The New York herald., 1873-10-19
FIRE IN THIRTEENTH AVENUE
One Man Killed and Two Others Sc
riously Injured-Estimated Loss About

riously Injurcd-Estimated Loss About
$4,000.
fire broke out in the first and second floors OF
the building Nos. ]. 2. 8 and Thirteenth avenue
little be fore two O'CLOCK Yesterday morning, that
caused a damage OF about $50, 600. Messrs Hawkes.
Camp & Co. occupied the premises. In very few
minutes after the flames started the entire build
ing was blaze OF fire. The warehouses were used
for the storing and sale Of hay, and this imam
mable material was quickly the way TO con-
sumption. An officer OF the Ninth Pre-
cinct police was the first to notice the
fire. He rang an alarm, and several engines
we're at the scene in few moments
second alarm brought a reinforcement; but
owing to the headway the fire had obtained,
nothing co uld be done with 1t for some time. The
pecuniary loss incurred by the fire was small, but
valuable life was sacrificed to IL and two others
were placed In imminent danger. How this hap
pened while so many policemen and iremen were
on the spot Is vet to be made clear. Not long since
poor helpless widow lost her life at fire, and the
circumstances attending the case appeared to cast
OF the nremen employed on the premises. Now
another victim is offered. and IL is to be hoped
proper Investigation will be made to bring out the
truth in the matter.
1t is the duty OF the police to keep people away
from the neighborhood OF the fire; botn the police
men and nremen are responsible and, in the In
terest OF others, 1t Is sincerely to be desired the
guilt VIII be settled on the proper shoulders. The
free and easy let-things take their wn-course
method OF the police at fires is too well known to
call for commen', but the 1remen ought certainly
be able TO Keep lookout that no citizens are in
the vicinity OF dangerous walls or where they are
liable To accidents. For their own sakes, too, this
watchiulncss ought TO be kept up. They are lust
as likely TO get injured any one else, and often
more So Tor their bravery and daring often lead
them to take desperate chances. IL appears
that Mr.. Archibald Ostrom, who was the overseer
OF the Washington Ice Company, had hts skull
crushed in by falling wall during the progress OF
the fire and was almost instantly killed.
When the premises occupied by the ice company
took fire Mr.. Ostrorn busted himself In saving his
own ana his employers property. then in the ice
sheds. He had taken out o carriage belonging to
himself and was In the act OF removing one belong
ing to Mr.. NJ. g. Leonard president OF the CON-
pany, when the firemen and others raised the cry
OF danger, but before Mr.. 0strom could
escape rom his perlous position the brick
wall crushed in the ice shed beneath which
he stood and killed him almost Immediately. The
body was removed from the ruins TO the Charles
street police station, and subsequently, by per-
mission OF Mr. John T. Toal, the body was taken to
the late residence OF deceased, 743 washington
street, where Coroner Kessler was notified. A
jury was empanelled, and In the afternoon the
Dody OF Mr.. Ostrom was taken to his native place,
Rhneoeck, Dutcness county, for interment The
investigation IN the case will take place in few
days.
The loss upon the property is estimated at about
$4,000, uron me building $4,000, and upon ma
C-inery about $4,000 All we're insured, but In
what companies has not been ascertained. Fire
Marshal sheldon will hold an investigation into the
cause 0i the disaster on MOndavs