1925 — July 4, 2nd floor collapse into basement, Pickwick Dance Club, Boston, MA –44-45
–45 Lowell Sun, MA. “The Pickwick Case.” 8-10-1925, p. 6.[1]
–44 AP. “Pickwick Club Death List Mounts to 44.” Fitchburg Sentinel, MA. 7-6-1925, p. 1, 4.
–44 Blackington. Pickwick Club disaster…July 4, 1925. Credo Library, Univ. of MA Amherst.
–44 Boston Fire Historical Society. Boston’s Fire Trail. 2007, p. 93.[2]
–44 Snow. Marine Mysteries and Dramatic Disaster of New England. Chapter 3…Pickwick…
Newspapers
July 4: “Boston, July 4 (A.P.)–Six bodies, five men and one woman were taken from the wreckage of the Pickwick Club building at 11:15 tonight, bringing the total of known dead to 12, 11 of which have been extricated from the ruins. The bodies were huddled together in a ‘pocket’ in the wreckage near where the front door of the building had stood. The body of Patrolman Paul Halloran, which had been seen in the ruins of the collapsed Pickwick Club building, was taken out at midnight.
“Boston, July 4 (AP).– A search for an undetermined number of dead, crushed beneath the ruins of a five-story brick building, was being pressed tonight. Early this morning the old Hotel Dreyfus, at the time occupied by the Pickwick Club, collapsed, carrying with it members of a party of Fourth of July merrymakers, estimated to number 125. Some escaped, but many were known to have been carried down in the wreck.
“Throughout the day scores of firemen, aided by police officers and wrecking crews, and working with a big steam shovel and automobile trucks bored their way into the tangled ruins. At night they continued their work under a battery of huge searchlights. They were prepared to continue the search throughout Sunday [July 5] and it was not expected that the full list of dead would be known before Sunday night.
Bodies Seen in Wreckage.
“….The dead removed from the wreckage were:
Miss Loretta Keegan, 36, of Cambridge.
John J. Scales, 21, a singer in the dance club, who has been married only 14 months.
- H. Marr, 30, machinist of the U.S. coast guard cutter Mahova, no other address.
Pauline B. Luca, 25, no address.
Mrs. Edith Jordan of Somerville, bride of a few months, who died from shock.
Patrolman Paul Halloran also is known to be dead, his body having been seen in the ruins
“….The Pickwick Club, a popular night resort in the Chinatown district in Beach Street, occupied the second story of the former hotel building. A Fourth of July program, which was to have included dancing until 4 A.M., was in progress when, shortly after 3 o’clock, without warning, the roof and all five stories went plunging downward in a twisted ruin.
“One side wall, next to which an excavation for a new building was being made, buckled in the middle and fell in on a part of the ruin. The front sagged forward and leaned at a crazy angle over Beach Street.
“In a wild rush for safety many fled out of rear windows down a fire escape in the one corner of the building that did not collapse. Others found their way down a flight of stairs close to a standing wall. Still others were hurled clear in the fall and suffered only slight injury.
Music Drowns Noise.
“The crackling of snapping timbers and rafters before the crash failed to alarm the dancers, the noise was drowned in part by the dance orchestra….” (Associated Press. “11 Known Dead in Dance Resort Wreck.” Syracuse Herald, NY, 7-5-1925, pp. 1-2.)
July 6: “Boston, July 6 (By Associated Press.)–With the recovery of four more bodies early today from the ruins of the building that housed the Pickwick club, night life resort, the list of know dead from the collapse of the building in the early morning of July 4 had reached 44 when District Attorney Thomas C. O’Brien opened a grand jury investigation of the disaster today. Several of the victims had not yet been identified.
“The body of Francis J. Driscoll of Roxbury, one of the four taken from the debris in the early morning hours, was identified by a union card in a pocket of the clothing. He was a business agent of the plasterers’ union and had gone to the club to meet another union official for a conference, members of the family said. About six moths ago Driscoll was appointed superintendent of public buildings by Mayor Curley but the civil service commission refused to ratify the appointment.
“Others who found were
Bart H. Chapman of Dorchester,
Mrs. Lillian McIsaacs of Roxbury, and
Miss Clara M. Frederick of West Roxbury.
“The district attorney had before him today as the first witnesses a number of consulting engineers, who were questioned as to the condition of the building before the fatal collapse. The members of the grand jury visited the scene of the disaster at noon under the guidance of the district attorney. The grand jurors were admitted to the ruins, where many workmen were searching for bodies of victims believed to be still buried, and began a study of the structure of the wrecked building.
“Mayor Curley had paid a visit to the ruins earlier in the day and directed the searchers to demolish parts of the structure that still remained standing, in the hope that this would facilitate the recovery of the remaining bodies….
