New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-08
4 FATAL FIRE ~ TESETSB
NINE FIREMEN BURIED IN TIE RUINS.

TEICATI0S OF TIE INJURED MEN.
Francis w. Bauer has occupied the four
story bgics building No - Ncscyst. for eleven yeas s
a grocer and dealer III fruits and liquors. GA Monday
nght he carefully inspected the building just before
closing to see that tc place was slight fire
was left in a small stove the third floor. He then
took the O'Clock train for Elizabeth where he
resides and left the building III charge Of a
Waterman. Shortly before O'Clock yesterday
morning the Waterman noticed srokc rolling
from the second-story window and soon aftcr"ard 1t
was accompanied with bright flames. lie sounded an
alarm, ana three engines promptly responded.
The first difficulty encountered was ut the fire Ly-
drants az the water frozen. BY the time the fire
men got to work the upper portion of the building wa
burning rapidly. TIE beams, Iaftcrs aud woodwork
were old and bur ed like tlnGer Heavy clouds oi
smoke rolled ont of every window IN the building and
retarded work of the Iencn The smoke hung over
the ncigborhood flied the adjacent houses to suito
cation. From the roof bright column OF flame sh0i
high in the air. and accompanied every few minutes
with dull heavy explosion from liquor cask. These
cxpos ons alarmed Tie men, and caused them 10 work
with much care, as the contents OF the bdhd:ng
were not known. The danger Of the fire spreading
TO Washington Market, wlfsl was only half block
away, led 10 a third ALARM which brought To The scene
nineteen engines and trucks, all the available force
from the Battery TO Springst. They completely sur
rounded the burning building, and streams OF wafer
were poured in from all sides. one hour after the fire
was first discovered, the fireman had the flames under
control little later all the companies were ordered
home except Engine No 80 and Hook and Ladder Trucks
Nos : and 10.
The three Fire Commissioners aniycd at the scene
about i a. III. A consultation between them and the
chiefs Of battalion Resulted IN order 10 continue
stream Of water HE first floor aud check any fresh
fire that might break out. Nine men were accordingly
directed TO work at tGc BACK OF lac Stolf ing 'e
merchandise tnd cooling thc heated ihnefH ABOUT an
hour after a rumhlmg noise heard on the upper
floors. Those IN the street SAID that the upper floors
had given way ana were raining WIN thrIr contents on
the second story. A shout OF warming 10 their
COM aides on the store floor immediately given.
The warn Nc was gwen tooJatc me upprr 0ors cihe
crashing upon The second story and this III trn
i.e Reams and ,mhcrs were TANNED In with barrels OF
-four and and uags Of coffee and spice; IN one In
extrcable mass. NJ one dared 10 venture into the
means and cries of the buried firomcn were distinctly
heard and all efforts to free themselves were unav"
Charles II Perey, Deputy Fire Marshal sent an alarm
for ambuanccr. and four came from Bellevue Hospital
and one each frOu the Chambers street and Newiork
Hospitals. ot set 10 work digging for
one was found o. the nIno men exhum"d only ONE,
John W Irving, was dead. few minutes before
ing the fire from the very spot where thu
men were buried The cause Of the accident was
upper noor, which were weakened by the weight OF
water. TWAS said that two ieet OF water remained on
SIDES tins, the building was very old. The OF the
fire 1919 mystery. Coroner N3limaH viewed the builI,
N''''' VI
the accident.
THE DEAD.
The following is the only fireman who was fatally il
jured. Ills dead body was dug ont Of tie ruins:
IEyixG JoHT W. resided az NJ. A. Recor-,t and was
extnchtcd from between two barrels after the debris
was removed. He face was black and hue, and IN
the lett temple was q deep gasn, made with - piece
OF timber. He was dead when picked up. He Lad
only been connected with the Department for two
wears. Until about twumOntGs ago he was stationed
al Observation-Disclosures thst., hut az his own
rcoHrs he was transfer ed as he desired TO work for
"A
assigned to Engine No. 20 He was married, and
leaves three children. He is son OF c1-Asscmby
man Irving.
