The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-05
THE BARCLAY STREET FIRE

INVESTIGATION BY THE FIRE MARSHAL CON-
TISuED-TEsTIMoSY OF INJURED PERSONS
WHAT THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS SAYS.
Fire Marshal sheldon, In continuing his invcstga-
ton as TO the cause OF the Barclay street rs
Bellevue Hospital yesterday and took the testimony
OF two Of the employees OF the Messrs Greenfield who
were In the factory at the time OF the accident These
men are George \. Adams, the foreman oil the third
lott, and George Hagemliler, workman on the first
loft, floor just above tho storo The injuries they
received were oil serious character, Adams being
burned tho face, feet, back aud hands, whilo Hage
miller's burns are his head and arms. Both viii
ikely recover, and felt sufficiently strong yesterday
TO answer all the Fire Marshas questions Ii will be
from their statements below that they are very
clear and decided upon one point this being that their
first intimation OF anything wrong In seeing fire.
They heard nothing like explosion, nor any noise
OF any kind whatever. preceding the sight Of fire.
which, in the case OF Adams In the shape OF
bright flash shooting upward from the second lott,
while Hagemiler FIRST it falling from the ceiling
OF tho loft in which he was working The hospita.
attendants IN ward No. 8 OF bellevue. whore Adams,
Hagemiler and one or two others OF Greendelds en-
poyes are lying, say that tho scenes through which
the injured men have passed vividly Impressed
upon their minds that thoy frequently start from
help Adams declares that his experience was OF the
most terrible nature aud ne hopes never again 10 DO
placed III a IKE position. the testimony oil the Two
Witnesses Is appcnded-
HEARD.
George F. Adams being sworn, said:--I was fore
man OF Greenhtlds third loft al the time OF Tie
Gent and was standing about the middle OF my floor
with two workmen, Joseph schonewad and George
Hauser; We had tunnels in hands and were work.
lug at French mixed candies; was facing stars
saw bright flash jus before me and between SELF
the stairs; IL like lightning; did rot hear any
Il "A An L n
like bells, ana think that lost my senses the first
that knew after that was on tho floor above me and
l smelled fresh air; then schonewald crawling
along ny me and Hauser on the other SIDE OF nm ;
ere is arr" said; 1--WE can Get out this way" and
crawlcd over TO the side toward Greenwich
man on the next building called to and urged )
TO jump down. was suffering SO much stopped
a wnile; Schonewad jumped or hrs, then jumped
and Hauscr followed me; I hal three moro
boys working Tor me at The me-Henry
teen Years, and Henry Llnlen' or something ike
that saw nothing OF them after tho accident;
there was nothing on my floor but corn starch, sugar
ana syrup; had good stock OF cunay was working
piecework;' had no tire N the furnace very seldom
using III there were four Steam Kettles on the floor;
hao nothing explosive there that am aware Of; the
chimney was little back OF the head OF stars,
about i've feet from III II was badly cracked; It had
been patched several times by me- when saw the
fash tho floor seemed liiied under me; We had
two kerosene lamps burning AT the tino; my floor
good condition dia not sag that ever observed;
the floor above rather shaky; ! frequently
sent there tor them not to ron the barrels around
as II sont the dir down upon my candies had about
seven barrels OF sugar my door and about thou
sand pounds OF corn starch; had been in Greenheids
employ about i've years we never had out IRE
the building to my knowledge that being on the day
We commenced 10 use kerosene; a lamp hanging III
the drying room took fire IN some way when, the
it out old Mr.. Greenfield always cautioned US 10 be
careful OF the lamps; my burns the face, ect
back aud hands; tho hands and face are the worst;
there was no noise. no shaking, no rnmbing or DIS
trrbanco OF any kind preceding the bright flash which
have described ana which lasted but AN Instant
George Hagemil er said, IN substance that he
working on the nrst LOFT and the first knowledge that
he had OF anything being wrong was when no iiro
coming down on him from up stairs; heard no noise
or disturbance Of any knd previous seeing the fall
ing lre ne put up his arms protect his head, but
was badly burned on both head and arms; he escaped
by running down stairs and getting out Oi the show
window OF the store; the sidewalk covered with
rubbish when be got out.
Adams on the third lott, are now IN tho New York
Hospital, and Will probably be examined by the Fire
Marshal to-day, their condition such allow
INQUEST.
Coroner Woltman resumed the examination of wit
nesses IN the inquest the victims of the Barclay
street ire Inc Investigation even stll more un-
satisfactory IN its results than the o the day
previous owing 10 the unavoidable absence OF some
Witnesses who the hospital; thus the nquest.
early IN the afternoon, was indefinitely postponed.
Ms. OF tho wtnessSs examined were empioses In
repetition OF tnat already punished.
Nicholas Wolf, porter IN the building, had Charge
OF ffty lamps, aud testified that them hung
from the ceiling and others were in brackets; they
held about pln. OF oil each; TO him tue explosion
about Tho middle OF tho floor, above store, on
which the men were making gum drops
Henry W. Dudley, No. 8 West rwenty-third street,
Deputy superintendent OF the Department Buildings
examined AZ length as " the state OF the build
ing. What he knew was based entirely upon reports
made 10 Tho department; NIL reports up 10 April,
1877, represented the building III good condition the
witness knew nothing of the origin OF the lire. Mr..
Dudley next submitted diagrams Of the burned build
ing; he Considered The building we'll ructed and
with sufficient me ms OF ogress and ingress; no had
since examined the nues Of the building, did
think explosion occurred In them; III the opinion
Of the witacss thc front wall could have gwen
way until hc side walls had gwen way; the walls
inches thick up the level Of the second tier
OF beams, above which they but twelve inches
thick
Chief OF the Bureau OF Fro Escapes, orroborated
the testimony gwen by Deputy superintendent bud.
ley.