“The 44th body was taken from the wreck of the Pickwick club, once gay night resort, at 5:20 this morning, just 50 hours after the throng of ‘night before the Fourth’ revelers were flung down and buried with the collapse of the building. All night long the search had gone forward. Under the concentrated glare of dozens of arc lights an army of men had patiently, brick by brick, stick after stick, worked their way down through the mass of debris, pausing now and again to life another unfortunate….
“Frank Tillo, and Neddo Flanagan, who had won many locl ring battles, were found. Inspector Benjamin Alexander of the Boston police, who had thought to add another arrest to the several made at the club, died in the wreck. Some of the bodies found were of persons paying their first visit to the club; others were those of habitués. Johnnie Scales and John Duffey for the last time had wandered singing between the tables while drinks were pressed upon them and silver showered on the dance floor….
“The debris whispered a strange story. One man, his wife’s picture in the pocket over his heart, was found in the dead arms of another woman….
“Early last night the discoveries came in quick succession, so that the total of known dead rose rapidly from 19 to 37. Then the work was more difficult. It took sometimes an hour to extricate a body after it was located. Great masses of foundation stone pressed down upon them and had to be lifted by derrick….
“Virtually all of the bodies have been identified by the throng which has besieged the mortuary ever since the catastrophe….
“Yesterday the police shot one man and arrested three others whom they said they found looting the cloak room of the club.
“Today, city, county and state opened investigations to determine the cause of the disaster, which, with possibly one exception, is the worst that Boston has ever known in the toll of life. Timothy J. Barry, proprietor and manager of the club, has not been seen, nor his body been found. The authorities want to question him. The floor manager, James F. Glennon, died with his guests and his body was found.
“A laborer engaged in searching the ruins was arrested early today when his companions reported to the police that he had been retaining money which he found among the debris. At the station he have his name as Angele Cook. He had $29 in his pocket.
“The last body taken from the ruins, that of a man, was partially identified later as Francis Driscoll, said to be a labor organizer….” (AP. “Pickwick Club Death List Mounts to 44.” Fitchburg Sentinel, MA. 7-6-1925, pp. 1 & 4.)
[Blanchard note” Page 10 of this paper contains the names, ages, and addresses of the 44 fatalities.]
July 8: “Police Commissioner Wilson is maintaining that there is no power in the city or state which could be applied to regulation of the Pickwick club, and Secretary of State Cook seems to hold somewhat to the same opinion, and that idea seems to be one that makes it necessary to put the Pickwick club disaster down as ‘an act of God.’” (Fitchburg Sentinel, MA, 7-8-1925, p. 6.)
July 11: “Boston, July 11 (AP)–A number of secret indictments have been returned by the Suffolk county grand jury in connection with the collapse of the Pickwick club building July 4, in which 44 persons lost their lives. Dist. Atty. Thomas C. O’Brien said today that only one defendant had been notified as yet and that the indictments would remain secret until all had been informed of the grand jury’s action.” (Associated Press. “Indictments in the Pickwick Case.” Fitchburg Sentinel, MA, 7-11-1925, p. 1.)
July 13: “Boston, July 13 (A.P.)–Seven men were arraigned in Suffolk superior court before Judge Lummus today on secret indictments returned by the grand jury which last week investigated the collapse of the Pickwick club building July 4, in which 44 persons lost their lives. Two of those indicted were employes of the City of Boston building department.
“Six of the indictments charged manslaughter. Those named were Nathan Fritz, John L. Pultz, George C. Funk and John M. Tobin, contractors or architects; James A. Hendricks, a city inspector and Edward W. Roemer, supt. Of construction of the city of Boston building department. Hyman Bloomberg, lessee of the building, who was arraigned Saturday on a secret indictment charging manslaughter, appeared today on another indictment charging that he maintained a common nuisance.
“All the defendants entered pleas of not guilty and were admitted to bail in $2000. Trial was set for Wednesday. It was announced that other persons had been indicted and would be arraigned later.
“The grand jury occupied the whole of last week in considering evidence in connection with the collapse of the building, which fell while a dance was in progress early July 4. On Saturday three defendants, Bloomberg, Funk and Timothy Barry, president of the night club, were arraigned on secret indictments charging manslaughter. Funk is architect of the Rosenthal estate, owners of the wrecked building. The indictments charge manslaughter in causing the death of Patrolman Paul F. Halloran, one of the victims of the crash. Later in the day, Lawrence J. Perkins, foreman of the Pultz Construction Co. was arraigned on a secret indictment charging manslaughter. He also pleaded not guilty and was held in $2000 bail. The company with which he and John L. Pultz are employed was engaged in excavation for a new building on the site adjoining the Pickwick club.” (AP. “Indict 6 For Manslaughter in Pickwick Case.” Fitchburg Sentinel, MA. 7-13-1925, p. 1.)
