New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-29
THE INVESTIGATION.

wa present for the Harlem Railroad Company
Captain BerghOd the first witness. He testified
that after o'clock the night OF the accident he
about leaving the Station to attend fire, when
officer reported to him that the wall OF Madison Square
Garden had fallen. When he arrived at the Garden, he
that the wall at MadlsOnave. had fallen out. He
went into the tickeOfce and woman lying on the
floor, apparently dead. lie learned IL was Mrs. Hege
man. and had her scut to Bellevue Hospital. He then
proceeded search the ruins for bodies The first
discovered was that OF Mrs Wiletts, which was found
about 20 feet from TweDtyseventn-st Mary COnnOy's
body was found next tho MadisOn-aVe. entrance
He then told by those searching the ruins that there
bodies under the fallen walls and further
search discontinued He said lie had not been In
formed that there any defect in the new WALL and
added that he had thought the building perfectly SAFE
49, 600 people had been accommodated during the
recent walking match
WARNINGS OF DANGER
Henry MacKay, the superintendent Of the fair, tes
fed many particulars in relation to the arrangements
and conduct of the fair Mr.. Hoe called him April
81 and reported that there cracks IN the wall The
witness word to Mr. Van Arsdale and with him In
spected the building. Mr. Van ATslae thought that the
heat mad cracked the walls, rs ho had heard about a
week previous that the artists had ordered ventiator
to be placed In the account OF the extreme heat
Mr. Smith, OF the firm Of Smith PrOdgers, examined
the building, aud seeing other cracks those In
the art gallery declared that the plaster had cracked
account OF tho heat. Mr.. Smith thought there
Danger OF tue wall giving away.
On the evening Of the 2Ist officer told the witness
nat the plaster falling in the Art Gallery. While
gong to the gallery he met by Mr.. Brazer. who
said that was goiag 10 turn OF the gas. He went up
tO the gallery, aud saw number NJ persons looking ut
the pictures and the thought occurred to him that tn"
plaster might fall and panic chsuc. After telling
detective about the Hdysa nifty OF getting tho people
OF the gallery no went to his Office and just then
heard the crash. lie had not noticed vibration of
the floor gas fixtures while the dancing going
Mr MacKay said that the crack In the wall that he
before the accident Inch wide, aud the
chimney.
Thomas Hicks member or The Executive Committee
and chairman OF the Art Committee, the wit
ness lie said he helped to the pictures In the
gallery when he arrived at the Fair at p. he
told that tho plaster had fallen in the Art Gallery. Ho
saw q crack nearly five feet long the west WALL aud
nearly ttrce inches wide Mr.. Brazlcr told him there
was no danger, as the wall had been examined by q
practical builder. The witness said ne also noticed that
the ceiling was cracked In many places. At 1880 p.
he ngan Inspected the ceiling OF the Art Gallery in
piny with Nj Story. He told Mr. Brazier that II the
plaster shook or moved the gallery would have to be
Closed After he left the Mr.. Brdzer came TO him
and said the gallery had an ugly look and h. had deter
mined to shut the door and turn of tho Mr. Hicks
then returned 10 the gallery, aud about dozen poo
Dir walking toward The door, and at ;he instant
heard the crash. lie thrown 10 the ground. When
he first the crack his impression that the wall
was leaning outward hit when he heard that the build
INK had boon examined no dismissed the idea He dill
think that Tie hanging of pictures on the wall did
any injury. For twenty-five years ho had supcrntendcd
the hanging OF pictures and had never before
injury result from IT, lie had than six
seyCn couples IN the danCng-rOOm ut time aud had
not experienced any vibration TO the floor
THE FALLING OF THE WALL.
william Smith trstt 81 hat he assisted Mrs. Hegeman
at one the booths H. saw her leave the garden by
IL, Mad,son.avc entrance, and immediately aferward
hr.r the crash. He she had not hid time to
visit Gallery lie did not think she mad time TO
reach TWeuly. sevcnth-sl before the wall fell.
