New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-09
FEAR HOUSE WILL FALL.
BROWNSTONE STRUCTURE ENDAN-
GERED BY A CAVE-IN.
INMATES HUSTLED OUT AND NOT AL.
LOWED TO GO BACK FOR THEIR BE-
LONGINGs-CROwD WATCHES

INMATES HUSTLED OUT AND NOT AL
LOWED TO GO BACK FOR THEIR BE-
LoNGINGs-CRowD WATCHES
THE HOUSE.
Though a corps OF Building Department Inc
spectors and laborers were at work last night
on the fve-story brownstone front house al No.
East Seventeenth-st-. snoring and proppins II
UP. 1t was feared the building would go down in
a heap some time to-day. The unsafe condition
OF the structure was caused by a washing away
OF loose earth under the sidewalk in front OF the
house. causing a cave-in- The sidewalk sunk
ifteer feet. and the occupants Of the building
had 10 get out in great hurry. No one was
injured
At Nos > and / East Seventeenth-st. work
has been going on for some days for the founda-
ton Of two new houses A big excavation has
been made. which is not yet wholly finished
II extends out 20 the sidewalk. and exposes some
OF the dirt under the sidewalk OF No. D, which
is owned by A. Brondigan a plano dealer, who
has store on the ground floor and let's out
the rest OF the building a furnished room
house. Every room has been taken. Bron-
digans store is few steps down from the side
walk. and eight ten steps lead up to the
paror floor During the storm last night
unusual quantity OF water flowed through
Seventeenth-st. 1t worked it's way over the
gutter at the place where the excavation is
going on and undermined the sidewalk in front
! OF No 9.
At 1870 o'clock enough water had flowed
/ down to cause the dirt under the fagstones 10
! become soggy and muddy. and It caved in. The
/ hagstones went down in heap in the dirt or
mud and were lying in what was more muddy
water than watery mud.
!
GLIDING Brondlgan. that they felt at no time
any vibration. But Brondigan the sidewalk
go down into the ground. and he thought some
OF 1t must be in his store. lie rushed out Of his
rooms and saw that the windows had not been
broken and that the store had not been dam
aged. But he easily dscerned the great danger
to the house, and he shouted at the top Of his
voice TO the people inside.
The street at that point had alread.' become
crowded with people. and they had also begun
| 10 shout that there was danger OF the house fall
ing Policeman Foye. OF the West Thrtieth-st-
station, pushed his way through the crowd, or
derng them to keep back because Of the danger.
md he went into the house.
The occupants Of whom there were about u
dozen. were already Fastening from the build
ing They had heard the warning shouts OK
Brondlgan and the crowd in the street, and had
not stopped 20 gather up any valuables or fur-
niture or clothing. but had run from their
rooms in the clothing they happened 70 be In.
None had yet retired for the night. They were
in a state OF some excitement, but there was no
panic They rushed out. anxiously inquiring as
TO the cause Of the alarm and they saw eve'
before the crowd came into view. the great CASH
in the earth in front OF them and they at once
understood No one dared go back into the
house again and Policeman Foye stood at the
entrance 10 prevent such an attempt
Foye sent word to the West Thirteth-st sta
ton. and more policemen soon arrived. They
pushed the crowd back 10 a safe distance from
the house and kept them there.
The entire foundation wall Of the front part
Of the house was exposed by the cave-in. There
was no sinking OF any part Of this or the rest OK
) the structure and In no place could II be seen
that the building was out OF line.
The crowd kept getting larger until there were
| several hundred people looking at the building.
The police sent a hurry summons 10 the Build
ings Department. which az once 50 mt corps or
inspectors with abOrers 70 the house. Iney
brought along big pieces OF joist and huge TIM
, hers ard set 10 work ut TO shore up the
building They worked al both front and SIDE.
and said they thought they could save IL.