Year: 1872

Coroner schirmcr's Investig ation-Owner


OF the Premises Severely Ccnsured.


The case of Edward Burke, late fireman at
tached to Engine Company No. 4, who died from the
effects OF extensive burns received during the fire
and explosion at ls Liberty street on the morning
OF the 22d utimo, was investigated before Coroner
Schrmer yesterday morning, at the City Hall.
Captain Van Dnsen, Of the First precinct. was re-
quested to summon the most important witnesses,
but for some reason he neglected to do so, and the
result was that when the investigation pro-
ceeded the most material witnesses were absent.
Detective Healy at the Coroner's ONCE, was sent
for and soon returned with them. 1t was shown
that carboy containing spirits OF nitrous ether
burst ON the first floor OF the premises and ran
through the porous floor into the room below,
where there was a fire, an explosion being the re-
suit. The agent and owner OF the place had often
been asked to repair the 00, but had neglected to
do 80. Below win be found o brief synopsis OF the
testimony and the verdict OF the jury.


Lawrence Burke testified that he lived at 90
Henry street; deceased was his brother, and be-
longed to the Fire Engine Company No. 4, located
in Liberty street; he was severely burned on the
22d ultmo by explosion ut No. Is Liberty street;
went to the hospital and saw him there, and he
told the witness how the explosion occurred; he
said after the fire had been nearly subdued a car
boy OF sulphuric ether or something OF the kind
ploded.


John II. Simons engineer OF printing company
at % Liberty street. depOsed that at seven O'Clock
on the morning OF the 22d ultimO he saw there was
fire at IS Liberty street. and heard noise like
an explosion; ran over to render assistance, but
the heat was 30 intense could not get In the place
but two or three feet; had fre-extinguisher with
him; saw two or three pans on the floor with some
fuid IN them on fire; tried to extinguish the fire
burning overhead little later entered the build
ing on the first floor with the Fire Marshal and
saw carbOy supposed to contain sulphuric etner;
there were holes In the floor under the carbOy and
the witness thinks the carboy leaked and, burned
the the nGies IN the Moor the gas was lighted and
the fumes OF ether and thus caused the explosion


Thomas HarEraye, an oilcer Of the First precinct,
testlfed That on the morning OF the I'D ultimO he
was on post in Liberty street and heard the expl0
sion and saw some tremen rushing from the build
Ing.


George A. Erckenbrock, manufacturing chemist,
deposed that on the I'D utimO he kept salesroom
stored chemicals there, but manufactured them In
HObOken; was in Boston at the time; think a
carboy OF saiphnric ether must have broken or
burst and run down; do not consider nitrous ether
dangerous; think the heat OF the weather must
have burst the carboy by expanding the ether;
heard the firemen were told to throw water into
the premises before entering; the door OF the
was very poor, 80 that water could run through;
that ls why the mud from the carnoy leaked !.
comes in contact with the names.


Francis Winter, who kept place In the basement



basement was so poor that water would run
through without trouble; the agent and owner had
often been notified to make repairs, but had de-
clined dong SO; on the morning OF the
explosion the witness was In his place
when some iiuid leaked through into
it, and he put some pans on the foor
to catch it; thinks there was no gas burning,
but there was a fire In the lamp some ten
or fifteen feet distant from where the nuld was
coming down through the nOOr above; soon the
mud IN the pans took fire; the witness was badly
burned, and also Katy Brown; the witness cannot
swear that the gaslight was not burning In his
front room at the time OF the explosion.


Deputy Coroner Cushman testified that he ex-
amined the body OF deceased, which had been ex-
was caused by exhaustion and meningitis.


The case was then given to the jury, who rem
dered the following


VERDICT.
That Edward Burke came to hts death from ex
haustlon and meningitis, the result Of burns caused
by the explosion OF spirits OF nitrous ether at lS
Liberty street, on the 22d day OfJune 1872 and the
jury severely censure Mr.. A. NJ LYONS the owner OF
said premises, for not having made the necessary
repairs to the floor after having been repeatedly
notified