New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-14
EIGHT HOUSES COLLAPSE.
Continued from First Page.

downward.
like ribs of gigantic skeleton. with the spaces between
than alIed with broken planks and aths and masses OF
brIck and rubbish OF all sorts The whole was coverea
with sheets of tin roofing curled Into all Sorts OF i
tic shapes. When the top covering was taken on IL
could be seen that the houses had been almost
completely teescopod. The top floors mad raheh
on those beneath them almost ns even
lv "a the leaves OF closed book This
rendered the getting at the lower floors where
1t was supposed the imprisoned men were, exceedingly
difficult. The firemen went to work systematican!
however like who thoroughly understood their Dus
ness Saws, axes and frehOoks were brought in'o
requisition and did effective work Lines OF men were
formed to throw the street and the vacant ot au
Joining the wrecked buildings the bricks and small wreck
age. Ropes attached to the big beams ana long
strings of men, with hearty "yo hcave' no. wouio
drag them out and make way for q deeper excaVa
ton.
AT the Eloventhave end of the row the most effective
work was done, and by 7 o'clock the first floor was
reached without. however. discovering any bodies In
the third house from Eeyenthavc it was thought that
voice was heard calling. force OF men was put 10
work digging out the spot whence the voice was sup
posed way was quickly opeheu
to the cellar, and Thomas Birmingham, boy who
worked for Mr. McQuade. the boss plumber volunteered
to go down and make a search. He took lantern ana
made thorough search but unable to find anybody
and repeated calls failed to elicit response John NC
MILAN went down through scutte of the fifth house.
and by the free made his way to the ground
floor. but could find trace OF anyone.
When the building fell, James Duffy, Thomas oBreh'
Thomas King John Mack. John Layerty. Thomas Butler
and H. yarndrau tn-roOfers at work on the ROOF
OF the fifth house. Duffy said "There was not the
slightest warning that there anything wrong Ihero
was little trembling and then the whole building
caved in before we knew what was happening landed
all SAFE and was hurt at ALL beyond severe shaking
up O'Bren escaped also without injury. L don't
know what became of the other men"
King and Laverty taken to the hospital and the
other men were unaccounted for though 1t Is supposed
that they escaped without injury.
Adam Zewerman was at work In the building nearest
Eevcnth-ave. He said: There were six men working
in the building where was, but don't keow what bc-
came OF them the first floor when all OF sud
den felt shock and thrown down into the cellar
on my face. don't know how 1t happened or now
escaped without injury lay stunned for little while
and then 1 climbed out through an opening into the
street."
1t is known that number of workmen escaped. When
the crash came several men were at work the top
floor of tho second building FROM Tenthave One OF them
jumped Of the window as the house was falling ana
landed safely pie OF dirt in the street He then
helped companion ont of the window and the two went
away. Peter j. Mitchell, carpenter, went to the
building to get o job but refused
and started for his home HO had got
as far as Tcntha7e and sxtysecondst when he heard
the crash Hurryng the sceno of the disaster. he
a pinned behind couple OF beams and calling
pteously for help summoning aid aid the helpless
man. who George sauerbrey. carpenter was extr-
Gated and taken to Roosevelt Hospital
All through the ruins the rescuers found tools OF
various kinds indicating plainly that II their owners
were not still IN ruins that they had blfey time to
escape with their lives On the roof OF the fifth house
were found two one OF them belonged to Thomas
King, a rooier. The othor had few papers one
temperance pledge signed by John Knott before Thomas
fa. II. -. .h,, Lune q
posed to have been a athcr employed the buildings
and Is not accounted for.
The general call for ambuances brought TO the scene
twelve ambulances from Roosevelt the Presbyterian.
Bellevue NewYork ST. Vincent and the Ninety nlncth
Street Hospitals. Those from Roosevelt Hospital were
the first 10 arrive. Tho ambulance surgeons at once
went to work on those OF the injured who had
been extricated. Wounds wero fixed up
temporarily and the patients then taken
hospital Commissioners Brennan. OF the Board OF
Charities and Correction among the early arrivals
OF the ambulance service After the hrst
rush was there pressing need or
all the ambulances and those from Ninety ninth street
and bellevue sent home. The drivers were In
rucicd however keep their horses harnessed and to
be ready at the first call TO make all haste to tine
scene Of the disaster. This action was taken
so as TO protect the city the ambulances should
be needed elsewhere in the city AZ hour after hour
passed and no further work found for the ambu-
lances they all home. except those from the
Roosevelt Hospital.
The news OF the disaster spread rapidly, and large
crowd congrcgdted around the ruins. II became so
dense that the work Of rescue seriously impcdcd
The reserve OF the Twenty second Precinct, IN
der Roundsman Thomas Boyd. was wholly inado-
auate 20 handle the crowd and ho tclegraphed
for assistance Inspector Dilks sent the re
serves from the Ninth. Sixteenth Twentieth
and Thirty. first Precincts TO his asst.
ance, and hurrying TO the place took
charge OF the police gemonts himself Lines
established at a safe distance from the |
mine and the canal cleared away. Captain |
Kiilea arrived shortly acrward aud II took the whole
force OF 100 men 10 keep the crowd back.