The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-09-03
WHOLE FLOOR FELL
Hoboken's Public School
Accident More Serious
Than Reported.
PUBLIC KEPT IN IGNORANCE
Building Inspector Says Someone
Is Guilty of Gross In-
competency.
PUBLIC KEPT In IGNORANCE

Facts have come to light in connection
with the fall of the ceiling at the new
school, No 6, in Hoboken, which will
give the taxpayers of that city something
to think about. Saturday morning, it
viii be remembered, there was deafen-
ing crash in one Of the upper class rooms
of the school. Residents Of the vicinity
hurried TO the school filled with alarm
and under the impression from the noise
that the whole building had collapsed.
They were met a the door by Janitor
Forbes and President Russ. who refused
had happened, but assured everybody
that only little bit of the ceiling had
fallen and that all would be repaired by
night Workmen were hurried to the
school and worked all day cleaning away
the debris.
Soon after the crash a reporter for this
paper called at the school house and was
stopped at the door by the janitor, who
summoned President Russ from up stairs
Mr.. Russ was covered with dust and evil
IDENTIFY agitated. He told. the reporter that
1t was only little accident and would
speedily he remedied. He refused to allow
the reporter to go to the scene of the
accident and said all the debris was
cleared away.
Now it appears that as a matter Of
fact the whole floor gave way and to-
gether with a lot of chairs and desks
stored on it. Eel into the class room be-
low MIR. Russ was seen this morning
and admitted that such was the case and
he had refused 70 allow people in the
school because he was afraid sensational
stories would get afioat He admitted
today, however, that the whole floor had
given way. He said chairs and DESKS
had been stored in the room above. but
that the weight did not exceed two tons
New York building inspector who was
called IN TO inspect the walls after the
fall occurred was seen this morning
and said that the accident was caused BY
careless or gross ignorance on the part
OF the contractor or the architect who
that when the scheol was erected the
work was NOT thoroughly inspected, or
if the plans were properly drawn the con-
tractor failed to carry them out In con-
structiTg the building.
If the accident had happened few
weeks later when the e6ifiee was crowded
With children a terrible loss Of life would
nave happened TO the children in the
room below and possibly a stampede
among the other little ones throughout
the school.
1iIs sSnoo4 opens next Iuesday and Mr..
Russ when asked if there was any pos
si5Aity Of more similar accidents in the
other rooms said that the break had been
repaired thoroughly and a carpenter haa
oeen over the rest OF the building and re-
ported it all right. He zaid he was max
ing an inquiry to determine whether is
was the contractors fault or the janf-
tors careleSsness in placing furniture en-
q floor that could not support it. He said
ne had tried to Keep the true state Of al
fairs secret because he did not want
to cause the parents ef the children any
anxiety. When satisfied that the reporter
wes in possession of the facts he aslFzsis-
ted that accident was much more serious
than he stated it to be at the time.