut he looked az the building The west wall
Ma. So the roof and the upper floors of No. 60
were hanging down together on that side. He
saw Burnett trying to MAKE his way out Of the
ruins to the roof OF 80.
William II. Schumacher OF 40h ST. Marks
pla,ce. ne oo9kkeep.r and cashieri WIS in his
eAplosl ION. but did hear u metallic sound ike
the fall of "A hcavy iron body. II WIS accompa-
MED hy iar This lasted but minute, and he
Bar lay street bulding. and almost ut the same
moment n flame shot up from the floor by the
stops connecting the two stores. He put away
his books. locked NJ the safe. us he supposed,
told his assistant to lock the small safe. and
then got out OF y rear window Of the sample
room. He Immediately went round 10 Barclay
strect the whole building seemed on frr.
William l.. Burnett. an employee. WAS on the
top floor of % Bar lay street when the accident
occurred Albert COnnery, u boy 10 years
old. wae also there. Martin Connors. II work
man. was on his way down the stairs At the time.
Witness was standing about the middle Of the
building at work, when he fcit rush Of fire
rrparenuy from the fronts at the same instant
the roof fell. and the hOur seemed to drop and
carried him down with II. He was fast n the
ruins for some umc-ii seemed ten or fifteen
minutes. Then he saw light. and manage ed TO
work hls way toward IL; found himself al the
west side OF the building the wall was al gone,
and he stepped out on the roof ~ Gj Barclay
street. tonnrry called 70 INN several times
that he WAS caught hy barrel OF sugar. but he
could not -et 70 him or see him. That morning
he had told the engineer that he wanted the
4 am turned Oh in his room and some repairs
mad So tine pipes would not lraN. iue tugi-
Moor cnnir M, 4, see the lnfehfni-t afout H. the
wOrS was done. ans the steam turned IN agHin.
II had Away found the engineer carn'nl about
h.s business and could not say that he ever saw
MIN under - influence of liquor
John ShHllnger Of ls2 clinton street, Hobo
ken. a candy maker. Nss working on the q ~
Lon Of tn. College place build IA about 70 f., t
from tn" front Win low. ana near 'ht stairs. II"
heard a ROAR like sue bursting of "a hoiIb. thN n
hr felt a rush ot AR That S'em-t to come from
below and wis gon" in % mon M; then there
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