New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-22
CANAL STREET CAVE-|N
ENCULFS FIVE PERSONS
TweIve-Foot ChaSm Suddenly
YawnS in Midst Of HOmIng
Rush Hour Crowd.
SQUEEZED BY FLAGST0NES
Four of the Victims Go to Hos
pital To Be Patched Up-1n-
tense Excitement Among
Big Throng,

While crowds were hurrying through
Canal street to their East Side homes
last night at the height OF the rush hour
the sidewalk in front Of No. 1871, on the
apart and Ave persons fell headlong into
pit more than twelve feet deep. The
nagstones, poorly supported had given
way. AS the victims Of the accident
struggled in a heap several of the heavy
stones toppled over on them and pinned
them down.
Many persons who had almost fallen
into the big hole drew back as they
reached its edge, but, pressed forward
again by those behind them. they had
hard fight to keep from going down. All
was commotion in the street. Persons on
the sidewalk added their shrieks TO the
screams Of those In the pit, and while
those near the chasm were fighting TO
get away from 1t those at distance were
doing all in their power TO get nearer to
see what the trouble was.
The sweatshops, with which Canal
streets were filled with people. The cries
OF the injured attracted the attention of
Patrolman Fishel, of the Elizabeth street
station, who was off duty, and he was the
first to give assistance. When he looked
into the big opening in the sidewalk and
saw the struggling figures at the bottom
he let himself down easily and, hanging
by his hands. dropped in a place that
was clear. Joseph Otto. a driver, of No.
III Mulberry street followed him, and
the two were trying to lift the heavy flags
from the PROSTATE bodies when other
help arrived.
Sergeant Mclaughlin and PatrOlman
Metzak, also Of the Elizabeth street sta
ton, came up with a ladder that j. NJ.
Greene, clerk in a nearby store and living
At No. 4OS Van Siclen avenue, Brooklyn,
had brought, and went down into the
crater They succeeded in lifting the
pOnderous slabs from the men and wOm-
en- Just as Hook and Ladder No. 9, which
had been called by telephone, arrived.
The firemen assisted the unfortunate ones
10 the street.
Responding from the Hudson Street
Hospital to an ambulance call, DR..
Werthen found that none Of the five was
seriously hurt though Benjamin GOtt-
Heb. a Cigarmaker, of No. 236 East 18th
street, had bruised an ankle so much that
ne could not walk. The others who had
fallen were Samuel Schwartz, of No. AZ
Avenue ID; Esther Ziegler, of No 81
Cannon street; Elizabeth Snyder of No.
Sophia street, Maspeth, Long Island,
and Amanda Renaut, of No. 30 East SD
street
The last mentioned was on top Of the
heap, and after she had brushed off her
clothes went to the Third avenue elevated
road to get train for home. The 9TH
ers, who had fallen one upon the other,
were shaken up considerably and went to
the hospital. After they had swallowed
restoratives and been patched up with
court plaster all went home except Gott-
Heb. lie will be able to go to work this
morning, however.
An area of sidewalk about 10 by 10 feet
had fallen in over what the police decided
was an old vault. An examination showed,
It was said, that the fagstOnes had not
been properly shored. Not long ago there
was fire in the building, and a great
deal OF water was used. II Is supposed
that this had some effect upon the sup
ports OF the fiagstones. The property in
front Of which the accident occurred is
owned by the estate Of Martin Grossman,