New-York tribune., 1891-12-30
MEN AND BRICK IN A HEAP.
A BUILDING FALLS IN LONG ISLAND CITY.
FOURTEEN CARPENTERS BURIED AND TWO SAID
TO BE FATALLY HURT = THREE
ARRESTS MADE.

T. large building which was being erected by
the Union College corporation at Jackson-ave and
Ninth-st., Long Island City, was blown down DUR
ing the gale yesterday afternoon. Fourteen men
were buried in the ruins. All received more or
less severe injuries ana it believed last night
that two Of the victims would die. Police Ser
geant Roulette with squad OF reserves and
Mayor Gleason reached the scene of the accident
soon after the crash and directed the work of
rescuing the who were under the wreck
and whose cries and groans could be plainly heard
The members Of the fire department promptly
responded TO an alarm sent out, and they were
soon at work with crowbars and removing
the debris.
Mayor Gleason also sent for ths men who could
he spared from the Public Works Department and
in short time after the building fell a large
force Of men at work removing the rubbish
and rescuing the unfortunate workmen The
victims were all carpenters and were at work on
top Of the building when it fell. The workmen
were taken out of the ruins crushed and bleeding,
placed in wagons and conveyed TO st. Johns
Hospital. a short distance away. The work of
rescuing the workmen occupied nearly two hours
and several unconscious when rescued. The
list of the injured is as follows
JOHN SLEEMAN, of East Eightethst New.Yor&; skull
fractured and internal injuries likely % die.
JOHN HESS. broken and internal injuries in erIt
ANTON MAJEsKI, of No. l2S washins;On-st Brooklyn:
internal injuries.
GoR sEnBEET Of of Nc S aS5ui e Long Island
BENJAMMX M Of mo d I2s Ss EsnSs Long
cHASaLEs HAYES OF Astoria severe cuts about the
ALBERT HEWITT. of Debe>Oise-ave.. Astoria; cut and
LAWRENCE FARRELL cut and bruised.
b. MEYERS. cut about body and arms.
HARRY MILLER, cut and bruised.
WILLIAM ANDREWS, bruises about head and BODY.
CHARLES PAYNE, cut and bruised
PETER MCGUIRE cut about the head.
ADAM DEY, cut and bruised.
The last nine persons named were able to go
70 their homes after their wounds had been
dressed, but the others are in st. Johns Hos
pital Little hope is entertained for the recovery
Of Sleeman and Hess
The building which collapsed was being erected
by the Union College Corporation, and was tri
angular in shape. 1t stood the angle formed
BY Van Alst-ave, Ninth-st. and Jackson-ave It's
foundation was of stone and brick and the brick
extended up TO the second story. The building
was intended for a theatre or music-hall, and was
the height Of a three-story building. From the
beginning Of the second story the building was
frame The work was being done by the Union
College Land Company, whose representative in
Long Island City in S. f. Stmson. In the alb
sence of Mr. Stmson the clerks in his office re-
fused 10 give any information regarding the fall
ing of the building.
When Mayor Gleason returned to his office from
the scene of the accident he issued warrants for
the arrest of Thaddeus c. Miller, twenty-five years
old of No 1870 Ninth-st., Long Island City, con-
tractor; Robert N. Reed forty-three years old, Of
No. I45 East-ave. Long Island City, foreman
carpenter: and S r. Stmson, of No 1913 Ninth
ST.. Long Island City, the general manager of the
GeIl. 4 a.,A 4 - n m
and Reed gave themselves up at Police Head
quarters. and shortly afterward Stimson was ar
rested al his home by Officers Walsh and Cammann.
All three were taken TO the Mayors Office in the
CITY Hall and released upon $1,000 bail each,
the bond being signed by Isaac Van Ripper. Mayor
Gleason said that two more arrests would be
made.
About a week ago Mayor Gleason had sus-
picons as to the safety of the building, and sent
two architects to examine it. They found that
the building was being Constructed in such a weak
and frail manner that it was unsafe. Inc archl-
tects' report was TO have been acted upon by the
Board of Health last night Mayor Gleason In
formed Mr.. StimsOn, the manager OF the Union
College Land Company, that the building was un-
SAFE but he says no attention paid TO the warn
ing. The authorities could not have stopped the
work until the Board Of Health had acted upon
the report Of the architects condemnlng the
building
+. c. Miller, the contractor. said that he only
contracted furnish the men and supervise
the work, and that the company furnished the ma
icrial lie considered That lie and his men
had done the best they could with The material
furnished for such building. Ile material
was perfectly sound, but was not heGTy enough
for such q structure.
Patrick Hayes, Philip Denkman and Adam
Denl<man. three carpenters had a miraculous
escape They were on the top Of the building
when they heard peculiar noise and felt the
structure SWAY They Immediately dropped from
the roof to the ground, a distance of forty-two
feet, and escaped without serious injury. Tney
all landed in the mud