New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-02

SCENE OF THE DISASTER.
ton In Orchard-st.. near Rivirgton-str crasnea
in without moments warning. and a number
OF bricklayers were carried INTO the cellar Win
the falling walls Several of the men were badly
injured and were taken 10 hospitals as rapidiy
as rescued.
FoRTY-FIvE MEN AT WORK
The building which fell IN TeEth-ave. was oc-
cupled until two years ago as malt-house oy
a man named Schweyer Since then II has not
been used for any purpose. Recently George
McKelvey a Yves; side builder. purchased the
property with the intention of tearing down tns
malt-house and erecting apartment houses. The
work Of removing the o.d building was given 10
Contractors OKeefe and keegan. About forty
five laborers were employed. and the work of
removing the old structure was making fapla
progress The eastern part Of the building was
the dry house" As II stood originally ths
building was seven stories high.
When the men started 90 work in the morn
ing the walls had been torn down as far
as the third floor. Fifteen men were working
On this floor of the dry-house while the rest OK
the men were distributed in the main building.
Everything was going well. when at s;5o
o'clock there came "a sudden crash. the air was
filed for a few minutes with binding dust and
dying pieces Of building material Then came
the cries OF the men VIII lay buried in the cellar.
As the third floor collapsed its weight carried
down the two beneath it, and the men who were
hurled t. the cellar were crushed beneath the
terrible weight. In few seconds there was
great excitement in the neghborhood
RESCUING THE IMPRISONED MEN.
A policeman who was standing near the build
ing rang a fire alarm. and several engines ana
two hook ami ladder companies were soon on
hand in charga Of Battalion Chief GicqUel The
engines were not wanted and were dismissed at
once. while the ,rucknen, tcaded by the chief.
began 10 rescue the poor fellows. whose pltltul
cries for help could be heard half block away.
As they entered the main building, which still
remained standing three of the laborers who had
fallen with the floor staggered out of the ruins.
bleeding from cuts on the face and hands. These
were Gray. Mcdonald ami Moore. They were
able to walk. and waived of those who offered
assistance.
we are all right" they shouted, but save
those poor fellows there" TIE rescuers needed
no prompting however. They were soon hard AT
work digging in the ruins. guided by the cries OF
the men one OF the first L be- rescued vas
Charles Bobson. He lay on mass OF brick ana
beams but his feet were caught by beam, ana
he was unable To extricate himself He also ap-
petred To be mortally injured as his voice was
So faint that he could hardly make himseH
heard The fremcn released hi legs. and ne was
then placed on a stretcner and carried To one ot
the ambulanccs which had been summoned from
rouevue and Roosevelt hospitals. The next man
released John O'Cornor, was unconscious anu
T.. died in the ambulance while being carried to
Roosevelt Hospital
EXCITEMENT IN THE NEIGHBoRHooD'
o,. after another the injured men were then
cxtrlcated from the ruins. Several were aDie 70
wall, bat most cf them had 70 be carried out on
siretchers As each OF the injured men WAS placed
I'm the waiting amOulances murmur ot sympa-
rhv came from the crowd surrounding the scene
Of the disaster Many Of the unfortunate Labor
crs lived in neighborng streets, and when their
f.n,ilies heard of the accident. wives and cnil-
dren were soon on the spot, moaning and weep
ing. and making frantic efforts q discover how
badly their husbands and fathers had been in
iured At 10 o'clock the last OF the injured men
who retained life was dug out. He proved 10 be
Patrick Curran. No more cries then came from
the ruins and Chief Gicquel said sorrowfully:
Any other poor fellows who in there are
dead" 4 suggestion was made 70 tear down the
dangerous walls. but Chief Gicquel would not
have this done. There are some men In there
yet am positive" he said. "and there is a slight
chance that they may be still alive. II the walls
go down. there will not be any hope for them"
Within the next ten minutes Chief GicqueVs
pt ophecy proved true. and two more manged
workmcn. both dead. were dug out Of the ruins.
one Of the dead men Hugh Cullen, ana the
other Angelo Tccor Of No 65S Eleventn-ave.
THE CONTRACTORS RELEASED ON BAIL"
In a room adjoining the one where the oouies
rested at the station-house sat the CONTAGIOUS
who had charge OF the work. They were George
OKeefe. OF No. el35 Eighth-ave. and pariek
Keegan. of No 55i Yves, Fifty-third-st Rounds
man SkelIy arrested them at the scene OF the us
aster They we're taken to Yorkville Police Court