New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-10
TWO HOUSES FALL IN RUINS.

FIREMEN IN REMOVING THE KILLED AND IN.
JURED-REPAIRs THAT WERE ORDERED TOO
LATE.
Two three-story tenement houses at Grand
st. and South Fifth-aye. suddenly collapsed
yesterday morning, burying the inmates be-
meath the ruins. The cause is thought to have
been the undermining of the foundations.
About twenty persons were in the houses, eight
of whom were killed eight others were more
or less injured. A fireman engaged in remov-
ing the debris was also hurt. Several miracu-
lous escapes were made. The buildings were
inspected by the Buildings Bureau last week
and repairs were to be ordered yesterday.
THE SCENE AFTER THE DISASTER
NO PREMoNITIoN OF THE FALL OF THE BUILDINGS
MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN BURIED IN THE
UNDERSTANDING FOR THE DEAD AND IN
JURFD-NARRow ESCAPE OF SEVERAL occU-
PANTS.
Aparty Of men went into rum-shop at the south
east corner of Grand-st. and South Ffth-ave. yes
terday morning about o'clock.
Look here" said one of the men to the bar
keeper, "your bar is settling down.
The bar-keeper was not much Disconnected by
this fact, and leisurely set about putting props
under it, as though itwere every day occurrence
Tossing off their drinks the men passed out, but
they had scarcely turned the corner Of the street
when the house they had just left, three-story
brick building. and three-story house adjoining it.
in Grand-st tottered broke in twain al the dividing
WALL and fell into complete ruins scarcely stone
being left on another. There was not even pre-
monitory rumble. Only great crash, in which
floors beams, partition-wals rafters broken lath.
plaster, bricks and mortar, furniture and household
goods, were thrown down together in inextricable
confusion.
The inmates occupying the several floors of the
two buildings, unconscious of danger various
ly engaged. Several were yet in bed, Others were
making preparations for the work of the day, and
in one OF two instances mothers rocking their
children on their breasts. When the walls went
down, through the clouds Of lime-dust which arose
from the pile OF debris, were heard the shreks
and cries of women and children, who were
borne swiftly down beneath the RUNS. The
sudden collapse of the building caused
adjoining houses to vibrate so that Of the in
mates thought of earthquakes and ran terrified into
the street. People passing and those living in the
neighborhood were so stupefed with amazement
that for some moments they stood still in their
tracks. Some one at length suggested that fire
alarm should be given, and shopkeepcr across the
street ran TO an engine house two blocks away and
reported the disaster. Meanwhile news Of tho
catastrophe spread rapidly through the neigbbor-
ing streets, and great crowds of men, women and
children hurried TO the scene.
The inmates of the surrounding tenement houses
burst from the doors mad with excitement OF thrust
their heads from windows. David j. Heenan, o
night agent in the Grandst station of the elevated
road and other employees rushed to the ruins in the
| hope of rescung any persons that might be found
imprisoned by the fallen timbers. One of the num-
ber caught sight of a child held mp TO the light by
| an extended arm. The child was taken into tho
| arms of brawny workman and carried 10 place
of safety. The arm, which was bleeding from cuts,
belonged to the mother who lay on her back pinned
fast with sticks of timber. Covered with lime-dust.
she looked as pale as death, but when questioned
she said that she was much hurt. She safely
| taken out and removed to the house of i friend.
| SEARCHING THE RUINS.
| By this time South Fifth-ave. and Grand-st.
were packed near the scene of the disaster with
excited people. When word was passed along that
rescues were being made, they struggled to get
nearer and swarmed around the ill-fated spot like
an invading army. Then a company of broad
shoudered fremen. wearing long waterproof coats
| and helmet hats came forcing their way through
the crowd. Several half buried bodies had already
| been discovered, and the men clambercd up the
| ruins and began to rescue them from their peril
| At one corner policeman discovered three little
children underneath pieces of roof and partitions
one of them caught by the neck in perilous posi-
| ton Crawling through an opening he handed
them out one after another to someone outside.
While the fremen were setting TO work, with their
hooks and shovels, to uncover the MANNED and
| dead alarge force of policemen pressed the crowd
| back Many impatient Of the lines that
drawn, climbed to the roofs of adjoining buildings.
Net long after the first alarm was given call
was sent out TO the Chambers Street Hospital. In
| response an ambulance changing Its bell, came
rapidly up the street. 1t not too soon at hand
| Already men, women and children were being
found who, from being at the top part OF the build
| ings had escaped with their lives, but weak from
| fright and covered with bruises. When a voice or
| q groan indicated that someone was buried in
certain spot group of men began removing the
superincumbent mass with all possible haste.
Sometimes part of the body OF of the clothing was
| a guide to those making the search. In some in
stances voice was heard for some time before its
owners exact position could be determined. Now
and then an excited man or woman rushed up to
the searchers and implored them to rescue their
friends. woman who had herself escaped In
marvellous manner, lamenting the death Of her
child touched the hearts of the imost stoical. Tho
husband almost as gref-stricken as she, at length
induced her to 20 away.
When manned victim was taken out he was
placed tenderly q stretcher and borne down to
the sidewalk to ambulance in waiting, in which
he was taken to hospital. few escaped with
such slight bruises that they insisted on going to
the homes of their friends The work Of the fremsn
was watched with much interest by the physicians
from the hospitals, who did much to encourage
those being rescued and aay their fears of danger
In nearly every those who escaped death were
foud protected by network Of beams and scantr
ling or pieces of roof. One mai owed bis life TO
sewing machine which went down into the ruins
with him, and on which when he was found huge
beam rested within an inch of his nose
TAKING OUT THE DEAD.