The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-25

ment. is understood to coincide in some OF the
above views. He considers that there was
at the Worth street Are which gave the flames time
to get beyond control. He IL said 10 nave ex-
pressed an opinion to the effect that the nre couia
have been subdued on the floor where 1t had broken
out and that ladders ought to have been raised To the
floor and hose carried up to the windows
Mr. M. b. Wilson. chief OF the insurance fatroi'
said he present at both fires. and knew consider
able about them. He declined, however, to express
any opinion to their management by the Fire De-
partment. saying that he understood an oiicial IN
vestigaton would take place.
THE OTHER THE STORY.
Mr.. V. q. King, Chairman of the Board OF Fire
Commissioners said to the reporter that he was pres
ent at both fires. and. in his opinion all done
that ability and experience could suggest Chief
fire, Assistant CHIEF Shea and Chief of
Battalion Bonner Of the Worth street one.
q mass of flames The absence of partitions on
the upper floors caused the flames to spread like
lightning There was no opposition to them and
plenty OF draught to fan them. The men went in
with their hose and driven out in few minutes
by the heat The ladders of the department only
sxty-hve feet long. too short to reach above the
third floor. Bonner on hand with Engine Com
pany No. T. at the Worth street fire, three minutes
after the alarm was sounded. he and Captain Kehoe
went in with line. but were driven from the third
floor In minute or two and were forced to escape
from the Thomas street side of the building The
delay in sending out the third alarm owing
to accident to the telegraph line. Bonner
sent man ut once to box No. SO.
would not work. When the man discovered that he
ran. by order of Chief Shea, to No. l24, of
Leonard and Church streets. Some time was lost in
this way. but it was unavoidable. Mr.. King thought
useless to raise ladders. and believed that the
fire must have been burning at least hour before
the alarm was given.
Commissioner German was in the theatre, he said,
when the first alarm sounded for the Worth
street fire. That at 1882 p. NJ He notified
before the curtain rose at eight, came out to the
steps of the theatre and that the sky
already Illuminated by the flames. He thought
that If ladders raised ut this fire
both they and any who might have
been them would have been lost. He at both
Ares within fifteen minutes after the alarms and
at in both cases that there hope for the
buildings.
WHAT THE FIREMEN FOUND AWAITING THEM
Chief of Battalion Hugh Bonner went to both fires
on the first alarm. As he drove out of the engine
house in Chambers street to go to the Grand street
fire he the sky already bright with the reflection
of the flames. When he got there the flames were
pouring from all the windows on Crosby street and
tor 100 feet along Grand on three stories The men
entered the building from the Br Dadway side but
were driven out in less than five minutes. When he
arrived at the Wort b street fire flames were pouring
from the windows. 1t must have been burning
long time The third floor was far gone that W hen
he and Kehoe broke in the door opening on
the stairway they could get foothold
that floor. They worked the stairway till they
heard the safes and heavy objects falling through the
floors. and then they and their forced to fly
for their lives He says that could at any time
have worked ladders account of the flames pour
ing from the windows. and the heat great that
it was impossible to stand opposite the building.