New-York tribune., 1908-12-20
TENEMENT STAIRS FALL
MARBLE SL1B CRASHES
THROUGH FOUR FLOORS
Sir Hundred Occupants Rush IN
Panic from Fire Escapes
and Roof.

One Of the supports in the staircase Of the sia
story tenement house at Nos. ,. T. and 8 Dover
street snapped last night under the weight 0t
the marble slab which formed the mezzanins
landing on the fourth floor and in falling carried
away every landing and floor slab to the ground
floor panic followed There are about six
hundred persons in the building. and when the
crash came all rushed TO the halls and many
crowded on TO the wrecked stairway Two per-
sons injured and were taken 70 the St
Gregory's and Hudson street hospitals. The rest
sought fire escapes and the roof
Timothy Collins. Of No. Is Cherry street. who
visiting friend in the house, was one ot
those hurt He fell from the fourth floor through
the shaft made by the falling stone. and was
taken to the Hudson Street Hospital suffering
from scalp wounds and contusions- Mary
Powers, a tenant, fell from the third floor and
narrowly missed falling Collins She was
removed to St. Gregoryss Hospital. suffering
from contusions and possible internal injuries
The cause of the collapse OF the landing was
a mystery that bafied the building inspectors,
the Fire Department and the police It vas
shortly before o'clock when the tenants OF the
house were startled by the roar and crash OF
falling stone and metal. There was a general
rush to the halls. then TO the roof and fire
escapes. many believing that the building had
been dynamited that 1t fire
the house from "The Police Gazette Building,
adjoining and nearly all the tenants were
brought to the street in this way.
Patrolman ROhrs, Of the Oak street station.
who near the building, ran into the lower
hallway and while the wreckage was still fall
ing from the upper floors. got Mrs Powers and
Collins from beneath the falling debris. He
sent in call for the Fire Department. and for
the ambulances from the Hudson Street and St
Oak street station, in command OF Captain
Toole, hurried to the house
Excited tenants crowded the fire escapes. and
a number Of women with children in their arms
had to be forcbIy prevented from jumping TO
the street by the police and fremen. who
swarmed up the front OF the building and di-
rected every one to safety. Some Of the tenants
were brought to the street by ladders supplied
by the Fire Department. but the majority Of the
forty-eight families in the tenement were as
sisted 10 the roof and brought 70 the street
through the Fox Building
Inspector Sweeney, OF the Building Depart
nent, came in answer to hurry call. and after
exmaInng the marble steps and their supports
ordered that the building be. vacated until proper
snoring was placed under the damaged stair
cases Many Of the tenants had returned TO their
apartments when the first alarm had subsided.
and It required platoon Of police 70 clear them
out The temporarily homeless families were taken
care Of by neighbors and in the rear rooms OF
saloons and drug stores IN the district, but many
Of them were forced to remain IN the street for
hours.
= Norah Ryan. old. blind woman. who lived
the first floor OF the building. was permitted
to remain in the damaged building with her
daughter, because Of her weakened condition
Annie Kelly the four-year-old daughter OF Mrs.
Norah Kelly. brought TO the street by her
mother and when the police were informed that
the child was recovering from attack OF
scarlet fever she was ortAred removed TO the
Willard Parker Hospital
The building is of the largest tenement
houses in the city. II is owned by the estate
of Richard h Fox. There is only one entrance
and stairway for the building. which covers four
lots and has stores the ground dOOr- IN
spector Sweeney said that he could ind nothing
that was in violation of the building laws. Ths
building IS ten years Old