The New York herald., 1877-05-02

cried;-
~ don't know anything about III only know that
something struck me before knew that anything was
falling at all 4"
THE SCENE or THE DISASTER.
As the scene OF the disaster approached II was
found that the doors al the were blocked with
debris. Inside the floor was covered with . mass oi
concrete Above, the blue SKY looked IN through the
broken root, and after lime the scattered rain drops
hogan 10 tall upon the runs. Beneath the rag
ments lay the bodies OF The dead and The struggling
and writing forms OF tho wounded. Ia an instant
associates ana care Tor the dead arrived the spot
the work OF clearing the room begau II was no easy
task, Tor the broken roof had been soiid mass OF
masonry anu concrete, and IL was difficult 10 put the
debris aside sufficiently 10 enable the men to get al
the broken masses Of flesh aud bones beneath
the broken roof which covered the hoor OF Inc
room 10 depth OF two or three ceI In the
meantime nremen policemen, reporters from twenty
more ncip phooriug newspapers attaches OF the Post
olce and iaers OF every description had gathered IN
the room and the corridors. There was call Tor
plank and II was borne inside, and then the order
iremen bore out from the runs the rigid ngure OF
laborcr, TAIL staiworth and dust begrimcd sigh Of
sympathy escaped from the crowd as II opened
passage, and the body was carried 10 an unfinished
IN the vicinity and the excavations continued
One alter another all the dead and wounded were rc-
moved from beneath the timbcrs and concrete, and
who alive wero Immediately transferred to
the hospital
When tho bodies had all been recovered from tho
debris they were taken to The lower ioor and placed
the letter carriers department The poor fellows
were placed the floor and attended by the amb1-
lance surgeon OF the Chambers Street Hospital
aHge and sympathetic crowd stood about the bodies,
and the silence was only broken by tho orders
OF the surgeon aud an occasional murmur
OF pity from tho lookers-on. An immense
throng blocked the doorway near where the bodies
were laid and when finally driven back bv the police
covered the sidewalks ana the lower portion OF City
Hall Park Tho boaies were removed, one by one. 10
the Chambers street hospital by tho ambulances, but
even after the lust had been taken away the crowd
stl fingered and gazed at the walls OF the great build
TIE DEAD fNJcRgp.
The who were III the room at tho time OF the
disaster werc:-
Pa,rick Johnson, who was buried under the falling
roof and taken out about an hour alter dead. This
his first day on duty
Charles a. Robirson, who was also crushed and
taken out dead.
John johnson, who was instantly killed
Dcnnls fleming, badly injured, died at Chambers
street hospital last night
Max Hcnsell, badly injured about the head
John Collistcr, who was struck by the falling debris
on the mead and back, receiving severe contusions.
Henry Jones. VINO was slightly and went home.
Thomas Mackinsoa and Fred Cooper, who escaped
uninjured.
Street Hospital, whittier reporter followed them.
Upon exam nation II was found that Fleming had re-
cclved commnuted fracture or the lett humerus, in
volvlng tho elbow, compound fracture or the right
Numerous anu deep scalp wound, exposing the bone.
Colisers injuries were comparatively slight and con-
sisted OF the back and head IL is cx-
peced that Coster will be able to DO removed 10 his
homo in a lew days; but Fleming's injuries and tho
shock from when he suffered were 50 serions that
no hopes were entertained OF his recovery from his
reception at the hospital. He passed away quietly.
Hen made his own way into the corridor aud
Jones and Nackinson rushed out through the window
to passage which runs round the building.
coRoNERS ACTION.
Deputy Coroner Godschlnidt, representing Coroner
Eiuger arrived at the hospital shortly after and took
charge OF the cases ordering the dead bodies to bc
moved TO tho Morgue Coroner Eilnger last evening
called at the Twenty precinct station house, and
ordered that the police allow nothing 10 be displaced
The Coroner also announced his Intention OF thor.
oughly investigating the accident to-day. Experts
w.i be on hand, anu the debris Will be examined care
luy.
