The New York herald., 1871-11-09
Disastrous Fire in Tenth Avenue---A
Piano Factory Destroyed.
The Falling Walls Bury Thirty
seven Persons in Their Ruins.
An Unfortunate Piano Manufacturer and His
Dangerous Walls-Anothsr Chance for Gen.
suring the Building Department Of the
City-Only One Victim in
Critical Condition,

most destructive fire broke out In the six story
brick building No. 479 Tenth avenue, owned by J.
p Hale ana occupied by Dellham Funk as
piano factory. The structure was apparently
miserable one, and
REGULAR MAN TRAP,
ana 1t seems mystery how the Inspector OF Build
ings ever pronounced 1t safe as without fire ever
occurring 1t was liable, from its peculiar structure.
to topple over at any time. The fire spread with
such rapidty that IN less than an hour the factory
WAS COMPLETELY GUTTED,
and as the nelghbor hood Is thlckly dotted with
frame buildings grave fears at time enter
tained that 1t might spread. 1t originated In the
third story of the building from an 0ver.heated
stove In the centre OF one OF the rooms and 1t was
consequently extremely diIlcult for the nremen to
gain control OF the flames. Beneath the windows
OF the third and fourth stories there were
RUDE vERANDAs,
used for the purpose OF drying the finished wool
work, and though they were seemingly very feeble
and insecure, the firemen bravely determined
to mount them ana gain position where they
could use the hose to some effect. A number Of
them from the different hook and ladder and engine
companies consequently ascended and succeeded
In gaining
A PERILoUs FOOTING
on the crazy structure. But the fire still continued
to rage Notwithstanding their heroic Efforts The
filed momentarily catching added increased fury to
the flames. The building which was no more cal
culated to resist the force OF fire than a wooden
shanty would be-was being rapidly consumed, and
it became apparent to the Chief Engineer that q
strong effort must be made TO prevent the danger
GUS element from spreading TO the surrounding
buildings. More Iorce was, consequently, ordered
to ascend, and in few minutes more than twenty
men were on the vetandas, and their e1orts in a
short time were so eIectual that the nre was got
completely under CONTROL But
A TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE
was impending, utterly unlocked for by the brave
men who were risking life and limb in the noble
discharge OF their dangerous duty The beams
which supported the platform jurted into the wall
which was about eighteen inches AZ the base taper
Ing or to only eight In the upper stories. This fra
support or the beams was SO severely tried by the
weight OF the fremen that 1t gave way when the fire
was almost eXtingushed, and, horrible to relate,
precipitated all the occupants Of the platform
into the yard beneath. Their fall seemed to
be broken by Q v OGDEN shed Immediately under the
wall, but it also gave way, and the unfortunate men,
with number beneath and on the shed, were buried
under the ruins In falling from the wall they came
down In every position, and In some cases came In
violent collision with each other before they had
reached the ground.
1t was fri9httul scene to twenty or thirty men
who moment before had been in full possession Of
health crushed beneath a heap OF ruins, many OF
them so covered with blood and dust that they
could scarcely be recognized.
The most strenuous efforts were made to extricate
| them but considerable time elapsed before they
could be rescued, as they were covered with the
| debris from the fallen wall and shed. The injuries
they had received had In most cases rendered them
unable to help themselves, and at first it was
thought NUMBER were killed outright; but 1t was
soon discovered that many OF them were seriously
and one probably fatally crushed. The police made
the most energetic cxertions TO clear away the
ruins, and, assisted by the bystanders the buried
men were all taken out Acting Captain James,
while endeavorlng TO rescue o fireman, had
NARROW ESCAPE
for his life, large beam falling so near hs head as
TO take of his cap II 1t had struck him he must
nave been instantly killed, but he fortunate to
escape with no other loss than q damaged cap.
Ro ndsman McGloin and Oficer Durin, while en-
deavoring 10 extrcatc the buried ones, were them
selves injured but not dangerously, as their wounds
are slight. StretcherS were Immediately provided
to convey the wounded men to the Twentieth pre-
cinct station house, but 1t was task OF consider
ses e yery enc pam sn sr
time, however, the station house was reached, and
II rGGs %nn a.d fgFSle
with Drs. Cloase, Loadev, Morrill, ana ThrOck-
morton were III prompt attendance to render the
necessary aid.
AT THE STATION HOUSE
The moment Acting Captain James learned OF the
catastrophe he telegraphed TO Bellevue Tor ambu-
iances and surgeons and to the Central Police once
for the medical officers. Warden Tom Brennan re-
a. the station house with seven ambuances and the
same number OF surgeons. AT TINS time the large
office presented an unusual sight. Upon the moor
dent, bruised, bleeding anu groanlng Inc surgeons
az once set 70 work and with tne mecessary sup
the wounds OF the badly injured Four OF the men
were placed In ambuances and conveyed TO Belle
vue Hospital, where the surgeons pronounced % them
out OF danger, but 80 seriously injured that they
VIII be laid up from duty for many days. One was
others were conveyed to their homes, their injuries
being Of SO sligns character that they VIII not re-
Rhodes was taken TO his home at No. 16o Fast
Thirty.third street, where he IS undergoing acute
sq y e VIII M recSye
The following ~ list OF the wounded 1remen:-
81 SsLEUYr Of 500 Wess Twenty
IN - 9eaa % ane
''vSs Washington Monsaing, 457 West Seventeenth
Of tne reman si
fracture OF the abula; slight.
TAKEN TO THEIR HOMES.
The following, slightly wounded, were taken to |
Thomas Farrell, Hook and Ladder No. I.
N. b. Thompson, Hook and Ladder No. Z.
Luke Heaey, Hook aud Ladder No. 7.
W. Lawrence, hook and Ladder No. 6.
Thomas Jacobus, Hook and Ladder No. 8.
w. MulIdrew, Hook and Ladder No. s.
James Go0dall, Hook and Ladder No. s.
w. McGraw. Hook and Ladder No. 9.
Robert Mcfarland, Hook and Ladder No. 4.
Charles Ackerman, Hook and Ladder No. 4.
Thomas w. Geary. Hook and Ladder No. z
James Dunn, Engine No. 2
A. shaw, Engine No. g.
Isaac ]. henderson Engine No. 8 |
owen O'Rourke, Engine No. 3. |
A. o. Ears, Engine NO. 9.
James Heron, Engiue No. T.
w raw Enuine No "A.