New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-22
ACCOUNTS or EYE WITNESSES.


FIRST SIGNS THAT The WALL WAS GIVING Way
THE CROWD WARNED FROM THE PICTURE GAL
LERY.
Albert Mckay, the superintendent Of the fair.
said to TRIBUNE reporter: my attention was
called about balf-past o'clock to the cracking Of
the walls of the Art Gallery, and went there at
once. I found the room full Of ladies and gentle
men. Fearing that the walls were about to give
way. I determined TO get every person out
of the room as soon as possible without
causing panic. ] sent man to turn off the gas
In the room, and spoke aloud to several persons
near me- requesting them to leave that part OF the
building Immediately. There was some surprise
manifested, but there was no alarm, and
the persons in the gallery began to move
ont. Tie lights were turned down as I
had directed, and in very short time
all the ladies and most of the gentlemen were out
of danger. was turning to leave the room myself
when there was succession Of sudden and sharp
reports behind me, and turning saw the outer wall
90 ont The roof fell at once and was nearly
carried from my feet by the rush Of air caused by
the conclusion. think was about the last person
In the Art Gallery whom the roof fell"
MrIPslaes,s dstectrve at No, o Murray-ss.. said
no was also IN the Art Gallery when the roof fall
"I rst notceds he said, she cracking OF the wall
and az looked to SEQ where tho break was q LARGO
picture called The Wounded Soldier fel TO the floor.
An opening in the wall appeared where the picture
had hung. Immediately the roof came down. My hat
went off, and narrowly escaped being buried be-
meath the roof"
youne man, whose hands and face were severely
bruised, but who declined to give his name. said;
AZ was In the dancing bail when the crash came
The lrst thing remember was q cracking sound,
apparently coming from the Art Gallery. Then
the roof over the dancing hall came down.
WAS thrown from my feet and half buried in the
debris. Men aud women were all about me strug-
Cling to escape, and on oil sides heard cries and
groans. escaped by crawling out through the
middle door of the dancing room.n
Mr. Brazer, one Of the superntendents OF the fair
said that on Tuesday he noticed that small
pieces of plaster were dropping from the
ceiling of the Art Gallery, but the wall
gave no indication Of danger Yesterday
morning the ceiling looked somewhat bad. He did
not. however, anticipate any immediate danger, out
as the plaster was falling in small pieces he put
man to work to pick down the loose pieces to pre-
vent injury to the pictures.
Detective Dunlap, who was in the garden when
the accideut occurred, gave the following descrip-
tion Of the scenes 81 was standing at the foot Of
the stairs at the MadisOn-ave. entrance when
heard rumbling noise and Immediately quantity
of dust blew in the garden that looked like .
great volume of smoke. am certain there was no
explosion, The people came rushing down stairs
In great confusion There were not many in tho
ball room at the time because 1t was too hot there
aud the women couldn't stand 1t. and
many other people shouted to the band
to play but the musicians we're too much frightened
to respond The first thing saw after the accident
occurred was tho head Of young pan protrudins
from the ruins. He had fallen fyom the BALI
room, and was UNCONSCIOUS when went 20
extricate him, He was on bis stomach
and the great weishtof the fallen wsl was ON hin'
The people inside the garden behaved nebiys Many
~ the women tainted but the men sssnssd 70 b
ssIsss IN reaard 10 ths.s own satisfy and tzisd 70
relieve oshers 70 ~ ssposs.hle, :.
Ut vas most TaIsasulsus thst pors people wersnol
killed. Ahout twsnH minutes hsfofs ne sessaeQ