New-York tribune., 1885-03-29
BLASTING THAT WAS DANGEROUS.
A ifoUsy BADLY sHAKnN-NARRow ESCAPE OF THE

A ifoUsE BADLY sHAKEN-NARROw ESCAPE OF THE
oCCUPAYTs-THE CONTRACTOR ARRESTED.
Considerable cOmmOtion was caused in west
East Eighty yesterday by blast which wreckeu
private dwelling and came near causing loss OF me-
The residents of the become used 10
the sounds OF blasts and drills many new houses
having been erected on rock foundations between
Central Park and the Boulevard within year
About two weeks ago Contractor 1ohh
Fitzgerald began to excavate cellar ior
an apartment house the lots Nos 467 and 469 west
Eighty third-st. ledge Of rock two feet above the
street level occupies the ground at present on the ad
joining lot No. 465, stands three-sory brick house
with grass plot front Of It, The property belongs 10
David b. Reed who lives the opposite side OF the
street. the house has been occupied for several years
by Frederick A. Brewer, of No 160 Wiiamst. and his
father-inaw, DIR. Charles F. Ives. The family have
bceu disturbed by the incessant hammerihg
Of n steam drill on the rock close to
the west wall of the house, and one
day week the house shaken to It's fouhda'ioh
by heavy blast. -. ,.uorroa h,,
the sonnd OF falling bricks and the front wall was seen
10 bulge out places II 1t was about 10 tninpe
wall at the first story where mass OF rock mad g9ne
through The front yard was soon hiea ea
inHuired If any of the members of the family
had killed policeman appeared at tnt b hioou gt
door and said no person In the house had been hurt
She was cool and refused to leave the house an @ re
in dangerous condition and first floor was Uttered
with bricks, fragments OF rock and broken f9r, hc
first floor when the wall was broken IN
Inv the blast and her escape from lhuiy
was surprising Mrs. Brower who Is soprano singer,
was absent from the house, having gone TO attend re-
hearsa OF her church choir Her husband ana ih,aer
were away the house also, but her pretty
Elsie two wears OF age who is petted by nearly every
body in the with the nurse III room M on hos ue
second floor The and child were sent TO the mousse
of a ncighbOr until Mrs. Brewer returned - .,
Mr. Rrowcr was summoned before noon 10
make ureparatiOus for moving, as IL "ns
evident that the house could hot , Do
made sof without tearing and rebuilding pOrtohs
OF the front wall. The hole In the west wall was nurl
the parlOr mnnte. The fireplace had been connpe,.,y
destroyed Plaster had been shaken loose from Wais
and ceilings Persons who looked at the wreck yescI
day said that contractor Fitzgerald either ud lol
stand blasting or crimnally careless, Dc'huao
blast ought not 10 have been fired so close 10 'e mouse
while parts OF the ledge distance from the wal ha
NOT been disturbed. Fitzgerald was paroIed lor CA
animation In the Harlem Police Court. -, ,,.,,n
Residents OF West Elgnythris St were started asaln
last evening by heavy report which shook tue HOUSES
near Tenth-aye. and broke number oI ~lhlOw pah -.
Tho arrest Of Contractor Fitzgerald ior Wrech,ns
house of Mr. Brewer had caused chahRe IN tno
rrnngements for eNcayating cellar In lbe hDolhlnE
lots Joseph sentOrr. italian OF NO III oecohu ae',
was sent last evening to some boxes conilhIns
powder in small frame shaniy In the rear OF tne V.s
lie managed set fire To tho powder ana the ehp,sio
dcmoshcd the .hauty Seutnre vas atterward ioun1
near the place where the shanty had stood bau nureu
and cut about the head lie was carried 20 the NlnuS
ninth street Hospital. fragments OF tho shaty sNEueA
tbe house OF Gilbert sears In Eighty y-fOnrtnsL mar
Tenth and dana sed II tO the cNtent OF SloV' ino
inmates OF the house escaped injury