New-York tribune., 1904-05-31
FOUR FALL WITH WALL.
WOMAN EXPECTED TO DIE.
Car Completes Demolition of Old
Building Which CoUapses.

-Four people were injured, one or them prop
ably fatally. IN the collapse Of part of the old
fashioned four-story brick building at No. 65
East Eighth-st. at 10 a. m. yesterday. The
easterly wall crumbled away the entire height
and two-thirds Of the length of the structure.
beginning at the sidewalk. The injured:
zAUwIrz Jacob twenty-five years old. No 2O5 East
Nnetyeighth-st.: fractured nose and abrasions' to
LEVINE. Max. No First-ave.; both thumbs broken;
Monroe st right thigh torn and fractured; 10 hos
cEMAY M ] P93o I gsa5s aa M9 faa. 4 BTo9a af the
skull and fracture Of the knee; 10 hospital; viii
probably die.
The old building adjoins deep excavation
at No. 81 East Eighth-st,, where n large mod
ern building is TO be built. The excavation ex-
tends a considerable distance below the lowest
level OF the old structures foundations.
Working in the excavation were eight italian
laborers under Foreman Nicola Sarmentiss.
They noticed that bricks fell into the excava-
tion from the TOP Of the old building. but ap-
parently paid no heed to them for they made no
effort TO tell the occupants Of the old building
or seek safety themselves.
on the ground floor OF the old building was the
cafe and saloon known as Eagan's Hotel Me-
tropolis. The second floor was vacant. The third
floor was occupied by Polty & Alexander, manu-
facturers OF hats and caps. Fourteen men and
two women were working there. The top floor
was occupied BY II. L DistiIator. also a manu-
facturer OF hats and caps, but his shop was
closed.
In the rooms Of Polty & Alexander. Gilbert
Alexander. one OF the propretors. Was present
The two women were Miss Pauline Richman
and Miss Annie Feir-
Az 10 O'Clock the easterly wall OF the building
began 10 c-umoIe There was "a rumbung sound,
ana then the wall fell straight down into the
excavation not breaking in 'he middle. Miss
Rlchmau with NHestein and Kauwitz. who
were working beside he-. feu with the wall
They landed I'm "a heap Of debris cf bricks, NOR
tar and beams IN the excavation Al" Flesh
man. the engineer OF the Broadway Trust Com
uanv at Broadway and Eighth-st, ran 20 "a fire
alarm box there and sounded an alarm The
a-emer ex:rIcated the three injured persons
RourGsrran Kane OF the Mercer-st- station
stopped "a passing patrol wagon. and sent the
Injured woman. without waiting for an ambu-
lance. 10 st. VIncent's Hospital. The others We're
taken 10 the same hospital in am5ulances later
Levine broke his thumbs IN sliding down
caspipe The remainder of the workmen es-
caped by the rear fire escapes and the front
stairs Morris Gold. OF No. 10 South Ffrst-st.
T3-ooI,Ivu. and his father. Esach. found them
selves I'm the cellar covered with debris, but not
even scratched. They were positive that they
did not fall. and could not account for the man
ner in which they got there.
In the saloon we're Bartender Thomas +.
O'DorneU three customers and Alfonso Cop
7ola. of No 13S Thompson-st.. an employe in
the building O'DonneH heard the rumbling.
and having been fearful that the building would
fall shouted TO the others and ran out. They
followed.
In front of the building a hoothIack
stand al which Nicolo Lateria, OF : y 81 Spring
ST.. was shining the shoes Of customer. one
shoe had been blackened when the wall began
10 fall TIE customer jumped from the chair,
ran into the street. and narrowly escaped being
run down by passing electric car.
The Buildings Department was Informed OF
the rolaDse and several employees quickly
rived The hremen took charge under command
Of Chief Croker and Deputy Chief Kruger. The
cars in Eighth-st. We're stopped, owing 70 the
dangerous condition of the front wall. which
swayed repeatedly. Chief Croker gave orders
pull down this wall.
Flremen were sent 10 the top OF the adjoining
building. q heavy hawser was fastened through
the roof and front wall and efforts made to
pull the wall down. In front OF the building
a hlgn hagpole on which an American flag
six by four feet flying. Chief Croker de-
cided that the pole and flag would have to come
down. The fremen assigned to this work-John
Smiley and Pete Clark attached TO Hook and
Ladder No. got the flag down, while bricks
falling about them from he swaying wall
They we're cheered
The rope, fastened by the f-emen. vuIIed down
only a portion Of the wall and deputy Chief
Kruger suggested that the hawse- lie attached
10 a streatcdr. This done The C..r was
backed and the roof, two floors and The rest "
the wall went down with a crash. This novel
method Of razing a BUILDING was cheered by the
Gro %d.
Deputy Building Superintendent Jordan saia
he could tel! nothing about the collapse until
he could SEE the records to-day
A natrolman warned the worimen IN the ex-
cavatiCu at S.:i1 o'clock TO get out. as he saw
bricks falling. No warning was given 70 the oC
cUpants Of the building.
The building is owned by Reagan, rwho also
owns the property next door and Who is having
John Griffith * Sons. of Philadelphia, con-