6 May 1885 HEADLINE READS AS FOLLOWS: The Search in the Ruins of Yesterday's Catastrophe. Killed, Missing & Injured. Contractor MILLER is placed under arrest and makes a statement, denying that he is responsible for the occurrence. Many thousand dollars' worth of gold in the debris. Mayor LOW's narrow escape. Some of the scenes and incidents. Latest estimate of losses and some of the insurances. Fire Marshall THORNE and Coroner MENNINGER to make a sifting investigation. Last night's scenes at the fatal spot. Coroner MENNINGER and Commissioner POILLON went off together to secure the cooperation of more laborers and were successful. Every effort will be made to thoroughly search the ruins as soon as practicable. The fourth floor was occupied by C.W. BUTLER & CO., tin dealers, who had one-half, and BENJAMIN MOORE & CO., calsom finish makers, who had the other half. WILLIAM DURST, metal spinner, had half of the second floor, the other portion was not occupied. When Mr. DURST was asked who were the person that he believed to be dead, he unhesitatingly replied: "There is no question that my uncle, Henry DURST is one, and that Adolph MATTES, Frederick EGGERS and John MCGRATH are the others. They all went down when the floor gave way. I had ten men, and all got out safe but them." The names of these people have been given in the list already published in the Eagle. The father of John MCGRATH, one of the boys who was undoubtedly killed in Dwist's shop, was anxiously inquiring for some tidings of his boy at the Third sub-Precinct Station House. He had been to the Morgue and had seen the bodies there, but as they were charred beyond identification, he was unable to recognize the remains of his son. One of the bodies was found near the engine room, and is supposed to be that of Daniel J. LOWERY, the engineer of the button factory. This supposition is based upon the fact that the body was near the spot where the engineer would have been. There is not the slightest clue to identification as far as the corpse is concerned. Two persons who have been accounted for. A brother of Benjamin MOORE, who manufactured prepared calcimine on the third floor of one of the eastern wings which jutted out from the State Street building toward the tenements in Atlantic Avenue, was at the scene of the disaster this noon. He said to an Eagle reporter: "My brother Ben was reported missing. I am glad to say that he is all right. He was at home last night. When the walls fell he was in the adjoining building. He had nine girls working for him and he did not leave the building until all had got out. He was the last to go." Mr. MOORE resides at 730 Madison Street, in this city and considers that he had a narrow escape. Another man, James CARPENTER, who lives at 214 Graham Avenue, has also reported at home safe and sound. -The Victims of the Collapse. Late last night no definite idea could be formed as to the number of persons killed or injured by the catastrophe. The estimate believed to be most correct places the number of the killed at twenty. There are twenty-seven persons thus far reported missing and at least fourteen injured. The list of the killed only one of whom has been identified is as follows: -Unknown man, charred beyond recognition, supposed to be Daniel J. LOWERY, engineer in the button factory. -Unknown man, horribly burned and no possibility of identification. -Trunk of a person, not known whether male or female. The fire had burned away all the outer coverings, leaving the vital organs exposed, while the limbs were gone and only a trunk and a fleshless skeleton remained. -Contractor Miller Arrested. -Coroner MENNINGER ordered the arrest of Frank W. MILLER, the house mover, upon a charge of criminal negligence. It was rumored at first that he had been killed as it seemed impossible that he and his men who were manipulating the jacks could have escaped the collapse. Condition of the Injured. At the Long Island College Hospital the injured are progressing favorably. Fireman RUDDY will be sent to his home this afternoon, being able to walk. FAY is badly shaken up, but will escape with no more serious hurt than results from the fracture of some small bones of the right wrist. Fireman ROGAN is cheerful and will be out in a day