July 14: “Boston, July 14 (AP)–Henry M. Haven of Winchester, an architect, was arraigned in Suffolk superior court today on a secret indictment charging him with manslaughter in connection with the collapse of the Pickwick club building July 4, in which 44 persons lost their lives. He pleaded not guilty and was held in $2000 bail for trial. He was the eleventh defendant to be arraigned in connection with the disaster which occurred while a dance was in progress at the night club. He was in charge of plans for a building to be erected on the lot adjoining that occupied by the club.” (AP. “Arraign Boston Architect on Charge of Manslaughter.” Lowell Sun, MA, 7-14-1925, p. 1.)
July 16: “Boston, July 16 (AP)–The grand jury which investigated the collapse of the Pickwick club building July 4 in which 44 persons lost their lies completed its labors today. Twelve persons indicted last week on charges of manslaughter will come up for trial in Suffolk superior court next Monday [July 20].
“In its final report today the grand jury announced that it had found no bills in the cases of Building Commissioner John H. Mahoney of Boston; Charles R. Gow, a contractor; Nathan Ginsberg, one of the administrators of the estate which owned the wrecked building; Charles A Leary, contractor’s foreman; Charles E. Kendall of Winchester, architect; and Joseph A Tomassello, engaged in excavations on the adjoining lot.” (AP. “Pickwick Probe Jury Completes Work.” Lowell Sun, MA, 7-16-1925, p. 32.)
July 20: “Boston, July 20 (AP)–Eleven men were placed on trial at a special session of Suffolk superior court today, on indictments returned by a grand jury which investigated the collapse of the Pickwick club building July 4, in which 44 persons lost their lives. Ten of the defendants are charged with manslaughter. Two of these and one other are charged with maintaining a common nuisance.
“Each indictment for manslaughter charges that the defendants assaulted and beat the late Patrolman Paul Halloran, one of the victims, so that by the assault and beating he died. Those indicted under this head are John L. Pultz, contractor for a building being erected on the lot adjoining the club premises; John M. Tobin, his superintendent; Harry M. Haven, contractor of the excavation; Lawrence L. Perkins, foreman for Pultz; Nathan Fritz, contractor who made repairs on the club building after a fire two weeks before the collapse; George C. Funk, architect of the repair job; Hyman Bloomberg, lessee of the club building; Timothy J. Barry, president of the Pickwick club; Edward W. Roemer, supervisor of construction, city building department, and James J. Hendrick, city building inspector.
“Timothy J. Barry and his brother Daniel, also an official of the club, and Bloomberg were charged with maintaining a common nuisance. Selection of a jury from a special panel of 60…was begun this morning.
“The grand jury investigation was begun immediately after the disaster which occurred while a ‘night before the Fourth’ dance was in progress at the club. After 70 hours’ deliberation during which 86 witnesses were called before them the jury reported indictments July 14, one week after the collapse….” (AP. “Trial of Pickwick Club Case Opens in Suffolk Superior Court.” The Lowell Sun, MA. 7-20-1925, p. 1.)
July 23: “Boston, July 23–(AP) Firemen who were called to extinguish a fire at the Pickwick club building on the night of April 13 last were questioned today at the trial in superior court of 12 defendants who are charged with responsibility for the collapse of the building July 4, in which 44 persons lost their lives. The captains of four fire companies testified that approximately 7,000 gallons of water had been thrown into the building on the second floor of which the club was situated.” (AP. “Firemen Questioned in Pickwick Club Case.” Lowell Sun, 7-23-1925, p.25.)
July 30: “Boston, July 30 (AP)–John O’Connor of Jamaican Plain, a witness today in the trial of 12 defendants indicted in connection with the collapse of the Pickwick club building, July 4, in which 44 persons lost their lives, testified that he noticed cracks in the brick work of the front wall of the building in May. The witness, who said he had been a concrete contractor for many years, said that he had gone in May to look at an excavation on the adjoining lot where a garage was to be constructed and then noticed the cracks. On July 2, he said, he revisited the place and the cracks then were wider. The next day he made closer examination. He said that holes had been cut in the wall of the Pickwick club building for shoring, but the shores had not been placed.” (Associated Press. “Pickwick Club Case.” The Lowell Sun, MA. 7-30-1925, p. 11.)
