New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-09
CRUSHED BY A FALLEN ROOF,
FATAL ACCIDENT AT BUFFALO.

TIE ROOF OF THE OLD STATION OF TIRE NEw-YoRR
CENTRAL RAILROAD GIVES wAY-A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE KILLED-CAUsE OF THE ACCIDENT.
BUFFALO, Feb. S.-Shortly after 8 O'Clock this
morning he arched roof of the old New York Gem
tral Depot in Exchange-st.. overw eighted W tn
the accumulated snow and weakened by the removal
OF the offices which formerly contributed greatly to
its supports, fell with crash, burying number Of
person and cars beneath tangled mass of iron,
wood, glass. and brick. The st. Louis ex-
press train was three hours and half late and ITS
connecting train on the Lake Shore. composed Of
four and the sleeper Meta stood upon the outer
track waiting for it. A Canada Southern train had
just hauled out Of tho depot; and only twenty
minutes before, the day express OH the Central
Road had borne eastward q large number Of
passengers. Switch engine. No. 1876.
manned by Francis Schaefer. was
standing the middle track ready to take Coroner
Scott to East Buffalo. Near the other eud Of
the new depot train of fat cars On the track.
just outside of the south wall, were some oldfash
iOned PASSENGER cars belonging to the Central Road
Among the people known to be in the depot Just
before tue crash were Depotmaster Byron Krnl
and John Ready, employed at the eatng-house Of
Johnston Brothers. who stood together at about thu
centre of the building: Dewitt C. Gibson. switch
man; E. VI. Stevens and Robert Berry. baggagemen
h. C.Smth. passenger agent of the Lake Shore Road
p. j. Hartwig. Henry Eckert ID. 5. Hubbs ard Othsf
employees. Half dozen passengers were in tk
cars of the waiting Lake Shore train, and twt
OTHERS who are believed to be lost standing il
the depot near the fiat cars.
Coroner Scott had just boarded the switch engine,
and was on the point of bidding adieu to Mr. Henry
Walters Superintendent Tillinghasts confidential
secretary through whose orders the engine had beef
placed at his disposal, when sudden hollow sound
OF snow falling in q mass from the roof, waA
heard, and immedIat ely afterward the south walp
about sixty feet from the new portion, began t.
totter and fall Depotmastcr kring succeeded 10
getting beneath brek wall which held its position
but his cap torn from his head by the pursuing
fragments Mr.. Smith ran into the vestibule OF tho
abando" ed eatlng-honse and escaped through ths
cellar. Mr. Waters who was just behind him. was
caught by timber and held prisoner until Othel
portions of the falling roof crushed out bis life and
his human shape. The Lake Shore train was buried
from sight by roofing material. The switch engine
was broken and partly dismantled.
An uns' 'htly gap was torn out OF the wall OF the
beautiful new waiting-room by the falling OF tho
mass, which also crushed Captain John Byrnes
The old cars which stood on the track were all tors
to pieces.
The work of overhaung the ruins was mme-
diately commenced by members of the fire depart
ment and employees of the railroad company. The
ii st wo bodies recovered were those of Captain john
W. Byrne and Henry Walters Shortly aiterW ard thd
workmen found the mangled body OF William
Wells the clerk for Car Inspector Howe, of the
Lake Shore Railroad. Two other bodies were then
John H. Jackson colored man, was In the wait
ing-r0om, and Immediately on hearing the crash
smashed the window and jumped out INTO the
street. He was followed by William ). Odei'
agent OF the Wagner Sleeping Cas- Company. j.
Covryw no had charge of the newsstand, ook hasty
leave OF the building by going through window, 10
smashing the glass of which he cut his hand
severely.
The work of clearing away the debris was COM
pleted this afternoon. The body OF Lew ;. Hunt
ing clerk in the Office of the Buffalo, NewYork and
Philadelphia Railroad, was recovered The canse
of the disaster is Attributable to the weakenlngoi
the north wall of the depot by cutting openings and
! passage ways to connect with the new structure,
whIon is attached to the DID, and by the removal OF
number of walls which formed the diferent Offices
inside or the old structure, and the immense body t
snow which had accumulated and was made add1-
tionaly heavy by the recent thaws. The scene pre-
one. Large piles of bricks iron girders and heavy
timbers were piled in Iudescribable mass, while
the ragged walls tottered and fell IN sections.
The noise resembled that of an earthquake and was
heard mile distant. The whole OF the Old depot
structure. which was 100 feet long, 26 feet 10
height 100 feet wide with arch 76 feet, save fifty
feet OF the walls and the fourth arch is mass oil
runs. II was built in 1850 JG. AZ no other hOuf
OF the day or night could the accident have hap
pened without o greater loss Of lie, az tbs
depot at the time was comparatively deserted,
The only train made up aud in waiting was the
Lake shore TO Erie, winch WIS waiting the COMING
East both Of which were behind time. Tho Niagara
Fails train went out about five minutes before the
crash. and the eastern bound train had been gone
about an hour. The fast mail train which was due
about the time of the accident was behind t:ine and
the heavy Pacific express, due at o'clock, was
three hours late.
A number of eye. witnesses were spoken 20, and
all agree to the snddenness of the crasE. James
W. Williams, the depot-maste's clerk. sail: "
was stepping into the oitc. to make out nv report
when tue crash occurred. The bricks, mortar and
other debris fell all around me: and
was slightly bruised, but my InITIies are are
midst of the trouble looked ont of tho door apS
saw Waters rushing from the engine towards the
Office When had almost got TO IL l was strnck by
tie falling timbers 1 fell on my face and was
quickly covered up" ,
A slcepng-car conductor Mr.. Grimes. the land
agent OF the Central and Mr. smith passen-tr agen,
seen running by Mr.. Williams and they all escaped
In The Lake Shore cars OF the waiting tram. lev
passengers perhaps fifteen 50 in all, were seated
waiting flr the tram to start. Fortunately not ono
of these was injured. They were virtually buried
but the root and side wall IN faiiing bao
made q sort of archway over the cars, protecnne
them from harm. The passengers recovering from
the first shock and surprise had no dlniculty I'D
getting out. The telegraph wires have been sene-
rllly repaired and all distinctions removed. III
Coroner will make an investigation.
A prominent official of the NewYoyll Cen
tral Railroad Company told a reporter Of TIL. TRIBUNE
Yesterday afternoon that 1t was impossible TO say thei
what WAS the immediate Of the accident. He dit
not think It could been owing the weight OF snot
upon the roof the company very careful to guart
against danger from such n source The building wbci
was destroyed used as trainhosc loli y oy thS
Cauada Spuinern Lake shore and New-fOrk Centra
Roads It WAS connected with tue passenger rooms
VIII cn n new building. recently construeteu any
about twenty i've feet IL was III iae, tne ol
moved aud replaced by al archway ike mat III tns
Grand Central d pot built directly upon the old walls
support the weight of the arches and that he1
gradual weakening fnally resulted IN the disaster