or two. Mrs. HAAS, the old lady who fell through the floor at 55 Atlantic Avenue, was removed from the hospital by her friends in a coach this afternoon. Beyond some severe scalp wounds she is only suffering from shock to the system. Three more bodies found. When the men resumed work on the ruins at one o'clock a large crowd of interested persons gathered, watching their operations. Among those who gained admission were Foreman ROESSLE and some other of DURST's men. Shortly after one o'clock, just as Mr. ROESSLE was pointing out the spot where the four missing men would be found, according to his judgment, a laborer turned over some bones, including part of a skull. Further search rewarded the diggers, and a handful of charred remains were pronounced as constituting one man. IN close proximity to the spot about half an hour later, another similar discovery was made, and the few remnants were gathered and deposited by the side of the others, tied up in some rags. Some red flannel underclothing was thrown over them to conceal the ghastly remnants from the common gaze and the workers resumed their labors among the twenty tons of silica which had crashed through the four floors. At 2:25 another lump resembling nothing human was turned over by a spade. It was pronounced to be the upper part of a human trunk. Several medical men examined it, and identified it as human. Mr. ROESSLE, judging from the spot in which it was found, surmised it was the body of the boy Johnny McGRATH. -The list of the injured is appended. -John BURNS lives in Putnam Ave., near Ormond PL, one of Contractor MILLER's house movers; hurt by ???? falling on him. He walked away. -Michael DOUGHERTY, of Truck 3, 40 years old, of 266 Jay St., coping stone of Atlantic Ave. side all fell on his head, and his body is bruised. He is married and has seven children. In Long Island Hospital. -M.H. DUFF, toolmaker, 141 Fourteenth St., face burned slightly. -James FAY, of Engine 5, 41 years old. Has a wife and six children. Lives at 204 Concord St. He is the worst hurt of the injured. His right arm is broken, his head is cut, his face is scorched and he is hurt internally. Fell into the hole in State St. made by the explosion of naphtha. He is in Long Island Hospital. -Emma HAAS, 26 years old; keeps a shoe store at 53 Atlantic Ave. The wall fell in on her. Her face is cut, she has several scalp wounds and her chest is contused. She is in Long Island Hospital. -Patrick HINES, of Engine 14. Bricks cut his head. He went home to 591 Vanderbilt Ave. He is 37 years old. -Herman HUBNER; worked in tool room; burned slightly while trying to carry away his tool chest. -Henry MAURER, 23 years old; lives at 17 Park Pl.; metal worker; scalp wounds and many contusions. He went home. -Rose MORRIS; employed by Hine. Slightly injured by jumping from a second story window. -James PATH; employed in Judd's factory. Fell with falling floor; ribs broken and other injuries. -M.F. ROGAN, of Engine 4, aged 26; lives at 249 Jay Street; married, but no children. The Hicks Street wall fell on him and cut his head and bruised his leg. He is in Long Island Hospital. -Charles RUDDY, of Engine 5; unmarried; lives at 16 Hicks Street; fell into the hole made by the explosion; hip hurt and face and head burned. He is in Long Island Hospital. He is 32 years old. -Bernard STORP, of Engine 4, 28 years old, of 386 Degraw Street; lacerated head; went home. He was holding the pipe with ROGAN when the timbers were burned away and the wall fell. -Among the missing are the following. The residences of the last eleven persons mentioned not at this time being known. -Conrad BRELING, 25 years old, Prospect Street, Long Island City. -Edward BUTLER, 22 years old; lived in the back part of 51 Atlantic Avenue. The floor of his room fell in. He was a waiter at 46½ Fulton Street. -James CARPENTER, aged 48, 214 Graham Avenue. -William CLARK, Third Avenue, near Forty-Second Street, New York; worked in Butler's tin shop. -unknown COONEY, of Dutch Kills, worked in the tin shop. -Henry DURET, 58 years old, 31 Marion Street, New York; worked int he brass shop; uncle of William DURET. -Fred EGGER, aged 21, 38 Troutman Street, worked in the brass shop. -Henry HOEFNER, aged 45, foreman of the tin shop, 195 