The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-09
BARCLAY STREET FIRE.

THE OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION CONTINUED BY
THE FIRE MARsHAL-MIRAcuLoUs ESCAPES
AND THRILLING EXPERIENCES.
Fro Marshal Sheldon continued his investigation as
TO the cause OF the Barclay street fire yesterday, ex-
aiming I've witnesses, abstract OF testimony
Will be found appcnded:--
PINNED DOWN coLuMy.
Edgar D. Smith, OF No. 13419 Broadway, Jersey City,
said:--l was just passing Grecn1eld's store al tho
time OF the accident; was about the edge OF the iron
grating on the sidewalk and opposite tho hatchway tat
the eastery door suddenly l iet conclusion and
heard pun; closed my right eye and threw up my
right arm TO shield my hcad felt that was burned
by the singing and smarting on my face
was thrown down quite violently, with my head
toward the street. raised myself up and was IN the
act OF creeping away when something tell on mo and
pinned me Gown; heard great crash and found my
sell buried by Of rubbish bricks and cocoanuts,
and my leg held fast by an iron column saw three
persons Jump from the second loor while was lying
in tie rubbish; was quito badly burned the right
SIDE OF tho lace ana my right hand ana The right
OF my overcoa from the mock down as tar as inc
elbow, singed, all no nap beng sngcd OH; tins
hot burned while was III the rubbish, but beiorc
l WAS Knocked down; saw no lame; heard II report
similar TO that made by the combustion Of quantity
oil gas aud distinctly ielt that | burned; nave
some Knowledge OF Inc nature OF explosions by gus
fire damp and believe this accident was caused by
something oil that KIND; while laid IN the rubbish
the fire broke oat; IL seemed 10 shoot up from tho
basement IN front and rear; should think Tho flames
shot UP hundred ieet into tho arr; my physician
said that my injuries looked like burns from gas.
RUBBISH.
Edward Collins, OF No. 4l3 East Ninth street, New
York, lied as Iolows:-l was IN the basement of
the College place building, III The American candy &C.
parlncnt mad been carrying boxes OF candy through
The basement oil No. G3 Barclay street from College
place aud putting them on the scales in tho Barclay
street store; last III the Barclay street base
ment about five minutes before the accident hap
pened the engineer III the gangway by his
engine gong toward the boilers; was Carrying box
OF candy, wnen flash OF isnt came down ON me from
above aud then something fell lay back; If
breathing thick dust; turned to go out by the
Barclay street door, but saw lire IN front that seemed
come from above AZ the same time saw MRS. Rod
nun, mead salesw0man, stanulpg by u counter on
side OF the STAIRS seemingly stupened went
through the fire the College place entrance; was
burned Oh my face, hands aud neck did no. any
oil AN explosion; clt no shock; tuere were halt
dozen or more customers there, mostly ladies, one
having little girl.
Henry q. Stacey, OF No. x64 Eleventh street, Jersey
CIV testified ioiiows:-l am IN The employ ol tho
Delaware, LackawanDa and Western Express Com
pany; in charge OF the wagon that stood IN front
OF Greepncus at the time OF the accdcnt; was stand
ing the desk OF the shipping clerk, who was making
out a rece pt me; heard noise 0i nn explosion;
felt shock OF any kud; the hrst thing that re.
member thai the ceiling began to fall and cxtn
guish all the lights, and then tho beams began 10
tumble; made my way toward the front door, ana
climbed beams and rubbish on my way out trying
ma the street; fire broke out between me and the
'front.' coming from above; there was stream OF tire,
by winch was burned on my head and hands; louud
uiierward that u 4. melted sugar molsses
syrup OF kind am satisfied from Inc nature vi
the burns that they CAUSED Ny burning liquid;
many customers were in the store whenl went III,
many that remarked 10 my helper that 'trrccnled
mad rush - alter l got out fouha thaL my wagon
was buried The rubbish ana the norscs partially
buried horses were lynn. across the Roadway and
nearest the south side; remember seeing u broken
pipe the second floor, about where the middle win.
dow had been from which steam Was escaping with u
violent noise.
TIKI NEGHBogs
David H. Sands OF TO- 700 nedlord avenue, Brook
yu, said:l VAS at WORK IN Wcslervot's hat factory,
No. go Barclay street. upper floor, at tho time OF the
accident was at the west WINDOW; could see there
was Il space between Grecnheid's Two buildings above
the FIRST floor, bu, could not see the bridges con
Meeting them; was working opposite my window.
with Kerosene lamp swinging beside me; heard u
loud report but SAW no Hash OF l4ht nor hre; look
ing out, cloud OF dust rising IRON the Of No
College place and could IL hit in The
duws us II tho building fire, Tue flames start
ing from the second floor and going rapidly upward;
| said 10 my companonS ''lne boiler has exploded,
and We had better keep away IRON tee back windows
tor lear the wall Oi No College place might TALL on
us got back toward tho mid1c OF the building about
ten feet, when lett SENSATION US though our build
ing had been liitcd aud then dropped; immediately
there great crash ana the wall vi No 63 Barclay
street came through ROOT; all this happened IN
few seconds Miss Sutherland lat work on Same foor)
called To me not leave her, she 'ull buried
up found her covered with bricks to her shoulders
Mr.. Allen and myself removed the bricks aud got her
out; she badly bruised; observed when remov-
Ing bricks that they all separated no two OF
them cnging together. aud that most oi them were
perfectly clean; no mortar on them.
kaie Sutherland, OF No III Washington street,
testified AT the time OF the accident was tho
upper flour o No. 90 Barclay street, sitting the
front window nearest Greenwich street; HAD lighted
lamp by me ana was engaged IN trimming hat;
heard terrible NOISE, which thought was an ex-
plosion; 1t seemed to mo 10 be out in front, III
Barclay street; directly after this flash, when
Jumped up and ran out oil my room; hal eono only
few lect when there was great crash above me,
ana | was buried In rubbish, bricks, beams and
mortar.
me investigation will be continued on Saturday