The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-04
BARCLAY STREET FIRE.
Further Investigation of Its Cause by
the Fire Marshal.
THE INQUEST OPENED.
Two More Bodies Found
in the Ruins.

Barclay street tie continued by Fire Marshal
Sheldon yesterday. Eight witnesses were examined
John A. Mott, OF No. go Sixth avenue, who was
working in factory on the upper floor OF No. %
Barclay the time OF the accident testified as
follows -rhe factory belongs 10 Mr. Westcrvelt, but
II Is carried by me; Messrs Allen, Sands and
Thompson, with " IS Sutherland and myself, were in
the place a, work; Alien, Sands and myself occupied
the three windows was at the window nearest
Greenheds and could the OF the west wall Of
No SO; We had just lighted the lamps. when heard
loud report. which thought was the explosion of
boiler; hoard but report building was shaken
by the concussion; this was immediately followed by
Ere and rumbng noise, and then came crash,
when quantity OF bricks crushed through our roof.
burying several OF Us under them and the accom-
panying rubbish; my head cut. and Miss Suther-
land and william Thompson badly hurt from
the time of the report until ROOF was crushed In 1t
was about eight seconds; the report seemed TO come
from the direction OF the part OF No g. and the
fire from the same locality after recovering from the
blow which stunned mo saw that largo portion OF
the wall of No Is had fallen out, that the front
wall gono and that about two-thirds OF the upper
floors seemed to be down; tho extreme rear OF the
west wall standing, and then 1t sloped gradually
toward the root OF No 65 presenting an uneven and
ragged edge; man aud boy were making their way
down ths the greater part OF tho damage TO our ROOF
the west side, and tho roof OF No 81 that be-
tween aud Grecrdelds) did not appear to be
damaged.
THE OFFICER WHO GAVE THE ALARM.
James Humphrey, police officer attached to the
Twentysevcnth precinct doing duty Barclay street
nj the time OF the fire, said:-l was in front OF No
las Barclay street, walking toward No. 63, when
heard dull rumbling noise like distant cannon dis
charge looked up, and Immediately alter the entire
ffau of M falI ipta fha sfva fro
rectly ailerward, and 1t seemed to come from the
upper floor, near front; | out the alarm rom
tho corner OF Barclay and Church streets Mt once;
from there went 10 the station house to report It;
then went back on duty at the fire; did not see any
pieces flying about from the front OF the building; 1t
fell as one mass, starting from tho top
TIMING TIE
William II. Nontanye doing business at Noa 60, g.
and 60 Barclay street. testified follows:-My Office
Is in No. SO and was there at the time OF the accident
at Greenneld's heard dull, heavy thud that shook
Cur building, when, in few seconds, | looked ous
and the whole OF Green1ed's store lying in tho
street; dre burning the front part OF the
OF floor and there was little hrc tho
OF the floor ut the time no
fire ln any other part OF the building; could
the lamps burning IN different parts OF the
place; 10 i've minutes more the whole bnd.
rapidly; my attention was then directed 10
saving my own property; we had large register
was displaced by the shock, stopping 1t at three
MINUTES past five O'Clock; the sashes of our upper
windows were driven in anu piece OF window frame
from Greenleid's about AZ long my and Two
and hall inches thick penetrated my sign and,
striking the wall, remained there's on our third floor
we found next morning large sugar paddle about 1--WE
feet long and weighing probably twenty or twenty-five
pounds; The front OF Greenfeld's building Of
brown stone and some portions OF It HAD The appear
aucc oil being caten away by the action OF steam; l
thhk No. 81 took fire the upper part about fifteen
minutes alter 1t broke out IN Greenaelds could see
VAS MI of
hall an hour alter the fire commenced that the walls
between Nos. 81 and 63 Tell over; 1t all OF hour
before the front OF No. 81 fell
LIKE AN EXPLOSION.