Graham Avenue. -William LEGGE, aged 43, single, lived on Columbia Heights. -Daniel J. LOWREY, aged 60, married and has a wife and boy, engineer and janitor, 55 Atlantic Avenue. Member of Rankin Post No 10, G.A.R. -Gustave LUNZ, aged 20, single, 285 Pacific Street. -John McGRATH, 15 years old, 214 Bond Street, worked in the brass shop. -Adolph MATHES, aged 26, married and has one child, 372 Hicks Street, worked in William Durst's brass shop. -James SHAUGHNESSY, a young man who lives at 55 Atlantic Avenue. -Henry YOUNG, of Dutch Kills, worked in Butler's tin shop. -Gus unknown, a Swedish boy, living in Warren Street, between Smith and Hoyt, a helper in the tin shop. -Patrick BRONSON, James COYLE, Mrs. COYLE, William COYLE, Thomas HARRIGAN, James LYNCH, James O'HARA, Thomas O'HARA, Lizzie O'BRIEN, Mary RILEY, Thomas RYAN. Ages and addresses unknown. The Missing list as it now stands. The missing list, obtained from the police and other sources as it now stands is as follows: Conrad BRELING, 25 years old, Prospect Street, Long Island City. William CLARK, Third Avenue, near Forty-Second Street, New York; worked in Butler's tin shop. unknown COONEY, of Dutch Kills, worked in the tin shop. Henry DURST, 58 years old, 31 Marion Street, New York, worked in the brass shop, uncle of William DURST. Fred EGGER, aged 21, 38 Troutman Street, worked in the brass shop. Henry HOEFNER, aged 45, foreman of the tin shop, 195 Graham Avenue. William LEGGE, aged 43, single, lived on Columbia Heights. Daniel J. LOWREY, aged 60, married and has a wife and boy, engineer and janitor, 55 Atlantic Avenue. Member of Rankin Post No. 10, G.A.R. Gustave LUNZ, aged 20, single, 285 Pacific Street. John MCGRATH, 15 years old, 214 Bond Street, worked in the brass shop. Adolph MATHES, aged 26, married and has one child, 372 Hicks Street, worked in William Durst's brass shop. James SHAUGHNESSY, a young man who lives at 55 Atlantic Avenue. Henry YOUNG of Dutch Kills, worked in Butler's tin shop. Gus unknown, a Swedish boy, living in Warren Street, between Smith and Hoyt, a helper in the tin shop. Patrick BRONSON, James COYLE, Mrs. COYLE, William COYLE, Thomas HARRIGAN, James LYNCH, James O'HARA, Thomas O'HARA, Lizzie O'BRIEN, Mary RILEY, Thomas RYAN. Ages and addresses unknown. 7 May 1885 SEVEN BODIES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. There is no doubt as to the identity of the seven of the bodies found, and the list of the known dead as given at the Morgue is as follows: Edward BUTLER, 18 years, residence No. 51 Atlantic ave; waiter in a New York restaurant. Identified by his brother David. Henry DURST, 56 years , residence No 31 Marion street, new york; employe in brass factory. Fritz EGGER, 21 years, No. 38 Troutman street; employe in brass foundry. Henry HOEFNER, 45 years, 195 Graham avenue; forman in tin shop. Daniel LOWERY, 34 years; engineer in button factory. John McGRATH, aged fifteen, No. 214 Bond street; employe in brass foundry. Adolph MATTES, aged twenty-six, married and has one child; resided at No. 372 Hicks street; employe in brass works The missing list now reads as follows, a great many having reported their safety to the police who were believed to have been lost: Conrad BRELING, of Prospect st, Long Island City William CLARK, of Third avenue and Fourty-second street, New York Henry HOEFNER, of 195 Graham avenue Fred EGGER, of 38 Troutman street Gustav LUNZ, of 285 Pacific street John McGRATH, of 214 Bond Street and William H. SCHIEBEL, of 197 Grand street, New York. Henry YOUNG and William LEGGE, who were reported missing, turned up last night. SCHEIBEL worked for the JUDD Manufacturing Company and was supposed to be on the top floor of the wester wing when the girder broke. It was said at first that none of JUDD'S employes perished, but it now seems that on at least did, and may be more. The first seven names upon this list were supposed to be those whose unidentified bodies are at the Morgue. From the position in the building in which they were at work and the spot in the ruins where they were found there is very little dubt but that the bodies are those stated; but so far as their appeaance is concerned they can hardly be distinguished one from the other. A GOOD SAMARITAN Among the incidents of the