The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-09-04
FIRE RECORD.
TERRIBLE FIRE IN NEW YORK.
A Million of Property Consumed.
FrightfuI Rumors IS 10 Loss OfLBs.


NEW YoRK, Sept. .3.-J.P. Halls piant
factory, on West 35th street, was entirel,
destroyed by FIRE this morning; and i
is rumored that ten persons perished
The flames extended to the south aide o
the street, destroying the entire block be
tween 10Th and 1lth avenues; also NJ
ConnellyE barrel factory, ]. Graham 4
Co.'s silk factory and several houses ad
joining, s. J. Walkers charcoal factory
north Of S5th street, and block OF iramt
houses on 10th avenue, between 35th and
Seth streets. The steam engine was also
burned, the firemen being unable to get il
ont in consequence Of the intense heat.
Its reported that one hundred live,
have been lost in the fire to-day at 10th
Avenue and seth street. ra
The Post says: The factories and other
buildings named on S5th street were re-
duced to ruins in about three quarters oil
an hour. The Gre steamer Fuller was
anchored at the foot OF 3jth street, and
several lines OF hose were extended from
it TO llth Avenue and n supply Of river
water to No. engine. The hydrant at
the corner OF l0th Avenue and SGth street
was entirely empty when the fire was al
Its height The fremen made every
exertion but the luck OF water
constantly hampered their efforts. They
succeeded before noon, however, in get,
ting the FIRE under control, although il
was then still burning tierceIy in some oil
the buildings. The walls Of the brick
buildings fell from time to time, with q
heavy crash. From the confusion pre-
vailiHg it was impossible TO obtain any
details Of the losses, and it is very diff
cult to make even an approximate esti-
mate OF the total amount. The lowest
estimate Of the latter is 81 600, ,000, and
many persons place the amount at n
much higher figure. 1t Is reported that
many lives were lost, but rumors on this
point are very conflicting. It is probable
that some OF the workmen in the Piano
factory were unable to escape, but the
number is not yet known by any one,
The fire is believed TO have broken out
in the fifth story Of the building, and il
is known that some workmen in the up-
per story had great difficulty in es
Gaping. 0ne workman, named Ed
ward Packmaster, jumped from the
upper window and was taken up
in terrible condition. His skull
was fractured and many bones broken.
He was removed to the station house and
died in u few moments. A few other men,
whose names were not ascertained, were
seriously hurt. They were sent to Belle.
view Hospital. A woman is known to
have died during the fire, but reports diff.
fer as to whether she was injured in at
tempting to escape from the building or
died from illness aggravated by excite,
ment and shock.
1t is believed by many perpons in the
neighborhood that from 20 to 40 workmen
perished in the piano factory, but this is
merely supposition. Three alarms were
sent out in rapid succession and n large
force OF fremen, engines and trucks re.
aponded 10 the calls. The heat produced
by the fire was intense, and the frenen
were obliged 10 keep at distance from
the burning buildings, 1t is probable,
however, that they could have prevented
the fire from spreading IL they had had a
sufficient supply of water. The hydrants
supplied only scant streams, and some
became entirely drained. A row OF brown
stone apartment houses south OF 35th
street and east OF the factory burned rap.
idly. Their inmates were able to save
but small part OF their property. A
number Of shanties on the other side Of
the street we're also consumed. The ca.
tablishment OF W. B. Brown, No. 5il
West S5th street, is Quilted. A strong
wind which veered from point to point
whirled sparks and fragments Of burning
material in all directions. Sparks blown
to Tenth avenue set Gre 10 number OF
frame buildings occupied as stores and
dwellings, and three structures, Nos, 446
to 46S inclusive, were burned. Some OF
the occupants succeeded in removing a
part Of their furniture to the street, but
most Of it was destroyed.
A telegram says that there is no hope
that yestige Of the block bounded BY
35Lh and Seth streets and 10th and lltb
avenues will be left. The school house
on S5th street is already entirely demol.
ished and the tenement houses on the
four sides OF the block are in ruins,
Sparks fell from the burning buildings
and lighted on. the canvass roof Of the
Gospel tent, and it was destroyed. The
conviction is growing that the loss Of life
will be serious, and several ambuIapccs
are in the neighborhood. One authority
says that there must be from rs to 100
bodies buried in the ruins. Another
.stOry is that some % or 80 girls employ
cd in the upper stories Of HaIe's factory
perished. Ambulances have removed
come Is or 20 wounded who Jumped from
the burning factory.
Hale's Piano Factory was a very large
Establishment, turning out one hundred
pianos in week. The factory was first
erected about six years ago. The walls
fell and a number Of persons were killed
The fire originated through Nicholas
Monk a yarnish rubber, who was heating
'varnish over stove. While his back
was turned it got ablaze and the flames
spread like fash. He fed at once for
his life, giving the alarm as he ran, but
the windows being open the flames swept
through The building, finding fresh fluel
at every sIep. Itis supposed that about
200 men we're employed in the building
At the time. Ga the seventh Hoor were
96, on the fourth floor 81, and on the fifth
and sixth and other floors about $50, /,
cannot yet be ascertained how many have
been burned in the building.
The hatchways in one corner were
open, and the flames rushed to the uppsr
stories as il through aue. Several IRE.
men say that FROM the windows of The
upper story OF the factory men were call.
ing for ladders, for help for Gods sake;
but the ladders were not long enough to
reach them, and even II they were, they
could not hava been placed in position on
account Of the intense heat. Some fell
fell to the pavement, and Others
after wildly waving their arms fell
back into the burning mass behind them,
The great eight story wall, on Seth street,
fell almost without notice, and who are
buried under'itwill not be known until
the debris is moved away. The excite.
ment prevailed as the flames leaped 10 the
adjoining building, mainly tenements,
The women and children Ged for their
liveS,-they saved nothing, and were for.
tunGte 10 escape with their lives,