James II. Weaver, OF No. 90 Barclay street, beng
next examined. said II my selling goods
nj the time OF the explosion and within ten feet
door; my show WINDOW not blown IN, but several
pieces OF crockery that window shaken down
the gas was extnguished, and simultaneously with
the explosion the entire building from where pro-
ceeded was mass OF fire; cornucopas OF candy were
blown into my cellar and whole building seemed
to be lifted up under me; i heard only explosion
the entire front OF No. 63 was not blown out. only
iron front OF the first hoor the rest OF the front failing
afterwards; IN fifteen minutes the whole building, ali
the walls aud ali the floors down; the front
oil No. 81 fell fifty inmates after the explosion; tho
express wagon that front No. 63 was thrown
over on lis side; there was quantity of iron from
No. 63 thrown upon the rooI OF my building, and
eweIry that Greenfield gave Tor prizes lound on
The root oil No "A Barclay street.
David A. Curtis, OF l43d street, Willis avenue
rcporer, being sworn, testified folio WIS: Was at
the ire IN Barclay street, arriving there before SIX
O'Clock; passed around through Park place and cen
was all down; front and rear walls ard both sido
walls gone and the ruins OF burning Goals:
No u was all on fire inside, but the walls stood
seemingly perfect condition, except that piece of
The upper rear end of the west wall had allen the
west wall of No. 81 fell the RUNS at & reen-
ncids place about eight O'Clock and shortly acrward
the iron front OF No I'll ell outward was informed
by several OF the neenoors that their nights ex-
unguished by the explosion but have had no Der.
sohal knowledge OF the laci 1 DID not hear the ex.
plosioD but 1t was described by several parties
quick and sharp noise similar to that caused py
n IA vbS.,
agreed US TO the character OF the explosion.
ABOUT THE
John 4. O'Donne, oil No. 3l5 West Sixteenth
street, New YORK, sad:-I am bOokKeeper Tor Mr.
Alexander Rcn ana superntended the storing OF the
wool at No Cl Barclay street, had wool all iour
VI the oiis there we're about $50 coo pounds OF
the budiug-about AS Dales-at the time Of the nre
our olco was on me hrst lot, IN the southwest
ncr most oi the wool Was IN tho second and third
olis, these lofts being filed from front rear and
from The west wall 10 wnhln ABOUT eight feet the
cast wall; there was gapgway about Ave feet wide
and sir, lie Of bales against the wall the nrst
lott was led with bales from the rear up to The stair
way aud Office the Office about fifteen feet square:
In the northeast corner oil the fourth lott was a
quantity OF lumber this lott was about threequarters
nlied with wool; ali the bales were standing ON cuds
ana not TERED up; Mr. Sch had promises
slncc My l. 1877; locked up aud went away about
hail past tour O'clock The day Of the Are; / should
think there were about 1907 900 pounds OF tho
second and third oits there we're no grders through
the centre OF the building.
George Clemens, OF No. 90 Nauer street, BROOKLYN,
Il. d.. one OF Grocnhcd's woIhmen, sand WAS In tho
basement Of No. College place, about fifteen east
OF the entrance othc Barclay street oulldns heard
great CRASH said lie, aud II seemed be pretty
over my head, AL immediately Urlck and beams and
TuOUish began falling down III the rear OF Barclay
street building, just ny the entrance TO College place
fire ilcre; there were several others at work
IN tue base nient; they got out the back WINDOWS;
went for my clothes thai hung ~ closet the front
OF tbe basement; then returned TO the entrance of
barclay street building 10 look at the rubbish, when
thcrc was q Little ire up In the store, Fgrcy
allied 10 uelp nun down. did SO; he got LIs
clothes and then we both went 10 the streel when
came up from the basement into College place tho
running OUT OF tho store iuto that strcol
then got away NJ last as could.
NO. 81 BARCLAY sTRHEr
LangstaG n. Crow, OF No. IL Wcst Flity.sccond
street, "a master mnsoD, said: built No. OF Barclay
street lor Mr.. Hopkins III 1885, considered u
strong DuIding, stronger than buildings usually
ucicd 1T that ne. the cellar wall was twenty
inches lrst story sixteen inches and IRON that up the
wall Was twcve inches the moor tlmOers
usually neavy being about Twelve Inches from
10 centre; there wore no orders through the Dulid-
ing; | only did tue mason work. think com
menced II In the spring. Mr. Hopkins