New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-05
PROCEEDINGS AT THE INQUEST.


The inquiry into the cause of the Madison
Square Garden catastrophe continued yesterday
before Coroner Brady i. s. Curtis, the engineer VINO
made the plans completed his testimony, follows:
" II tho tie beams spiked-as suppose they
were-with sIxtypenny nails they sufficiently
strong. The brckwOr appeared to have been properly
done. somo of the upper windows came directly over
the lower cOnsdered that thus breaking the tier did
not render the wall unsafe" To Francis Loomis conn
sci for the New-YOrk and Harlem Railroad Company,
the witness said: Tho Caipeuter-wOrk was done by
Thomas j. OCOnnor for S11llJ an1 think In perfect
accordance with the contract. Tho matter Ot tho
anchorage omitted from the specifications because
IL not determined at the time how It should
be done. 1t decided That star anchors
should be put in OF the second OOr and this done
and paid for extra work. This was, in my opinion
and in that Of the contractors sufficient for the wall
The russcs the waQlates and nailed to
them. Trusscs such they arc strong enough
to bear sixty pounds the square inch should think
that beams made Of pieces lappcd and spiked together
were equally strong those Of one piece. At no time
were any objections made by the inspectors to the man
ner construction and considered that II any changes
were necessary be made tho inspectors would make
them known did not consider 1t necessary to exam
Inc the but ding laws to see If they violated but
thought any lack or conformity would be pointed ont
by the inspectors. The report made Ivy Inspector f. u
MaloY TO the Superintendent Of Buildings remarked
that the old wall had settled and cracked ut points on
be taxen down before part stOuld be built Fol-
lowing this written tho dsapprOvGl Of Supcrin'end-
ent Dudley Tho inspectors that afterward examined
the premises reported that the injured parts OF the
wall were taken down the proposed wall would be safe,
and, in accordance with this recommend ZION. as un-
tool. tho plans approved. Tue cracked p0r-
lions the wall taken down rs directed, ana my
instructions t. the contractors that they should
act Oh tho suggestion OF the inspectors. Tue trusses
rested the full width OF tho wali-twclvo Inches.
After tie accident / fOunl nails IN the ends OF tic
beams wAlh would Indicate tbat tncy were epik ID to
the wa!i-pates."
I'm answer to Clark Bell the witness continued: d" The
spikes In the ends OF the beams driven IN NJ the
sides AT an angle the wHll-pats not anchored TO
The wal IN any way. Those spikes were about three
inches IN length and driven in some eases Oh one
side and In the other. mal" no calculation as
10 what weight the tinbers supp0IcG-Ony an estimate
The building was not critically examine" by me after
the work WIS completed. 90 not consider that 1t was
important TO anchor the walls suggested by some OF
the jurors have been seventeen years In my profc5
SION ns Il civil cnginrrr-fur the last ten years In the
employ Of the Ncw-York and Harlem Raoad Company.
But do not profess TO be an expert architect
The next witness called james Il. smith, one OF
Tic contractors who put up the wall lie testified rs
follows Tho anchors were put III ut my suggestion at
the conl 1oor bcaus In other cptcs the work WAS
done according To Specifications ! considered thr WAL
dent wa . nj for hy 9lr Mckay. and made an cNam
,nou of me ceiling OF the ari gallery. rnc la-terlnS
wa. cuIrd w and cracRcd BAT raw no Indications Oi
sr.lug also made an examination Of tic wall out
rlc Tut uisuuVrlCd 40 drilccon Then went 10 tht
N,w YorA aud Harlem Railroad auhoiI cs Hd I'l%it,u
TINT the building perfectly safe hii SUGGESTED Ihat
before the "a, should bo gbtcd again four vent hocS
-uo hr cat through tl Iuu luT Tie Erhpc OF thc u"t
mr. Il my upEiun BOW, since the arcv"Ht, lhht thc
rn,ct i the heat ia" tInbrr~ whr the iininculh
chu-c II the fall consider th1t renee wal 81 .'r
same irn-th and thickness would hr stiOiG rnouEh; II
pct- bad been oil To ths wall 1t would nave b'oh nrl
Tor bIt 1t might have !dllen under Tue 7hnlc ''auln
stIucy- fnr roof. ;huh, tr MT IA, l"oriH l'E
tuup.srd appear tu AdYr been Narpc ahd ken "
the mat. II hud built the room for The u,T Oi an arr
IIl'.y should have Cun-iIuccIl II uH'Ttnu!' m'MuC
ttrr pr vlsiun. for ventilation. learned tnccaIptn-
ter Iddc although not practical mason ny avn
turc las bee u considerable In na,un NO H. Nh'c Ihc
lnvr- 'nrt Il the mi gt have been pleasant. mere
might have been high temperature WtnIn IT," IcCt
o. tn. Cuay II tdc trus-rs bal O"Ch hOlttu II "ou'u
have been better enough pals c'uu h" "Sr D. en- put
III 10 nave ruuAtd bolts. The sun III summer Wnuld ia
mn tluhr- materially. The ;rmp 'rntulr ~ hr an g
lcry at The Crnng venture u say, was nrtfy -"" H.,
I,ur. rkitls the brlrklycr uad ".Ihr&c OF the
mason work said the mortar used WAS composed OF one
pnrt ul HUscuuac cement to Two parts Ol e'lu Hcto
VA, nu cold weather during the Two eks Tic wal was
binding. Tic number OT ola Dicks uHtu WIS WIZ nv,
ted, Fireman BUudguOd nthOn ans uuu was ~
! uii.rl AS "A practical builder. He sd!d hC hid in"ue no
examination at e RUNS A professional builder, ne
tnongh gar jets at de anc" 4" 5A lre' ii"n iV
| -rasuncd. lie did not think wall Sucl rs hhl uGtn
drs, r.l,d fO!HaR part 81 NLu7ph Nqu'!c uauc',
| II safe wall Piers should have hcrn blit 10 support
rac trs. tho wall should also itscit have been nlck r.
PutiuS the B'cOndrIory "lhhWs MOI ulcttS =" ~ =
| mo q below had IA tendency To weaken the wan. la
uciurS at the rcCund lOOr beams were MI huNhi'"Et'
nm were not suihcen Tue tlmbors composing tho ue
bcaIus were rot his opinion, OF sltltht hlchntss.
n III. raflcr4 were warped enough TO s1g down thry
| NOR, Had tho leans UCLn yellow pine lhscdu Vi
sIlrc They would have brru stiunkcr, Out even then
| not strong enough Of the axe they we're H.,
| The inquest will he Resumed at r. H. tO'uay'