New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-08
PRICE THREE CENTS.
KILLED BY A FALLING WALL.
TWO MEN DEAD AND SEVERAL INJURED.
ARREST OF THE CONTRACTOR IN HoBoKEN-yrHu
Il

ARREST OF THE CONTRACTOR IN BoBoKEN--rHu
CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
Inc factory OF the American Lead Pencil Com
pany, Is at Clinton and Fifth sts Hoboken. The
main building three stories high is in Clinton-st
and wing one story high fronts in Fifth-st for q
distance of fifty feet. Recently the company desired
to extend the Fifthst., wing fifteen feet and tho
contract was let to James Clary, of No. 745io
Jcrsey-ave. who said that he had been O builder
all his life. Clary rented half of his contract to
Henry McLane who lives on the Heights ia Jersey
City. The two men hired dozen labOrers aud put
them to work The roof was torn of the Fifth st.
wing and ditch five feet wide and four feet deep
was dug on the inner side Of the end wall of the
wing, which was about thirteen feet high.
The ground is boggy and filed with quicksand in
that part OF Hoboken and all foundations rest on
piles driven into the earth. Piles were driven by
Clary workmen INTO the foundation trench ON
the inner side of the end wall. Then soaps or
beams to rest OH top of the piles dragged from
the street INTO the inner trench while several work
men dug second trench on the outside. As they
dug with gross stupidity, they shoveled tue black
muck up against the end wall which had not been
braced and THEREOF beingotf tstDod wthouts support
To hasten the disaster the laborers in the inner
trench dug away the earth next to the wall to
make, make room for the caps Suddenly cracking
toward the inner trench burying the wOrkmcn
under the brick.
Shortly after p. m. yesterday, the accident oc-
CURED The falling wall and the cries of the men
created slight panic in the factory where 300
people were at work. but it was sOou quIeted. Tho
workmen went out and joined vigorously IN Dig
ing out the buried lab0rers, who were in trench
covered with brick five feet deep. John ConnOrs,
age rtyhve, Of No. 203 Willow-st., and James
Hackett, OF West Newark-ave., Jersey City. were
dragged out dead Henry McLane, the half-con-
tractor. was dragged out insensible covered with
bruises and with his skull fractured. John
Geogeghen, of Slxteenth-st, Jersey City, was
rescued with his right ear cut Oft and also cut
about the head and face Peter CARRIER received
slight cuts about the head. George Jones. No. 235
Fourteenthst. Jersey City, was passing in the rear
OF the building and was struck by a flying brick
and slightly injured
The dead men were taken in charge by under
taker Cranc who removed them to his shop in
Westinghouse Conners had only been two years
10 this country coming from Cork. Ireland. He
leaves widow and children Hackett was q
single man. Mcl.ane was taken to st. Mary's
Hospital and his injuries pronounced fatal. He is
u marred man with family.
Two hours after the accident Coroner Haughey
had Clary arrested. He vas taken to the City
Hall where he furnished $4,000 bonds. Mr. Berger
the president of the company went in bis bond.
Clary said to TRIBUNE reporter that he was away
from the building at the time aud knew nothing Of
the accident 1t was reported in the vicinity of tie
scene that more than two lives were lost, but q
call of the roll by Foreman Hoffman of the factory
showed that no more were miss ng.