New-York tribune., 1907-06-25
FALLING HOUSE KILLS.
BODIES BENEATH RUINS.
Whole Families Buried in Collapse at
Walker and Lafayette Streets.

Several lives; probably ten, are believed to
have been lost at 1:4O a m. to-day when four
story tenement house. at the southwest corner
of Walker and Lafayette streets. collapsed.
There were three four Italian and German
families living the upper floors.
Firemen were the scene soon after the
building fell, and began to dig in the debris.
There was no fire.
On the ground floor a saloon, kept by
Herman Lintig. He escaped without injuries.
did the members of his family. John A Mil
ier tenant. and his family.
The fremen got hold of the hand of one man,
who was moaning feebly. but were driven back
and the man was buried deeper by the fall of the
part of the building that did not collapse at
first
The body of unidentified man was removed
from the ruins covered with blood and dust
and the face crushed.
The ruins were piled UP on the sidewalk and
street. greatly interfering with the work of the
rescuers
AS the building collapsed early in the morn
ing and without warning. it is thought that all
the tenants on the upper floors went down in the
ruins.
part of the building its entire height and
building in Lafayette street was left standing
and lodger there, named Reiger, was caught
IN his
Reiger was rescued from his perch by fremen
from Engine 81 with scaling ladder He sat
on the edge Of his bed until the hremen reached
him, and then crawled down the ladder unhurt.
Five minutes aftervard the rest of the wall on
the Lafayette street side fell with another crash.
The iremen working there We're showered with
rubbish. but badly hurt.
The building has been In an unsafe condition
for some tine and under the surveillance of the
Bureau Of Buildings. few days ago a piece
of paper was pasted over a crack to observe if
II parted under further sinking of the build
ing. Last night it was found to have parted
and the crack widened To this warning were
added oninous creakings during the evening.
The tenants though fearful did not get out
Ambulances from Hudson Street Hospital took
away the injured fast they were dug out.
The first two taken TO the hospital, Tomasso
Talconi and his wife. Amelia, escaped with bad
cuts and bruises.
Later reports indicate that eleven persons
were caught in the fall. The police find that
eighteen persons were in the house-two are
now in the hospital, seven got out and ii is
supposed the other nine are still in the debris
Reger and another Iodger the top floor.
Valentine Reichert. were alarmed by the crack
ing Of the building about 1:30 o'clock Rechert
was frightened that he quit the building i'm
nediateIy. Reiger stayed and a few minutes
later the building fell. Reiger afterward
seen. as in stage setting unhurt. the top
floor. The remainder Of the building showed
no sign Of giving way and the iremen left him
there TIL they could get out others who needed
their help more.
Two more persons were taken out Of the ruins.
nd Sicte
Mamie. Both were taken to the Hudson Street
Hospital but neither was seriously hurt
Deputy Fire Chief Kruger was soon on the
scene In charge of the rescue work The fire
men worked like beavers 20 save what lives they
might. II is believed that many of those left
in the ruins are dead.
Lieutenant Kelly. of the Elizabeth street sta
ton, says he informed the Buildings Depart
nlent that the building was unsafe for the ten
ants at 10 o'clock last night
Glacomo Pascara an: his wife and son living
on the top floor. had narrow escape Alarmed
by the increasing creaking of the old building
they had left their rooms or the top floor amt
were hurrying down the stairs They had
reached the door when the building fell. They
were not seriously hurt
George Tarchino who was taken out OF The
ruins, tod the surgeons at TIE Hudson Street
Hospita! that he believed his baby was buried
under the debris
The latest reports at o'clock this roo-rinq
were that at least ten persons we're killed T-he
bodies OF Tony Talconi. jr. IN unidentified Jtal-
ian and baby removed from the -1lins
Al least eight other persons Were supposed TO
De buried in the debris
Every member If ine Italian family %, tha
Third floor Is missing. There arc supposed tn 10
FIVE persons il this family
The building vas 4pwee1 by the Moses Ta,Io.
estate AID leased By Herman Lertig the saloon.
Keeper Lentig was arrested on order OF Cor
ensr Harburger.