The evening world., 1890-01-09
A New Brooklyn Church Blown
Over Upon a Dwelling.
Realizing the Approximations Of
q Night OF Terror.
The Church Walls Said to Have
Been Improperly Supported.

An appalling disaster occurred in
Brooklyn this morning.
The south wall of the new Throop
Avenue Presbyterian Church, In course
Of erection at the corner of Throop and
willoughby avenues, wa blown down by
the wind and fell with a crash at 4. 80 this
morning on the frame building two stories
and mansard. No. 29S Throop avenue.
which was twenty feet from the church,
and demolished ii.
The ruined building was tenanted by
the Mott and Purdy families, numbering
six parsons.
Richard Poole, q boarder, slept there
last night, making seven in the house, oil
told.
Two Of the seven were killed.
The other five were more or less seri-
ously injured--apd two of them. at least,
ore expected to die.
LIST OF DEAD.
MAY Eln6A PURpY. aged eighteen,
DAVID RuaDr. aged fourteen. mAngIed.
and throat cut by . beam.
THE NJURED.
Mrs. CAROLINE MORT. widow. aged rs,
injured internally. and suffering from
shock. Death expected.
Miss SARAH Mort. aged forty-hve, IN
iured about the head and breast.
CAROLINE PURDY, aged seventeen. injured
about the head and shoulders. Death ex-
pected.
Mrs. ELIZABETH PuRpY. slightly injured
about the body and suffering from shock.
RIcHARp PooLE. aged sixty-three, slightly
injured about the head and lower limbs.
The seven unfortunate people spent
night Of terror even before the crash
came.
When the wind rose after dark last
night 1t shook the heavy walls Of the
church, and their ominous rumblina
startled the tenants in the cockle-shell
dwelling adjoining.
Twice, members of either family went
out to take a look at the gloomy church
walls, but they seemed safe TO stand.
About IL p. N. the tenants went to bed
IN fear and trembling.
Then the wind was shriekihg and howl
ing through the streets, at the rate Of
forty miles an hour.
As the hours grew. the wind rose and
shook the new church walls to their very
foundations.
The creaking walls and banging shut
tiers awoke Mrs. Purdy ct $50 o'clocl
this morning.
She went to a window and looked out.
The moon was shining brightly, max
ing the streets as plain as day, and she
could see that the wind was blowing
gale.
Listening, she thought she heard thu
church wall nearest her rocking in thu
blast.
Quietly ~arousnR her three children,
who were sleeping in rooms adjoining
hers on the third floor, Mrs. Purdy bad
them dress, and then led them down Il
her mothers apartments on the parloi
floor.
PHer widowed mother, Mrs. Mott, anC
the ~latter's unmarried daughter, Sanh
we're in bed. but awake, in the bacl
psrlor.
Mr.. Poole was asleep in the room owe
the paTlor.
Mrs. Purdy and her daughter Carrie la!
down in the bed with Mrs. and Miss Mott
but did not undIess again.
May Emma Purdy wrapped some bed
clothes a.out her, and sat up in a biI
armchair between the two parlors.
Young David Purdy went into the from
parlor and lay down on a lounge.
h doomed people could not sleep.
They felt that something terrible wa
gong 10 happen. and yet they seeme'
Bound TO the house.
Once Mrs. Mott suggested flight, bu
the Others looked at her in helpless per
pieIity, and only asked where they shoul
nv 10 at that early hour of the morning.
The wind seemed to increase in fur
Sner A. n. and the frightened poop
got up aud sat huddled together, hopin
sha praying for daylight aud the end {
mar night Of terror.
b end came sooner ttan they e.
pseted' but brought With il the TeSliEaiio
% their orst fears.
AaHa l. a