New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-01
BURIED UNDER A TUNNEL.
TWO MEN CRUSHED TO DEATH.


FAIL OF AN ARCH IN FORTY sECOND-sT.-THE CAUSE
OF THE ACCIDENT SAID TO BE POOR MATERIAL
AND FAULTY CONSTRUCTION.
Fifty feet of the brick roof of the tunnel In
East Forty-secondst fell in saturday afternoon khg
two men, Thomas Joyce and Patrick Lynch. The Rrau
ing OF the streets had left Fortysecondst, between
Second and Frsayes, high ledge Of solid rock, endng
a bold bluff at First-ave The street is lined Win
brown residences About two years ago the Legs
atue authorized the cutting through OF the street. Dut
to save the property-owners from becoming
residents the sides OF yawnlng chasm' IL
was decided to construct tunnel through nearly
the whole block the plan OF the Fourth-ave. Jun
mel It was to be arched with brick and coyereo 4o
feet wide and 200 feet in length. Alter nearly two
years work the excavation completed. The con-
tract for the tunnel awarded to j. r. Byron OF No
749 Frst-ave., for $4,000.
AT Saturday two sections, equivalent 10 lo4
feet of the tunnel had been completed work was 10 DC
begun on the remaining section to-day. Tue WOODEN
frames that had supported the brck-work mad been
remoyed the tunnel workmen had lett the place; only
half dozen men engaged at the
mouth OF the tunnel, making approaches for carts.
Soon after O'clock Richard owens OF the laborers
heard dull report, and looking saw that the roof OF
the section him had fallen In and that the SIDES
were crnmbling. He ran wildly toward SecOnd-aVe'
followed by Cartwright, o carpenter, who had Deeh
mending a wheebarrow directly under the arch that
NA
forced him 20 the nal-box outside In order to
finish his work. Roundsman Golden, of the Nineteenth
Precinct was first met by Owens, who told him oil
the disaster. He Immediately sounded fre alarm ana
several companies soon arrived. fire line was soon
thrown keep off the eager crowd. vague minors
OF great loss of life flew from mouth TO mouth Dispatches
we're sent over the city announcing that six lives
had been lost The crowd grew every moment, and 1t
was only with difficulty that the police prevented
accidents 10 the reckless people who frnged the hse-
cure sides Of tunnel in their desire TO get glimpse
OF the scene OF disaster Inspector McDermott arrived
soon after accident took place. and took charge OF
the work Of clearing away the rubbish at the mouth OF
the tunnel.
1t was known that an old man. who had been reading
his paper in the tunnel had been buried IN the ruins
Brick stone and piled together In the Wild
est confusion. The fremen declared that the mortar
would not hold two bricks together 1t was moist ana
they said almost destitute OF lime crumbng at
the touch like wet sand After hours work the head
OF the buried man was unearthed. 1t was crushed
into shapeess mass. SO closely the body wedged
In between the fallen materials that 1t took threeuar
tiers OF an hour free II. Then 1t was lifted up ana
placed In an ambulance-to all appearance not DEAD
body but only mangled, formless, bloody object SO
hideous that strong turned aside ana dared not
look upon H. clothes were found ONLY Two
rosaries and key. The body remained underlined at
the Morgue until midnight Then it was recognized
by an old woman wretchedly clad that OF her hus
hand Thomas joyce, labOrer, Of No. 813 Firstaye
Coroner Wotman allowed the remains to be taken to the
dead mans home.
The police and remen ceased their work after the re-
moval OF Joyce's body, thinking else had been
buried by the fallen tunnel. About $50 p. m. yester
| day however the workmen discovered another body
under the In the northern side or the tunnel near
he oyestern end OF the arch large beam lay
the BODY which was much bruised The face. however
with the exception OF abrasion on the temple was
free from bruises The body vas luehI e as ma o
Dafr
| It was first stated that he was one of the work
men employed in the tunnel, but II was subsequently
found that he had gone 10 the tunnel for the same pur
pose as Thomas Joyce Lynch for some time had been
employed ma m be habit of Going into the tunnel
in afternoon with his newspaper ana spending some
time there in the cool shade He went there Saturday
as usual Lynch born in Ireland, and was married
He leaves wife and seven children. coroner workman
gave a permit for the burial
From the many and contradictory comments on the
accident probable that the real cause Will only
! tractor Mr. Byron declared that he could assign no
cause for the accidents he was practical mechanic ana
| the Department of Public Works to watch the con-
structon Of the tunnel said that the masonry york had
the fan Of the arch that it too nat for the
asserted that no one could tell the of the accident
without thorough investigation. He thought the state
only the last completed section fell showed that other
portions of the tunnel must have been well
lie had perfect confidence In the ability ana experience
Of INSPECTOR OBrien and from all that he had learned
the contractor also bore an excellent reputation He
i had agreed 10 40 tDe WOIh loi yJtOON icoS ~
other contractor but his snretes were
| approved the department was compelled to award
him the contract. There nothing in itself
suspicious In this disparity between the bids Several
OF the residents of the street do not agree IN ms est
mate OF the accident. They declare that the fall OF the
arch was due faulty construction and poor materials
used William Law, of No 343 East Forty second ST,
declares that surprise to him that the structure
had not fallen long BEFORE the materials were tue
worst that could be employed IL was the common 0pn
ion that nothing used TO make the bricks adhere
properly and hence when the pressure OF ean at the
side was brought to bear upon the arch the Drcks couo
not maiutain their position .,,
The tunnel was fayorite oungng place OF the people
who lived In its neighbOrhoOd, IL always cool
Later in the day 1t would ii would have been filed A
thorough investigation Of the matter Will DO made Dy
Coroner WOtman