An inquiry into the cause Of the accident will give rise
20 much difference oi opinion and involves some
trovcrsy Mr.. Oakshott, who had charge OF the work.
Is Of the opinion that the disaster was due 10 some
undiscovered flaw in the iron, but Mr.. B. Null
lett, under whose direction tho building
constructed, has very different theory which
VIII be found in the statements relative
TO the matter which follow. Between these two
opinions, so conflicting In themselves and o them
starting, the whole question rests. thorough
Investigation will probably show whether Mr. Oak
shott Mr. Muilet rght, and II is to be presumed
that the investigation Will oc made. II Mr.. Muett IS
right the Indignation which will follow cannot stop
short oil the punishment OF that oi1cal cupability
which RISKS human life Tor the eraihcaton OF personal
ends.
POSTMASTER JAMES STATEMENT
Postmaster james was not in his office at the time
OF the disaster, but arrived lew moments later. He
could give no facts IN relation TO u. AS Postmaster
he hau nothing whatever TO 40 with The construction
OF the building or with alterations OF any kind.
THOMAS II. oAKsHoTT
Mr. Thomas n. Oakshott, Superintendent oil Con-
struction his Office the time OF The accident.
and y short time afterward was called upon by The
representative CT the HEHALD Mr. Oakshott
that Tie accident could only be explained
by flaw in the IRON grde-. When he
found that the ceiling OF the court room Immediately
below the IA which the disaster occurred seemed
taicn with Mr. Hill, the Supervising Architect, IL was
decaed to replace the brick wall with an iron girdcr
OF equal strength. The wall was accordngly
removed about week ago and the
roof supported by wooden struts When the girdcr
placed in position hese struts were removed and
the workncn were just about removing last when
the crash came. Mr. Oaksholt estimated the damage
at about 5000, including the new truss, which was
worth 5000 Supervising Architect Hill had been tce-
graphed to and would make o thorough investigation
OF the cause Of the accident
STATEMENT OF A. b. MULLETT.
About five O'clock 1t was ascertalncd that both OK
Supervising Architect A. b. Mul,ett ana General W.
G. Stenmetz, who was formerly the superintendent OF
repairs under Mullet, were both at the Post Oihcc
Being the city Doth had heard Of the accident aud
hurried TO the scene TO personally Inspect the damage
and ascertain VINO was TO blame un1,. hrKAaD
obtain his version oil the causes Of tho DIS
aster. The exsupervisng Architect was found
IN Postmaster James private room, and very willing
to be interviewed. He expressed his opinion very
freely, and unhcstatugy made assertions which de-
mand i'm mediate igaton by the government, and
which, truc reflect very severely upon the profess
sonal integrity OF tne present occupant OF the posi-
ton formerly nl.ed by Mr Muett, who Is Mr.. J. G.
Hill Mr. Muett, after drawing diagram of the dam
agod rooms and roof. went on TO say
FATAL BLUNDER.
sThe whole trouble IN this from the fact
that suspcnsory truss mas been set In girder.
The brick wall which was taken away the top floor,
thereby throwing two rooms into one, and which
inlcuded 10 be replaced in carrying capacity by tho
IRON truss, was originally continued rom the foun
dation OF the building In order TO form "A suitable
room on the fourth loor Tor Judge Benedict TO hold
the OF the United states District Court in
had been found necessary to remove brick wall on
that floor, directly beneath tho the nth floor.
This removed the support for the fifth iloor wall,
ana deiiections and cracks began TO be no
ticed IN Judge Bcnedlcts ROOM The present
engineer IN charge Mr. Thomas H. Oaksnott, having
become alarmed AT this detection and the cracks,
feared that the ceiling OF the court room might fall,
aud, knowing that he was not competent engineer,
sent tor Mr. Hill, the Supervising Arcnltccl to Inspect
the place Mr.. Hill did 50 on Monday and pronounced
II saic and the work which had been done correct
i cmphatically say tnat the work was blunderingly
DONE and moreover that there was nothing IN the de-
ecton OF the ceiling ot the court and the cracks
therein TO occasion any alarm.
'0u the other side OF the building, room was orig