The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-09-03
TELEGR.APH3rIC.
[Telegraphed to the Rock Island Afgus.l
Destructive Fire In
New York.
OVER $1,000, 600 WORTH OF
PROPERTY DESTROYED,
Report that 100 People Per-
ished in the Flames.
Many People killed by jumping from
windows.

J
windows.
New YORK, Sept. Sd. ?. Hale's
piano factory. on West Thirty fifth street,
was entirely destroyed by FIRE this MORN
ing. 1t is rumored that 100 persons per-
ished. The flames extended to the south
side of the street, destroying the entire
block between Tenth and Eleventh ave-
nues; also M. Connelly's barrel foctory, j.
Graham Il Co. s silk factory, aud several
houses adjoining on the south, J. Walk
er's hair oil factory, north of Thirty fifth
street, and block of frame houses on
Tenth avenue, between Thirty fifth and
Thirty-slxth streets. A steam fire engine
was burned, and the fremen were unable
to control the confagration.
The Post says the factories and other
buildings named on Thirty-6fth street
were reduced to ruins 10 about three quar-
ters of an hour. The fremen made every
exertion possible, but lack of water con-
stantly hindered their efforts. They sue
ceeded before noon, however, in getting
the fire under control, although it was then
still burning hercely in some of the build
ings. The walls of the brick buildings fell
from time to time with heavy crash. In
the confusion prevailing it was impossible
to obtain Any details of the losses, and very
difficult to make even an approximate esti-
mate of their total amount. The lowest
estimate of the latter is $l,000,OO0 and
many persons place the amount at a much
higher figure. 1t is reported that many
lives were lost, but the rumors on this
point are very conflicting. 1t is probable
that some workmen in the piano factory
were unable to escape, but the number is
not yet known by any one. The fire is be-
lieved to have broken out in the fifth story
of the building. and it is known that some
workmen in the upper stories had great
difficulty in escaping. One workman.
named Edward Packmaster, jumped from
an upper window. He died iu a few min
utes. A few other workmen. whose names
are not ascertaiGed, were seriously injured.
| A woman is known to have died during
the fre-cause unknown. Many persons
in the neighborhood believe that twenty to
forty workmen perished in the piano fac
tory. Three alarms were sent out IN rapid
succession and large force of fremen,
engines and trucks responded to the calls.
The fremen we're obliged to keep at con-
siderable distance from the burning build
Iings on account of the heat. 1t is proba-
BILE, however, they could have prevented
the FIRE from spreading if they had had
sufficient water. The hydrants supplied
only scanty streams and some becamo en-.
tirely drained. A row of brown stone
apartment houses on the south side oi
Thirty fifth street. east Of the factory
burnt rapidly. Their inmates were able
to save but little property. A number o
shanties on the other side of the stree
J were also consumed. The establishment
of W. B, Brown, SAL West Thirty-6ftt
street, was gutted. A strong wind whict
veered from point to point, whirled the
sparks and fragments of the burning
: material In all directions. The Telegram
says there is no hope that vistige of tn,
block bounded by Thirty fifth and Thirty
sixth streets and Tenth and Eleventh
avenues, will be left The school house OF
y Thirty-fifth street is already entirely de
y molishod and the tenement houses on th
4 sides Of the blocks are in ruins. Spark:
p from the burning buildings lighted upol
9 the canvas roof OF the gospel tent an
!. it was destroyed. The conviction is grow
!. ing that the loss of life will be serious
e and there are several ambulances 10 tn,
q neighborhood.
! One authority says there must be frou
:, IS to 100 bodies burned in the ruins
Another statement is that from 25 to 3
I girls. employed in the upper stories 0
e Hale's factory, have perished. Ambu
Il lances have removed some Is or 20 wound
ed, who jumped from tke burning factory
Still another statement is that there wer
$50 to 200 men in the factory at the timt
Many were thrown to the ground an
q | hid 1pfn 4
ID from the window of tenement in Sit
III street, and was instantly killed. Hale
M piano factory was very extensive estat
lishment, turning out about 100 plan
o. fortes per week. The factory was frs
erected about six years ago. The wal
teII and number of persons were killet
few escaped death or fatal wounds. Til
occupants of the houses in Thirty sixt
street could distinctly see the workmen
the piano factory making futile efforts |
escape from the roof and upper storle
and could hear their shrieks for assis
ance. August Varrath, varnisher in tt
factory, one of the forty-ive men at VOL
. in the top story, said the alarm was give
to them by a workman who had put b
head out of a window and seen the smol
.o issuing from the windows below. III
eff, foreman urged the men to keep cool, sa
.ic' ing there was probably plenty Of time f
nd nd escape Varrath says the men scatter,
md in various directions. but the nre and smo
tss' drove them back from the stairway
ds There was fire ladder at each end of t
building. and also chain fire escaT
. Varrath get down by one of the ladder
He said that since bis escape ne had q
seen any of bis fellow workmen. Half
. the surgeons of Bellevue hospital, the 7
lice surgeons and coroners are on duty
the fire. About $50 families are render
homeless, and most OF their furniture
destroyed.
Sparks were blown to Tenth aven
and set on FIRE number of frame bui
ings occupied as stores and dwellings,, a
three structures, 449 to 463 inclusive, WI
burned. Some of the occupants succeed
in removing part of their furniture to
~ street, but most of it was destroyed.
1t IS reported that 100 lives have be
lost in the fire to- day at Tenth avenue a