Defective Fchmittbcrgcr, Of the Twcnty-nnth Pre-
cnct tcsl.Ard that he ana Detective Dunlap de-
tailed 10 the Garden the night Of the accident. and
riycd there about p. Anout twenty minutes later
the wall MadisOnIvr. Tell. He ran toward the Art
covered with tmhers. lie eItrlcatrd HIM, and tEen
saw young woman hcinmed Ia by The d6brls. " saw
| other he continued. after they had been
taken from the ruins aud assisted in having them
y, , |t'r, 80 no, ncb hiri ~ lilo
body "a dressed Ia black. and was told that II
was mat OF Mrs. HcGrman' did not see her IN the
William H. Kolb, detective. who was on duty at
entrance IN pnSOn that could zee the Art Gal
lsry Whom the accident occurred. There were about
stYrntY-YC people the balcony at the tmr. first
rl0u1 of smoke ana almost inStGnnnrOusly heard
the wal tall ont. assisted In taking out TWO wOmCn
and thon hclucd to remove tic aric on the stands
Alfred Sk who - the superintendent OF the build
sud; went To he Garden IN Is my usual custom nc
n. the day OF the accident aud said until about $50
IN. bur heard Of NJ complart about the causing Of
about 1880 Il. M, aud was told b, MrVan ArsdnG mat
complaint. had brru made To him about the cracks In
tho plaster Mr. Van Arstalc spcrlncnds the leasing
for me company. When he It'd me OF the REPORTS l
looked at the ceiling ANA snT cracks In me middle
there for weeks, I saw a crack nine feet long in
the middle Of the section set apart for the nrt gallery
Mr.. Van Arsnle said INIT m examination of these de-
focts bad ordered and that Mr. Smith. the builder
would huyr the matter ATTENDED TO. returned to The
ff..W.l.ta NJ AEtII1 Iun
meantime aud was satisfied that the cracks were clnSc
by thc great hcot IN tue room II was my impression
separate from the wall The wall platter Appeared 10
he intact Tho Art Gallery the rwcnty-seycn-
and exicpded "lGhy-four feet To- PARTITION
tended from tic partition some flags. distance Of
twrnt yhree feet, aud tho rest OF The spncr, seventy
were from fyr to six fcc from tho wall aud ceiling.
There yenillalor twcnyfonr inches by thiry-tMo
inches put in tho gallery 10y request OF Dir. Story am
SIR Drprw. An the crack that noticed when made
the examination old except one In the angie
made by The ceiling ana wall Tho roof was made of tar
gravel and asphalt. There were about 25S
moor was uniform throughout. had no ldeh
until The crash came thai there was any danger OF ne
wall falling II the remark ~ every one WHEN the
building was being cOnsructc THAT 10 was being put up
IN absurdly strong way MI Curtis the chlti-eng,
81 the company, superintendent the CONSTRUCTION VI
lanes IT, uockIng OF No $40 West Forty.seo0nl.st,
took the trieS the door NJ tho Art Gallery lie Slu;
When arrived Nc the Garden, 1880 p. M, Mr. Bra
zer told me that the gallery would bu closed until r. H.
It opened that afternoon. was present Wlrn
the plastrer He took down some pieces OF pns
ter AT 7IO D. LIT tbs gas and Mr. l'rtzier turned
1t very low. An hour later tho first person en-
tered the gallery The receipts were better nat nlRt
thtn on any other during the week At o'clock Mr.
Mackay told me not to lot any moro people
in the room hit, ld not recognize hlm allowed
four prrsons pass I'm, making nftyf0ur III MI
Mr.. BrHzler up then ana said he was ing 70 TURN
down the gas ANA clean the rOOm saw two mon ana
woman IN the rOOm AMI also saw two Young glrIs set
ting way over In tue near picture by BetELnut
wlrn heard a rumbling sound and the whole Thing
fell In fell to the ground. heard people moaning ana
shouting In the danclngr0on ana opened me e t
1np "A
Icgcman was IN the Art Gallery when the wall tcl
saw the gas shaking during the evening IRON tne Vi
bra;ion caused by tho dunCng part OF Mrs lltge