Year: 1865

The citizens Of Brooklyn terribly shocked yester
day morning by the announcement that number Of
workmen engaged in the construction or rebuilding Of
two warehouses in Furman street had lost their lives by
the falling of the whole structure from but its
own Inherent rottenness II will be remembered that
the night Of the 4th of April last fire occurred in
oil factory Furman street. which is situated directly
under the Heights the roof Of which being used as
vegetable and flower garden by the proprietor Mr. J.
Merritt, who lives in lordly mansion the Heights
above On these roofs placed covering of earth to
the depth of from ten to fifteen feet and peach and
other fruit trees cultivated great perfection After
the fire the owner set to work TO rebuild his stores
cording to his plans. He did not call upon the
vices of architect but in his unprofessiona
ce got up rough design of the work, and engaged Mr.
Charles T. Bunting of New York, to carry 1t out II
required nearly two months to clear out the Debris
of the fire, and the work hurried forward
with all possible despatch. The sites upon whi"h
she stores to be erected was a space of Gfsy
feet front by fifty deep, the back part being COM
posed of q brick wall constructed in the form OF
perpendicular arches, the convex side being placed
against the mountain OF dirt which supports the
and houses above. On the north side Of this space
old stone wall, apparently crumbling with age end
on the south side now wall had to be built against
another warehouse which at present looks anything but
safe Instead Of building wall the north side
to support the heavy mass of timber necessary in the





rotten stones were hewn out to an average depth hor
Zontay, of about two inches and half and the ends or
The roof ACCORDING i. r1 Mr. Merritt plan Consisted or
two arches OF twenty-five feet span and only twelve
inches thick


The work has been recently put up that the Bricks
when displaced from their post in the walls,
clean almost when they were taken from the yard.
not particle Of mortar adhering 10 them. The roof
being the last part Of the work flushed, Of
perfectly so much so that the centres upon which
wii ihsta ling NIL n
men at work to place upon this insecure structure
Of his own designing covering OF earth and manure
to the depth OF severaI feet These men have been
engaged in this work for two three weeks past, and
nine O'Clock yesterday morning the whole rotten
gave way and In less than ten seconds nothing
left bat mass Of broken timber and bricks, the
three unfortunate workmen being burod In living graves
beneath the rains.


Oar reporter was carly on ground and present
when two OF the bodies exhumed The first, John
NASH taken out about half-past three o'clock and
Immediately removed TO the Forty second precinct
station house In about an hour afterwards his wife,
Katherine Nash, who Is only six months In this coun-
try, 10 Sergeant Craft and begged peousy W nec
remains Of her husband That officer et once granted
her request aud She with female friends were ad
mitted into a back room where the mangled body
laid out awaiting the directions of the Coroner Tho
scene which followed when the bereaved wife looked
upon the mangled form of her husband one
pen describe This victim Of avarcious ignorance
and cupi y has been two years IN this city, from Ire
land, an raid his wfe's passage six months ago He
repres, tied very industrious and temperate man,
and had Ken permanent apartments at 405 Columbia
street tho ~ before his death





under direction Of officer CogaD, who detailed
to that dr;y by Chief Engineer Cunningham but up 70


late oar the other unfortunate victim not found
Inspector Folk usual promptly at the scene OF
disaster and did everything In his power 10 aid in finding
the bodies


After almost superhuman exertons tho body OF
Patrick Regan whose residence reporter unable
ascertain found in the centre OF the passage way
between the two buildings He did not seem 10 be much
mutlated, and evidently died from sufiocaton He
taken 10 the dead house by order Of the Coroner.
The other victims body, Monaghan not found up TO
iafa hou Il
erton put forth by the police and the Chief Engineer
OF the Fire Department.


The worked with determination rarely witnessed
and after six o'clock when the oneshoremen quit work
the docks adjoining, thousand men we're ready 10
go work those who engaged In trying 70
md the bodies About O'Clock party OF men as
sembed in Furnam street. within short distance Of the
Of the tragedy and some OF them we're In favor OF
taking summary vengeance upon the proprietor whom
they charged with being guilty OF the death OF these
unfortunate They were met by number OF men
more moderate views who advised them TO let the law
take its courc assuring them at the time that MI
Merritt wouldb held 10 q strict accountability
The only cRrge which seems " bear heavily against
Mr. Merritt Is that he not being nrcct, undertook
to draw plans for the execution Of these buildings
The inquest will BE- commenced to-day before Coroner
Lynch, when all the facts in the case Will be fully do
yelopeI