Aug 5: “Boston, Aug. 5–(AP). With but two of the defendants, who were indicted for manslaughter as a result of the collapse of the Pickwick club building on July 4th when forty-four lives were lost, left in the case, Judge Lummus indicated that the trial will come to a speedy close when he warned counsel that he will hold court sessions at night if he finds it necessary. The two remaining defendants are James J. Hendricks, city of Boston building inspector, and Lawrence Perkins, foreman for the contractors who are building the garage on the lot adjoining the ill-fated night club building.
“Judge Lummus failed to order the jury to bring in a not guilty verdict for them yesterday because their counsel declared they wished in introduce more evidence.
“When the last witness left the stand and the government rested its case, attorneys for the ten defendants rested their cases also and presented motions for direct verdicts of not guilty. These were granted by Judge Lummus.” (AP. “All But Two Acquitted in Pickwick Club Building Crash Case.” The Lowell Sun, MA, 8-8-1925, p. 8.)
Aug 10: “Various officials who were indicted in connection with the Pickwick disaster have been acquitted by order of the court, evidently for a lack of evidence showing that any of them was directly responsible for the accident. One opinion, however, prevails and it is that if the building inspectors and engineers had exercised their authority with due care, the building would have been condemned and the disaster by which 45 people lost their lives, would have been averted. While there is insufficient evidence to convict anybody or responsibility for the disaster, yet there was evidence to show that some of the officials were quite careless and even indifferent in the discharge of their duties in regard to ascertaining the safety of buildings in which public or private assemblies were held.” (Lowell Sun, MA. “The Pickwick Case.” 8-10-1925, p. 6.)
Sources
Associated Press. “11 Known Dead in Dance Resort Wreck.” Syracuse Herald, NY, 7-5-1925, pp. 1-2. Accessed 10-21-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/syracuse-herald-jul-05-1925-p-23/
Associated Press. “All But Two Acquitted in Pickwick Club Building Crash Case.” The Lowell Sun, MA, 8-8-1925, p. 8. Accessed 10-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-aug-08-1925-p-7/
Associated Press. “Arraign Boston Architect on Charge of Manslaughter.” Lowell Sun, MA, 7-14-1925, p. 1. Accessed 10-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jul-14-1925-p-13/
Associated Press. “Firemen Questioned in Pickwick Club Case.” Lowell Sun, 7-23-1925, p. 25. Accessed 10-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jul-23-1925-p-25/
Associated Press. “Indict 6 For Manslaughter in Pickwick Case. Two Employes of Boston City Building Department Included.” Fitchburg Sentinel, MA. 7-13-1925, p. 1. Accessed 10-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fitchburg-sentinel-jul-13-1925-p-1/
Associated Press. “Indictments in the Pickwick Case.” Fitchburg Sentinel, MA, 7-11-1925, p. 1. Accessed 10-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fitchburg-sentinel-jul-11-1925-p-1/
Associated Press. “Pickwick Club Case.” The Lowell Sun, MA. 7-30-1925, p. 11. Accessed 10-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jul-30-1925-p-27/
Associated Press. “Pickwick Club Death List Mounts to 44.” Fitchburg Sentinel, MA. 7-6-1925, p. 1. Accessed 10-21-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fitchburg-sentinel-jul-06-1925-p-1/
Associated Press. “Pickwick Probe Jury Completes Work.” Lowell Sun, MA, 7-16-1925, p. 32. Accessed 10-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jul-16-1925-p-32/
Associated Press. “Trial of Pickwick Club Case Opens in Suffolk Superior Court.” The Lowell Sun, MA. 7-20-1925, p. 1. Accessed 10-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jul-20-1925-p-1/
Blackington, Alton H.. Pickwick Club disaster, ca. July 4, 1925. Alton H. Blackington Collection (PH 061). Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries. Accessed 10-22-2017 at: http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph061-sl234-i001
Boston Fire Historical Society. Boston’s Fire Trail: A Walk Through the City’s Fire and Firefighting History. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2007.
Fitchburg Sentinel, MA, 7-8-1925, p. 6. Accessed 10-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fitchburg-sentinel-jul-08-1925-p-6/
Lowell Sun, MA. “The Pickwick Case.” 8-10-1925, p. 6. Accessed 10-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-aug-10-1925-p-6/
Snow, Edward Rowe. Marine Mysteries and Dramatic Disaster of New England. “Chapter 3: The Pickwick Club Collapse.” New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1976.
[1] It is possible that there were 45 fatalities. We have seen reporting of two sorts which could conceivably support this figure: (1) that a body was recovered after reports of 44 fatalities was made, and (2) that a female hospitalized victim was on the verge of death and not expected to live (report dated after reports of 44 fatalities made).
[2] Incorrectly notes, however, that the collapse was on July 5. Was a pre-4th dance, after midnight of 3rd.