The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-01
ROOF FAILS ON UPTOWN CROWD.

Ono Woman Underneath Crushed to Death
and Several Have Narrow Escapes.
Through what Fire battalion Chief Byrnss
declared had been o direct violation OF the
building laws. a structure designed as pro-
lection for pedestrians in front OF a building in
process OF rem Modelling at "a to 81 West Four
tenth street collapsed last night. One young
woman VINO has not yet been identified was
killed. and several other persons only escaped
death through their nimbleness. The police
OF tho Mercer street station said last night that
they were going to arrest the persons respon-
sible.
For some time Thomas D. Leahy. o con-
tractor and builder OF $50 west Thirty first
street. has had gang Of men nj work altering
the building At "a to 3S west Fourteenth street,
for Ludwig Bros department store. which 90
cup es tho buildings at 40 to 40 west Four
teenth street. To protect pedestrians.
Leahy had constructed bridgs.like
structure. composed Of heavy beams and
plauks. On the roof OF this several
tool boxes were kept. Recently. debris from
overhead. consisting Of broken bricks. mortar.
lime and pieces OF iron and wood. have also
been allowed to accu IN u late on the roof.
Al $40 O'Clock last night when a number OF
persons-men and women both-were passing
under tho structure. there was an omi-
nous crack The people cried out In alarm
and rushed for the gutter. Then
section Of the structure. about twenty feet
long. collapsed with q crash. sinking into the
excavation for the basement ifteen feet below.
About twelve tons Of the accumulated debris
went with 1t.
The cracking OF the timber and the loud
shouts Of those who had so narrowly escaped
death. created great excitement along the
crowded street. An immense cloud OF dust
arose aud some one thinking It was smoke.
turned In a IRE alarm. In response two
trucks and several engines soon ar
from the Mercer street station soon arrived
and fire lines were established. Then the
fremen. under the direction Of Battalion chlet
Byrnes. started with picks and shoveis to dig
over she runs to see If any one had been
Alter working nearly two hours they decided
that no one had been buried beneath the
ruins and were about to depart. when some
pank had hit her on the lett side Of the face re
and hal badly crushed her head, The
i to the Mercer street. station, il was
that OF a woman about 25 years Old. with
S Sssn dressed s ana ' aa ss w snS w nth
white stripes. Hack brilliantns skirt.
hssy blue blue ' s"pe " na .r gso% sTsW
trimmed With white swiss with black
dos and op Sd5Tss d in BE-. wss
~ Vest F"nftsentR street" In the corner aT
was the name Annie krichy. The woman had
$50 in her stocking. hurry call was sent TO
st. Vncsnt's HOSPITAL as soon az her body was
discovered. but Ambulance Surgeon Rem. who
responded said that death had been Instant
an.OuA.
The finding OF this body caused some OF the
oulookers to declare that there had been a
man wa king with her at the time Of the acct
| dent, The bremen made another search OF tho
| runs but failed TO ind any other body.
| The Greater New York Fire Pl otsctive Asao-
| citation. Of wh Oh former Chief Hugh Bonner is
| president. mott fed the members OF the firm
| OF Ludwig Bros. and d. RothenberR soon APP
| peared, He refused to talk. Leahy was also
| notified hut the messenger returned saying,
Leahy said lit was none Of his bus,neSs and he
| wouldn't come down town"
| The remaining part Of tho structure has
| roof. Chief ByrneA decided that It was unsafe
| and notified the Building Department to tear
| 1t down.