New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-01

apparently sound At the inquest, which will not
be held for couple Of weeks yet, that those who
are now in the hospitals may recover and be called
10 give testimony the coroner hopes TO have expert
witnesses who. having examined the building, may
testify 10 its condition the state of preser-
walton OF the beams. The Bureau of Buildings
through Superintendent Collins. and Borough Presi-
dent -ittletou also inspected the church Yesterday
e. oerntendent Collins carried away the two
D y the beam which had broken off. One Of
4 Lttleton has; the other is in the hands
lreau Of Buildings but Coroner Flaherty
told that it will be produced whenever he
criticism OF the Bureau of Buildings for
ING the church to be used was heard yester-
was so old, said many, that inspection
have shown that the beams were rotten
ast affected by age. In reality, the Bureau
ungs has no authority under the Building
% inspect churches. Borough President Lit
told The Tribune last evening that when he
took Office he ordered that every church be in
Guided " the general inspection Of public buildings
which then in progress. This was DONE and
the report this particular building satisfac-
tory Later, when plans for alterations had been
discussed. another inspection was made, and the
conditions were satisfactory. The beams be-
tween the floor and the ceiling OF the first floor; no
inspector would have had a right, said MI. Little
ton, to rip up this floor to examine the beams.
CROWD UNPRECEDENTED. SAYS PASTOR.
According 10 the Rev. Mr. Jacobs, the pastor
the church more crowded than had ever
been II the eight years Of his paStOrate, and
throng, heSold Mr. Lttleton, in conference he had
with the Borough President, was practically IN
mana geable-people who had come there attend
q funeral which assumed to them almost the
aspect OF a pageant. The church seated some three
hundred and fifty, but least four hundred
five hundred persons were in It on Monday night
most OF them struggling in the aisle just where the
break occurred, while Mr.. Jacobs was trying to
get some Of them out OF the church No police
were in attendance, because such a crowd had
never beeR dreamed Of.
With these facts-an old church, badly crowded
with struggling congregation; two inspections
by The Bureau Of Buildings within a year. both
calling the structure satisfactory; panic. result
ing IN deaths-the officials have begun their inves
legations. and it seems almost unlikely that much
more definite information viii be forthcoming
Talk Of action by the District Attorney or the
grand jury was secuted by Borough President Lit
tleton and Coroner Flaherty. Whatever action is
taken in that direction viii wait until after the
Coroners inquest.
LITTLETON'S. INVESTIGATION
Borough President LIttleton called on the Cor
oner TO assure him that any help the borough Off
Gals could give him would be forthcoming. Mr..
LItteton said that he himself intended to make
thorough investigation TO fix the blame for this.
the first serious accident since his taking office.
be conferred with the Rev. Mr.. Jacobs yesterday,
and with Superintendent Collins. After these con-
ferences, ne made a statement, in which he said
This church carefully exqm Iaes as the e In
EpectCr's report shows, IN March, lSOi Inc lIuS-
tees Of the church were told that the cnufch uld
not have sufficient exits in case Of panic. and a
violation was put upon the building for that rea-
son The trustees Of the church, endeayoring TO
comply with the requirements Of the department,
applied for and obtained a permit 10 make perfla-
Ina6e 6Tt All Of tbem looked to providing add
UOnal exits in Of panic. In OctODer, 1919, the
trustees the church wrote TO Mr.. Collins INFORM
ing him that they wished have him revoke the
permit for permanent repairs, ana alioW ttleIh 10
make temporary alterations. stating that they IN
tended 10 build church IN the spring. None
matters, related 20 the safety unsafety of the
structure. but rather 10 the question OF proVlolhs
exits.
From my investigation. and from the facts OBJ
tanned from the persons present, am sure that no
Inspector by the utmost diligence, could nave as
building. / suppose If il had been thought that
there would nave been a great mass assembled m
benches and on the back Of the benches IL would
have been expected that even the best OF timber
would give way.
MANY INJURED LEAVE HOSPITALS.
The death list revised, totaIled ten yesterday.
Tie police accounted for the discrepancy between
this and their first reports by the declaration that
some Of the bodies had been identified under diff
ferent names. Most OF The injured left the hos
pitfalls. There six in the Brooklyn Hospital
only one OF whom considered seriously
hurt, and one 81 Cumberland Hospital. The church
building itself was not 50 badly damaged as was
thought al first. Being a frame structure. the
repairs would cost only few hundred dollars.
but il is the general opinion that the building Will
De torn down and new one erected, as the con
Ing.
No regular inspection Of churches Is made by
the Bureau Of Buildings here. according TO Bernard
j. German, acting superintendent. The building
CODE does not provide for inspection u churches
as II does Of places OF amusement. when a
complies with the plans filed with the bureau.