The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-22
Occupants Of Park Ave. Houses
Arc Forced 10 Flee.
FOUNDATIONS AND WALLS FELL
Excavation for Subway Filled With Tons Of
Wukmsa Ran In Time 10 Escape
Burial Under Debris.

New York, March 22.-Since the new
year Park avenue has had a railroad dis
aster, disastrous hotel fire and has been
blown up. Yesterday IL was shaken down,
and a very comprehensive sort OF shake
down 1t was.
1t took in the entire block from Thirty
seventh TO Thirty-eighth streets along
away the fronts and the front foundations
Of two houses, endangered the stability
of two others, forced the tenants OF every
house in the block on that side of the
street TO find habitation elsewhere, filled
the new Rapid Transit subway with sew
age. according 20 the lowest estimate OF
$4,000. and according TO the highest OF
about $4,000. But this time no lives were
lost and no one was injured.
A cave-in along the eastern side OF the
subway Immediately in front OF the rest
dence of Hall Park Mccullough at 55 was
the cause of the trouble.
In that particular part OF Park avenue
nothing in the. way Of calamitous occur
rences had happened I'm nearly three weeks
IL was getting dull Nature relieved the
ennui.
At $3.50 O'Clock last wednesday morning
some pieces OF rock fell into the subway.
That indicated that there was something
wrong somewhere. The occurrence was
reported to Mai Ira Shaler. the contract
or, who Is building the section OF the tun-
mel from Thrty-fourth TO Forty-second
streets, and he ordered an investigation.
Ii was reported 10 him later in the day
that the pieces OF rock had tumbled into
a small heading which has been made I'm
front OF Mr.. McCullough's house, but
that there was nothing to show just
where they had come from, and there was
nothing to indicate that there were any
more loose pieces to follow those that had
already fallen
The happenings of yesterday showed,
however. that the few pieces OF rock
which fell on Wednesday morning were
but the forerunners OF a big cave-in' at
that particular part of the work.
At $50 o'clock yesterday the sidewalk
I'm front of Mr. McCullough's house drop
ped into the cutting beneath, that is.
dropped about 20 feet
IL was found that the seams in the rock
had slowly widened until the pressure of
the rock and earth above had caused the
rock below TO give way. letting the mass
OF rock and earth above and back of the
SehHly rOcH DOWN into the SUBWAY.
When this happened there was nothing
TO support the widewalk and IL tumbled
also. When these facts were reported to
Mr.. Shaler he ordered gang OF men to
set about snoring UP the Mccullough
house.
Meanwhile other houses in the block
began to show signs of weakness. While
the men were at work snoring up the Nc
Cullough house others were sent down in
TO the subway 10 find out the condition
OF things there. They reported that the
tunnel was completely choked with rock
and sand. They were ordered TO begin to
clear way at once.
The men had been working only short
time when they were driven to the sur
face by escaping gas from broken pipes
and by water from broken main.
The work OF snoring up the Mccullough
house was getting along finely when, at
l:f0 O'Clock I'm the afternoon. there was
sharp report and the men at work on the
house noticed a big crack I'm the front
foundation wall Believing that the house
was about to tumble they rushed to
places of safety.
They got out Of the hole in front OF the
house not moment too soon. The last