New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-23
CAUSE OF THE CALAMITY.

NOW TIE WALL AND ROOF WE'RE CONSTRUCTED
TALKS wTra SUPERINTENDENT DUDLEY, MH.
yAspRRBILT AND THE BUILDER
SUPERINTENDENT Dudley, of the Department
Of Buildings yesterday morning appointed Frederick
Diaper Andrew Owens, Edward G .Maloy and Leander
uc to mako an examination OF the fallen wall and
roof and report the probable cause OF the calamity
Taey reported follows; We have made an exanli-
nation Of the premises known as the Madison Square
Garden, and ind that the front wall on
Nadisou-aye., above the second-Story beams.
commencing about eight feet from the northwest
OF The building continuing about one hundred feet.
has fallen The wall twelve inches thick. and CON-
posed OF the best material ana built 10 the best amer
But four months ago this front wall above the second
story foor beams taken down, 1t being but eight
inches by OF the Department and the twelveinch
wall was substituted in place thereof IT our opinion
that the cause the wall fanR was that one OF the
trusses supporting the roof broke in the centre and Units
fall pushed out the wall"
superintendent Dudley was very positive in his de-
earaon that the responsibility for the accident did not
rest upon the Department of Buildings In any way.
when the Harlem Railroad Company regained posses
son OF the building 1879, said he, aserious defect
was discovered and steps we're taken 20 romedy 1t.
Upon an application to alter the building coming from
the company, Andrew Owens, E. c. MalOy and Leander
puok Inspectors Of the Department OF Buildings
ordered make examination and report. They re-
portea as follows part Z" The walls twelve
inches thick the height OF eighteen feet, with brick
erehes two feet wide ana projecting eight inches,
making twentyineh wall at that point, about eighteen
feet from the CENTRE eight inches the reoE
portion OF the MadisOn-ave. front has settled and
cracked We would recommend that the cracked portion
ef said vail be taken down; also all eght1noh walls
where built upon be taken down and replaced with
twevetnch brick walls Should these recommendations
be carried oRt the walls viii be in good condition for the
proposed alterations"
Acting upon the recommendations Of this report the
supertntendent rejected the application made IN No
vcmber last because IN tue accompanying plans the
elghtineh walls we're retained above tho height OF
eighteen feet New plans, drawn by B. Curtis chief
engineer Of the company. and submitted in December
last were approved, IN them twelveiDch walls were
substituted for tho Objectionable eght-inch walls The
alterations we're began and tine work, It advanced
was inspected for the Department by Bernard Rezan,
who has been dismissed, and for the company by
mr. Curtis They reported that the building had been
properly constructed; and no doubt it was" cOntin
TO the inspectors express the opinion that
pnshsd ont the vail. They fOuna one tae-beam
Of the truss broken at knot near one rnd and another
fan In and the wall was pushed How II happened
that e beams broke csn only be o0uectured though
sne them unsbe the strain Of daneSrs shaking
the tmber II 10 Graat misfortune that The osnaKers
ceiling cracking and there was danger 20 be appre
a 10; emo meme so have
made BY eapaSie psrscns aSd II oil probability ths true
time % have aVertsd ths mOSt shocking accident"
TALK WITH W. II. VANDERBILT.
TRIBUNE rev0rtar yesterday mOfning sought In
teFview with W. II, Vanderbilt the Grand Central
Depot He courtsously received. and Dir. Wander
biif spoke freely In regard TO the disaster,
AR. Vanderbilt" said the reporter 81" IA reported
mat received intmatlOn OF defective tate Of
she walt"
sahat h not true"
Dd not tae builder Inspect the cracks in the ceiling