New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-10
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GREAT CRASH rS THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD
--yoUR MEN HuRT-sERIoUs LOSS oF
LIFE RARELY ESCAPED

LIFE BARELY ESCAPED.
Tho tornado which swept over Brooklyn last night
destroyed the entire central and eastern part Of the
Brooklyn Navy Yard marine barracks and II Is due to
the explosion and fire which was burning in another
part OF Brooklyn that terrible loss of life did not attend
the fall OF the building
AS far as can be ascertsned the accident occurred
at AS last evening When full the barracks win ac
commodate about 23e men, but last night many Of
these were away in the town permit. At the time
of the disaster there scattered Ia different parts
OF the yards and barracks-on duty or of duy-about
ITO men. Major G. W. Collier, in command OF the
barracks is at present ILL., and his place last night was
taken by Captain Williams. At 745, while Captain
Williams and or two noncommissloned esicers
wcro In the guardroom and while the captain was
about to go to Major Golfers quarters wild. whih-
Ing rushing noise was heard outside, and the great
doors Of the gardroom looking into the street. were
blown open with terrific foroe, and the inner DOORS
opening on the barracks yard, were closed with a
deafening crash
Captain Williams was struck.on the head by one Of
the closing doors and hurled out into the yard beyond
the Flagstaff, where hs lay for moment bleeding and
stunned. az remember trying to raise myself from
the ground" be said afterward, and bearing the
swirl of the wind the yard. and then saw the
wall OF the barracks opposite shake and toter and
wall and roof fell In with sound as OF hundred
thunderbolts at once. The last thing remember was
seeing the jumping out OF the windows over one
another's heads The next thing became aware OF
was lying in the officers quarters onsa bed having
my head bound up."
OUT OF EVIL GOOD coMErH.
Five minutes before the arrival Of the tornado news
had been received in che barracks Of the big fire In
South Brooldyn- All the on-duty marines to tho
number Of so in the barracks. who Esd been playing
cards or reading smoking In their rooms crowded
out the veraRda which runs along the whole front
Of the building and were watching tho glow In the
sky. Private T. Kelley. who is an old sailor felt the
tornado coming from the southwest and before IL
could touch the building he had given the warning to
tho others, who with marvellous quckness and cool
ness scattered themselves the yard.
At the same moment the wall fell in and the roof
OF the rooms No. 9. 8. o. 10. 12 l3 and II fei In
amid perfect avalanche of bricks timber and ron
The tornado lasted about one and one-hah minutes,
and the space Of time between the striking Of the
tornado against the barracks and tho fall Of the roof
only four seconds In Room II, which Is about
Ioox4o feet. VIII accommodate eighty men, and Is
given to recruits. there wee Sergeant Kent
and about forty privates All escaped without injury
except tho sergeants ard two p;iystss. ccyne and
Hart. The two latter woro struck by falling bricks
and received slight scalp wounds, but the sergeant
was completely buried under the mass and only cx-
trcated with great difficulty by Private Jacobs, who;
regardless OF HIS own DANGER renamed 10 save hcnt
from what would have been certain death
SERGEANT BADLY HURT.
Sergeant Kent ia suffering from severe contusions
and shock Immediately tho fall of the wall
and roofing Lieutenant F. r. Benson caused the roll
to be called and ascerained that one was buried
IN the ruins. The large stove in room IL fell
through 10 the ground floor, but all danger Of 1ro
was averted By Sergeant McAulcy. who. with some
marines, promptly got the hose 10 work 9 As
precautionary measure. a single alarm Of fire was
sent into the town. but The two engines wnich
answered the call had work 10 do
The ruined wild medley II fallen
brick iron, stone timber, roofing overturned tables,
chairs and bedstcads lying EXPOSED 10 Tho sky. 1he
lnrEo mnssrOom under No II is completely cholnd
up By the ruins, but although only tho roof and
ond story destroyed, the rooms on the gyound
floor unInhabitable, and the whole eastern side
OF the barracks Will have 10 be rebuilt Tho total
amount Of the damage VIII not sau Tar short Of
All