TIE INJURED.
OF the eight nremcn who were injured three were
severely hurt but t is thought their injuries will not
prove fatal These are John Hope Dennis Reagan and
Michael Reeves The following is complete list OF the
injured
IoGAY THOMAS member Of Hook and ladder Company
No \. lie was thIrts five years Old and has OeeH
connected with the Department for over eight years
HIS legs and body very badly bruised. He was
first taken TO Chambers street Hospital ana was
aftcrWard transferred TO Bellevue Hospital. lie
lives at No. % RcctOr-st.
IIorr JOINS, a member of Hook and Ladder Company
No. :, was struck hJ failing IlmbeIs aud bruised
about Tue body. lie received lBceratcd wound Ia
the forehead. IL - feared hlt ne l. Injured inter
nally lie taken 10 HAMMERS street Hospital
and then removed his home. No. Broonlr->t l.
He has been connected with the Department Tor hvc
JoNrs Henry age fortyscvrn. Injured in the back
and bruised about the shoulders, having been wcdscd
street Hos ita ana then taken To ms home, No. 81 /
East NinthSt.
He is thrtyiyr year Old and hd- been connected
with the Department Tor eight wears. Heh' ntNo.
RrtGAN, DrN.Is Of NO 23O East Fly uintl-.r, j. a
member Il Engine No ~. iils injuries about tie
head and back severe that ne immcdi-
ately taken 10 Bellevue Hospital he forty year,
old and las VIE and SIX ehiidcn lie has been Il
fireman for four year..
REEyE-. MICHAEL. foreman of Hook and Ladder Com
In ~ pff.. Al Inc ont q
lie injured ~ lie csst ana VS. removed 10 IN,
Percy lie has been III The Department for ten
year. lie Is thirty years od aud was married
about year ago ne was formerly assistant fore
ROVE WILLIAM, chief Of me rsL battalion was badly in.
iucd in the mead and come fears are expressed that
ms skull IS fractuicd The contnsiOn> about his head
are very severe lie was taken To the Chambers
street. IIospi,aI and then removed TO his home No
Gs Muiray.st, 10y Commissioner Pcrley. He is
thiry-six years Oli and unmarried lie has been IN
the Department since ITS organization htteen years
ago, ana was for i've years foreman Of Engine No.
VA II0RNr' THOMAS j. foreman OF Engine Company No.
20 l. severely injured III the legs and arms. While
the men were digging In the runs, beam which pIo-
with comparatively slight injuries. lie lives al
Washngton-ave. ana one bnnnrea-dhd-slh -sikthst
lie twcntynluc old aud has been III the De
partucnt for eight years.
LOSSES AND INSURANCE.
The building No. 20 Vesey-st is a complete wreck.
II il owned by the WetInOrc Iron Works and was
rented for $1,000 "a year. The insurance ia about
$4,000 The stock belonging 10 MT Bauer was valued at
about ~ 1000 and II total loss; there Is mn insurance
of ~ 900 IN the Hope, Contnen tai Park and Fircnens
companies. q. W. Blackburn Co., dealers in butter
aud cheese occupied the basement Of No 20, ana their
Ia about ~ 900 by water. They have policy Of
81 800 in the PhGniN Insurance Company of Brooklyn.
NJ II. Moses & Co. occupy Nos n and ~ as q whole
sale tealnouse Their stock gedS 900 by WATER
and IA insured for $4,000 fourteen companies The
loss Of A. j. Pick butcher In the basement of No. IL
WAS several hundred dollars by water. j. Richardson
aud occupied the fOurstory brick building No 10
grocery store and hs stock Is slightly damaged by
smoke and water. lie has $1,000 insurance on the
stock, and $1,000 on the building
In SUSPENSE "a real incident of Boxing
nighD-M sprggins: oh, Mister. they says as my
names down the free-list through ash0wn ~ your
bills outside my shop; but | can't mud IT, BoxkeePer