The evening world., 1889-07-22
IN THE CELLAR
Although NiCOlO GaSCO Went to Bed on
the Third Floor.
A Falling Chimney Responsible for
His Midnight Trip.
Tine nuk ITDhurf TlounuNh m piIa of
Dug Out Unhurt Benrath n Pile of
Bricks and Mortar.

Eicolo Gasco, a dark-eyed, brown Italian
of forty sunny Summers, lives in a three
story and attic frame building at 95 Bayard
street. Nicolo is the usual type of the native
of La Bella Napoli, transplanted from the
picturesque filth and dirt OF the fair city that
sits upon the smiling water of the Bay of
Naples 70 the unpicturesque dirt and filth Of
this bles> Led town.
Frugal. simple. lahorious. Nicolo gathered
the little pleasures tina cropped out of his
lite in the great city with innocent delight.
Not the least of the sweets which entered into
his existence was when he tucked himself
away at night in his bed and slept the sleep
of the weary.
Last night Nicolo stretched himself On his
pallet, Glad Ill the light and airy habiliments of
those who engage in the pastime of sleeping.
The warmth OF the July evening did not
keep the soft touch of slnmher from we gh-
ing down the brown eyel DIS OF Nicolo aud
soon he was in the land of Nod. dreaming
the happy dreams of innocence and light
henrtednes'.
When Nicolo retired he went to bed on the
third flor. When he awokc, Mt a little after
1 o'clock this morn ng, he found himself in
the basement.
This transition was as great as that Of a
fairy tale. Nicolo did not snow what 10
make of it. There was a more than usual
stiffness in the air. Moreover the perfume
of mortar and dus, RECALLED his n%ostrils:
When he went to led On the third floor he
had very little covering him. When he awoke
in the basement he found that he was too well
covered. A motley collection of brick, NOR
tar. laths and other building material packed
him in.
What had happened?
Simply this. The chimney had weakened.
and instead of maintaining its uprightness,
which is so valuable q point in the effective
ness of a chimney, it tell. and great was the
fall thereof. 1t carried with it different con-
tiguous parts of the house.
II also carried with it Nicolo.
That is why he went to sleep In the airy
third story and awoke in he lowly cellar.
He was carefully .excayated. and 1t was dis
covered that his drup through the house in
the wake of the falling chimney hnd pro-
duced no more serious result than awakening
him and exposing him to an UNPLEASANT
atmosphere imprehnated with dust and
mortar.
He was not allowed to inhale this long
enough to do him any harm. When he was
dug out be looked like Il miller, or like a
June-bug that had been poking around a
-four barrel.
After this Nicolo will sound the chimneys
near which he may sleep. and try to ascertain
whether they are lottery or not. A three
story drop is not always no harmless.
The ground floor of the house is occupied
as a clo,hing store by Bridget Clayton and
Catharine Duffy. two old sisters who usually
slept in the rear of the store.
Last night they moved their bed into the
store itself. fortunately. as the chimney
crashed through the floor directly upon the
spot where their bed ormerly stood.
The whole house was in nm uproar in n
moment, and the police cleared everybody
out after r~escuing the affrighted inmates,
and set a watch ,Ster the tiremen of Hook
and Ladder Company No. l had made the
place secure as possible.
Another Italian who was in the house was
so frightened that he ran away and has not
been seen since.