The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-15
oREAr riEE lND ross or LIFE
The Destruction of IA broadway Warehouse
a Fireman Killed.


Tho Gve-story brown-stone building at
Grand street and Broadway. owned by tho
Brooks estate, was burned last night. The
structure was an imposing ono. and extended
through 10 Crosby street. making thrco fronts.
those on Broadway and Crosby street cx-
tonding 100 feet. and that on Grand
street $50 feet. The vast building was without
heavy interior partition walls. and was only
occupied by three large concerns. Howard.
Sanger 4 Co.. who were In tho lower part OF the
building and the first and second stories
above tho street. Naumburg Kraus. Laucr
& Co. were in tho upper stories except
that part OF II at 4GG and 46S Broadway.
which was occupied by Edwin Bates & Co.
The first alarm was sent out by
Onicer Higgins OF the Mulberry street
police. at 9.3i. Tho fire at that
timo had just become visible in
tho southeast corner Of the top floor. whero
Naumburg, Kraus. Lauer 4 Co.. large cloth
ing manufacturing firm had their cutting room.
In It was a largo stock Of woollen and cloth
goods. and as the floor was flush and without
partitions tho flames extended rapidly to the
roof. and toward Broadway against a light
northwcsterly breeze. On tho arrival OF the
engines three successive alarms followed. The
first and special calls were ordered after that.
At 10 o'clock the upper stories were in blaze,
and the noighborhoOd was n scone OF bustle
and excitement. Tho streets wero crowded
with engines and trucks. behind which. kept
bnck by n strong force OF police. were surgng
Whilo tho flames crcpt through tho building
and worked slowly down from floor 90 iioor, the
| preparations OF the iremcn were made to sur
| round the whole structure with pipcincn armed
! with streams, and MS il became carly apparent
,hat mo building was doomcd, eyery effort was
| bent toward Keeping the ilamcs from spreading
| beyond the four walls within which torginated.
| The whole interior was secthing furnace Of
rcd fire. capped by brilliant green iaincN caused
| By the copper roofing and ending in a rolling
column OF light smoke ana vapor aud gliucring
! sparks. A the fire reached hciroutoithe build
/ ing "a light explosion startled the Nremcu at
| work on the Broadway side for moment IL
was tucNpicahlc. as q was seen To be ON the top
! floor. where nothing hut cloth WIS suppo sod 10
| have boon kept The nremen closed quickly
back TO their work. but were kept at a diStun "a
| that hamperei theIr Efforts by tho intense
| heat. ami by tho dangerous dropping OF
| fragments OF the wooden coruico. The volume
| Of water thrown was immcnse The south
| side Of Grand street was lined with hose pipes.
! the water from which WIS alternately directed ut
| the flames and az the smoking, scOrchng walls
! OF the opposite buildings. These buildings
Wero also mounted by the nrcmcn and
| from their roof other streams were thrown.
XXX 81 crnsbv strnt md tbe m tanem,1t bons'
| adjoining similar streams were poured At
| FIRST tuis tenemcnts oc'upanis We're cleared
occr but they We're soon % seem not to be- in
| danger. Other hremrn climbed 10 the roofs of
| and from that dangerously exposed and fright
T hot oiPSsE P9sE0R Tho ioqS9i' qSdi micri ni na4.s 4e
the progress of the lire from the top down
ward served 10 Keep up the intense heat, in
spite Of the loss Of material ut the top Il was
then scen however that there was an excellent
! chance 10 ronfuo the nrr 10 tho building. Tho
walls toward the toy began to look shaEy. and
feet were working in the face Of
an appalling dancer; Several times they had