catastrophe which deserved mention is the generosity and kindliness of Mrs. R. H. THAYER, at her drug store, 33 Atlantic avenue. As the injured people began to make their way out of the fated structure, the first inquiries were as to where they could be carried to. They all flocked to Mrs. THAYER'S drug store, where their hurts were attended to by Mr. J. B. JOYCE, the manager, and Mrs. THAYER herself. What is more, they were all sent away without being asked to pay for the attentions they had recieved. The most serious case treated at Mrs. THAYER's was that of William DURST, a nephew of the old man who was buried in the ruins. His leg was broken and he was much contused, having fallen through the flooring to the floor below, from whence hie escaped to the rear of a house on Atlantic avenue. He was removed to his house on Atlantic avenue. He was removed to his home on Graham avenue. CASUALTIES Fireman BENSON, of engine No. 3 had a fall down some stairs, and had his face cut and his eyes blacked. Henry PLATT, of Truck No. 1, was on watch line on some brick work which gave way last night. He was precipitated about twelve feet, sustaining a cut lip and contused face. James PFAFF, the man who was reported missing, turned up at his home all right. He worked in JUDD's factory and dropped through to DURST's floor, from a window of which he jumped into the yard, and so escaped to a house on Atlantic avenue. His arm is broken and he is badly bruised about the body. A very general topic of conversation among the hundreds of men who were employed in the building is the bravery of Engineer LOWRIE, and his death is looked upon as an act of self sacrificing heroism. He might have excaped had he not descended to turn off the steam and blow the whistle to give the alarm. He fought through the war, and was a member of Rankin Post, G.A.R. During the last few days he had been very active collecting subscriptions for flowers for Decoration day. Said one of JUDD'S men this morning; "Poor LOWRIE 'll want the flowers for his own grave now," which made a deep impression on those in the throng. CHEERFULNESS AMONG THE INJURED At the hospital all the cases under treatment were reported as progressing favorably. Yesterday afternoon old Mrs. HAAS was removed in a coach with her daughter Emma, who was at one time thought to have been engulfed in the ruins. Dr. LOTT reports that she has only sustained contused scalf wounds; that none of her limbs are affected, and that with proper treatment whe will recover in a few weeks despite her age. Fireman ROGAN said to a reporter: "I'm all right, I wish they'd let me out of here." He is very sore, has some slight wounds on the head, but no vones are broken. Fireman DOOHERTY was impatient of the hospital restraint and thought the "crack on the head" he got "didn't amount to anything," said Dr. LOTT thinks he will be able to go home in a day or two. Fireman RUDDY was walking about the ward, ready to be accompaneied to his home on Hicks street. His thigh is badly brusied, but with a week or two's rest he will again be on duty. STATE Street FIRE..Part 3***Transcribers Note: I have been transcribing the big FIRE on May 5, 1885. I had seen the name Benjamin Moore listed a few times as missing, then found. I got curious and did some checking... lets just say that it's a good thing this particular BENJAMIN MOORE made it out of the fire - he is "THE" Benjamin Moore - of Benjamin Moore paint! This is the info I found which matches up to the info from the newspaper transcriptions... PRETTY NEAT!!! Benjamin Moore & Co. has produced quality paint since 1883, when the young Benjamin Moore, a recent Irish immigrant, began his paint business venture with his brother, William, in a small building in Brooklyn, NY. The brothers began manufacturing a product called Calsom Finish, a calsomine coating for walls and ceilings. The company made a profit the very first year. William left the organization and Robert Moore, another of Benjamin's brothers, contributed $2,000 and joined the venture. Shortly afterward, the present New Jersey Corporation was organized, and the firm moved to Newark, NJ. *** Transcriber: Nadine Demczyszyn Pam Jeter Return to EAGLE Main Return to NEWSPAPERS Main Return to BROOKLYN Main Page