The New York herald., 1879-11-26
A WHOLE BLOCK ABLAZE.
Total Destruction Of the Eighth Avenue
Railroad Stables.
FIVE FIREMEN INJURED.
Over Fifty Horses Left to Perish
in the Flames.
LOSS THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

At haf-past six O'Clock yesterday morning hre
broke out in the fourth story of the extensive sta
bles OF the Eighth avenue Railroad Company ID
Eighth avenue, between Forty-ninth and Fiftieth
streets The fire originated on the Forty-ninfh
street side of the building aud in few minutes the
flames shot out from most of the windows LOOKING
into that street and into the Although the
alarm Immediately given and the response OF
the Fire Department was quickly made SO rapid was
the progress of the fire before the engines could
be got to work the whole building covering the
tire block. with tho exception of the Eighth avenue
and Eiftieth street corner. was one sheet OF fame
THE ALARM.
The first puff Of fame it shot out Of the fourth
story window in Forty-ninth street was seen by
Officer Thomas Dalton. who Immediately gave the
alarm both to the Fire Department and to the en-
ployes Of the company. Fortunately. large force
OF conductors aud drivers was in the stable at the
time it being the hour when of the cars begin
their first trip for the day. The men Immediately
commenced moving the into the avenue and
extricating the horses the stables above. How
well they did their work is apparent from the fact
that not q single car was destroyed. and although
about one thousand two hundred horses were housed
in the building fewer than sixty were burned. The
moment of great danger and excitement
and earnest the wero the lives of the
animals and to prevent the destruction of the
pany's property, the flames not less active.
Their progress was swift that scarcely twenty
minutes elapsed after the alarm given until the
entire building on fire. The flames shot through
the stables line with tho avenues, and between
them from Forty ninth to Fiftieth street
solid block Of FIRE. Immense volumes of sitting
smoke filed the air. The stables had been newly
stocked with straw, hay and grain for
winter use and much Of this was
stored in the upper part Of the building where
the fire originated it was ahame even before the
rival OF the 6remen. Besides. tho building itself
was infammabe in the highest degree. The brick
work a shell. and the floors and support
ing beams dry tinder. The windows
served a ventilating shaft to fan the flames. and
from either side and above and below the currents
swept round the burning mass of wood and hay and
straw. every gust of wind giving new impetus to
what had now become. as 1t were hell Of fire.
ARRIVAL THE F1REMEN.
Officer Daltons first alarm served to bring on the
ground the fire companies Dearest to the scene Of
the confagration, and this followed by q
ond and third alarm, engines rushing
through the streets from every direction. In .
short time the summons had been responded to by
engines Nos. %, 26. o. 4O 34 49, 81 and 80. and
Hook and Ladder companies Nos. 4. IL. Z and g. In
answer . special alarm the new water tower
Of tie department. and Engine companies Nos.
IL. and IA added to the force already on
the ground. But the fremen began their work under
many disadvantages. The heat was very great. but
not great enough to keep the men away from the
burning building. Tho smoke which filled the whole
neighborhood binding. In the streets were
the cars belonging to the company. moved out of
the stables only to be put in the way of the remen
1t is wonder that under such discouraging con-
with little effect. Although forty streams Of water
were turned upon the blazing stables the fire ragged
more aercely than Fully hour passed before
the work Of the remep in subduing the flames began
to,tell and another hour was necessary to get the
nre under control. During these two hours hum
dred feats of heroism were performed and hundred
incidents related part of their history. Once
o rumor ran from mouth to mouth that fireman
had fallen into tho burning building. There was .
hasty muster of the companies in consequence, but
every found at his post. Then with re-
newed vigor and determination the men once moro
went TO work. Some in the streets below
bistered by the heat and blinded by the
smoke. Others ladders resting against
the walls of the burning building. All were ap-
parenty unconscious regardless Of DANGER About
half past o'clock the brickwork began fall.
In every direction there peril for the brave
fremen, but their courage rose greater than the
danger. Inside the immense barn beams and sup
ports giving way and great masses of hay and
straw were sweeping down through the burning
floors to the ground below. Every few moments
there rumble of artillery and then crash In
part of the walls. Section after section fell in
this way, sometimes into the street. sometimes into
the burning building.
NAMES OF THE INJURED.
The Eighth wpll down on the side
walk. injurng some Of the Hremen. When part Of
the Fifteth street wall foil number of hremen
pcrched against 1t on ladders. The peril of all
these was great and moro men injured. As
nearly us could be ascertaned the casualties
JOHN WEIGH. of No. 1e5 East Ffty-nrst street.
fireman of Engine Company No. 3.
HENRY O. MOUNT. fireman OF Engine Company
DENIS REAGAN, of No. go East Fifty.ninth street.
nrenan OF Engine Company No. 8.
Assistant Foreman SMITH. Of Engine Company
SAMUEL. CAMPBELL, chief of Seventh battalion.
At the Fire Department headquarters 1t was stated
that Reagan's injuries very slight. he will
member the for about years and has fire.
uuently sustained severe injuries at hres from tho
ave years ago he was badly burned at an ex.
plosion of naphtha In Liberty street, whore
twenty-five menibers of the force were badly
burned. and one death resulted. At that timo
he was member of Engine Company No. 20, but
was few months ago transferred to Engine Com
pany No. 8. At the fire In Stiner's tea store, In
Vesey street. last January Regan very badly in-
3ured in the breast, and sustained fracture Of the
collar bone. Henry Q. Mount. OF Engine Company
No. =, whose right arm and right log were broken by
the falling walls has, is believed. received serious
Internal injuries well. Ho formerly member
of Engine Company No. 35. from which he
Gently transferred to Engine Company No. 8. He
has been the force ten years, aud while he Is
said to be brave fireman he has heretofore luckily
escaped any serious injury at the many fires he las
attended. Welch's injuries slight. These three
men were on the ladder the Fiftieth street WALL
Smith was badly bruised and Campbell sustained
slight injuries In his hands. but both remained
work.
suFFERTSGs HORSES.
One OF the most painful features of the conagra-
tion was the suferings of the horses They were
stabbed on three floors OF the building. There was
little difficulty in getting them out from the lower