The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-24

WHAT Is LEFT OF THE PRESS ROOMS
Tho buildings near the ruin served ns oh.
eervation points for their ianiors and their
friends. Their roofs wers crowded all dav
hong, and when tho rain hegan to fall late In
the afternoon. tho watchers on tho roofs were
reluctant to give up their vantage points.
AT WORK ON THE RUINS.
Early In the morning Inspector Williams
ssid he would not keep the men at work for
another night. 1t was impossible. he thought
70 do anything for any one undor the ruins.
and 1t seemed needless strain on tho toilers
to Keep SO constantly at the work When this
word went around Erowl OF disrleasure
ran through the crowd. There were men
there who were waiting in fearful sus-
pense for the recovery OF tho bodies OF loved
ones. There were women almost crazed with
She agony OF waiting and to think that the
suspense vast be prolonged by night OF in
activity was terrible. La or In tho day the In
spector changed hts mind and concluded to
keep tho men at work. The first lntmation
the crowd had Of this determination wcs when
the wagon OF an electric light company drove
mp and workmcn began putting up two great
arc lights. ono 1t the awning OF IS Park place.
Just across tho street from the fallen buildings
and tho other Just ovor the wreck. Then The
crowd know that tho work would go on. and 1t
was satisfied.
AL Quy IOnR INQUIRIES kept coming TO the
mon in charge about missing persons. 1t was
meaere information that the answers con-
tanned. Every time body was recovered tho
questions were renewed. and II the answers
seemed . any OF the Questioners to indicate
that tho body was that OF friend. of they won't
to the Morgue. whore the bodies were ranged
for Identification. Theodore \. Lieber, Jr. OF
the firm Of Liebler Il Maass was ut the scene
oil the afternoon. About 5 o'clock he received
ateleGram from Benjamin Devine OF Chicago
asking about his son BENJAMIN. who worked
In the art room Of the lithogrnphiuC establish
mont. Mr.. Liebler answered at once that all
the artists escaped.
As the work OF clearing away the wreck pro-
gressss the cause OF the catastrophe becomes
moro and moro apparent The strngerS OF
the various floors were OF wood. One end
rested in shallow hole In the rear wall. the
other rested on an iron g!rder in the front wall
There were In the building on the third. fourth
aud nth floors printing presses o. several tons
weight Some OF the presses were Of tho
largest size built. Stored in the stock
rooms OF the lthoGraphine. printing. and
bookbindinG Establishments Were tons and
tons OF paper. The presses were all set so
that their motion was toward the street. Some
Of them were running Mt full speed. And 1t is
not At all unlikely that the dead weight OF all
thnt paper. coupled nth the vibration caused
by tho presses was too much for the strength
OF tho building.
PROBABLY NO EXPLOSION.
The theory Of an explosion is as improbable
as tho other theory Is likely Its said that there
was boiler in the basement Of GS. But that
part OF the building was unoccupied. There
was also a little receiving boiler in the base
ment occupied BY Andrew Petersen. Neither
OF these boilers could have caused the accident,
Deputy Superintendent of the Department
OF the Inspection OF buildings Mckinley said
yesterday afternoon that it seemed most
probable and plausible that the building had
been overloaded.
1T is unfortunate" he said. that there u
NO law regarding the overlooking Of buildings.
The Legislature has been asked to enact such
law. but it has not needed the requests
Tho building Department has requested
the owners OF buildings to = st notices in tho
Railways OF how much weight each floor would
sustain. This was all the department could
do. and as 1t has no authority 10 enforce com.
plianco with its request. the request has
naturally boon very littls needed"
ESTIMATES OF THE LOSS OF LIFE.
All estimates OF the total loss OF lie must 10
the nature OF things be for the present uncer-
tain. They aro based on reports which are
comparatively accurate in tho majority OF the
cases. But concerning one OF tho most I'm.
portnnt elements in the calculation there Is
practically no reliable Information: that Is as
to the number OF persons In petersen's res
taurant. 1t Is known that there were ut