New-York tribune., 1902-08-04
PANIC FOLLOWS CAVE-M.
DWELLERS IN HARLEM FLEE FRoM
HOUSES-N ESCAPE OF
WOMAN AND CHILD.

Great excitement followed a cave-in in One
hundred-and- -forty-ffth-st and Bradhurst-ave
yesterday in the height Of the storm, and a
dozen or more occupants of houses at Nos. "a
and 323 West Northumberland -forty-flfth-st
fed panicstrickeB the street, where tney
huddIed, drenched TO the skin. for half an hour
That woman and child who sought refuge
from the storm on the stoop of No. 323 West One
hundred-and- -forty-ffth-st were not instantly
killed py the cave-in was due to the presence
of mind of Thomas Hayden, who lives at that
number. Without the slightest warning, from
the house line in front Of Nos. 81 and I'D and
for a space five feet beyond the curb line, the
street caved in TO depth of twelve feet, ex-
posing the water mains and service pipes The
immense cavity Immediately filled with water
and for a time it was thought the two houses
would collapse. It was said by experts or the
Water Department who visited the scene that
had not the storm subsided and the rush of
waters queted the two houses would undoubt-
eedly have followed the first cave-in.
The earth under the pavement in front or
Nos. 321 and 323 il was found after the storm
of last Monday had washed away, leaving the
iagstones slinly supported. Men were put to
work at once filling in the gap, and by Satur-
day night had all but completed the work, and
the workmen left the pavement, so II was
thought in safe condition.
alarmed by the darkness which preceded the
storm Mr. Hayden. who is leader OF the New
York Democracy of the XXIIId Assembly Dis
trict saw a woman and child on the stoop cf
his home. whera they had taken refuge from
the downpour. Mr.. Hayden at the same time
saw the earth near the curb line trembling,
and, recognizing the danger, called TO the
woman TO fee for her life. The woman saw the
danger and seizi1.. lr1 child in her arms, fed
-l,1 tod
the sidewalk, but. il slowly sinking beneath her,
she fed on 10 the centre of inG street A
moment later with roar, me paFeIneni sam,
downward, and there yaWned IN It's PldCe
great dark hole. which extended from the north
. west corner of the two thoroughfares Tor over
q hundl ed feet up One-hundred-and-forty- -nllh-
st A second later there came a second roar,
and il was found that the rent had crossed one
hundred -and-forty -fifth-st. at the northwest
corner of Bradhurst-ave. to the home OF CharLes
seeing that the front walls of the foundations
Of the houses at Nos. 321 and 523, as Wen as
those of Mr.. Seeth, had been exposed py the
cave-in. the occupants became excited, ana,
more fed to the centre OF the street where they
remained until assured all danger was past
No. 321 is three story brick house, occupied by
John Blackford as confectionery store ana
home Ali of Nr Blackfords family were among
those who fed into the storm for safety At No:
:323 no one was at home except Mr. Hayden and
a servant. They, too, Joined Mr. Blackfords
family and the others
Immediately after the cave-in the cavity be-
q whirlpool. The Water Department was com
nunicated with, and Thomas Dolan. one Of The
superintendents. with corps of work1nen, at
once shut off the water. It was found that an
old service pipe. evidently used by some con-
tractor TO SUI ply water to a building IN course
of construction. had been broken, and for days.
proba bly,. had been pouring a steady stream OF
water under the sidewalk in front OF the TWO
houses. The water in the cellar Of Mr.. Seems
home was nearly six feet deep. The Water De
partment informed the Street Department, and
the WORK Of filling up the cave-in was begun at