Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-26
THE RED DESTROYER.
BIG FIRE IN NEW YORK CITY.
Eighth Avenue Horse Car Stables Oes-
trOyed-0ne Hundred Horses
Burned-0ne Man Killed
and Several Wounded,

New YoRE, November 25.-One OF the
largest fires that has occurred for some
time past in this city took place this
morning about : o'clock. The fire wa:
discovered in the stables OF the Eighth
Avenue Horse Car Railroad NOtwith,
standing that within five minutes after
the discovery OF the fire, forty streams
OF water were turned upon the blazing
building, il was only when there was
nothing further for the flames to feed
upon, that the tiremen obtained mastery
The flames were in a four story brick
building fronting two hundred feet on
Eighth avenue and four hundred feet
on Forty-ninth and Fiftieth streets.
In the rear, on Ninth avenue,
the side is wilderness OF car
carpenter and wagon shops, and a
mountain OF old barrels, many thou
sands, were stacked to the height OF 80
or 40 feet. These were saved by the et-
forts OF the tiremen, who, from the be-
ginning. specially directed their efforts
20 this point 10 prevent a general con-
fiagratiOn among the tenement houses
on Ninth avenue. Almost before the
movement 20 save the stock In the sta
bles could be made, the flames burst 81
multaneOuSly from the windows on
Forty-ninth and Fiitieth streets. IL be-
came clear that the building was doomed
10 destruction. The cars stored on the
ground floor were run out and saved.
The horses on the upper floors were
united and ran down the inclined planes
10 the gronnd. There were nearly 500,
and the work of getting them out was
one Of great difficulty and danger.
Blinded by the smoke and frightened by
the flames, they kicked and reared, and
over 100 had 10 be abandoned to de-
struction Their piteOus winning could
be heard above the roar Of the flames.
The three upper floors were one vast
sheet of flames. Two brick buildings,
one liquor store and the other a
restaurant, cut into the stable build
ing on the corner, were saved. At
this pOiut in the stables were an immense
quantity of hay in bales was stored.
When these caught fire a sudden burst
lIlk Oh NdEN THAT IbuAANA LAAN JAWS NeAAA'f|A
an explosion that shattered the side of
the building and threw the brick wall
into the street. IL fell with a crushing
force upon a ladder, on which were
Chief Campbell, Foreman John Welsh,
OF engine No. 5, and Fireman Henry c.
Mount, and John Regan of the same
company. Each and all were buried
under the smoking mass, and a shout OF
horror went up from the spectators.
Their comrades instantly fell 10 the
work Of their rescue, and soon all were
recovered, bruised, bleeding and
insensible. Mount had his skull
and leg fractured, and was also injured
internally. He died an hour afterwards
in the hospital. Regan had his leg
broken and was badly cut.
Chief Campbell and Foreman Welsh
were painfully but not seriously hurt,
and remained on duty. Hardly had the
foreman and spectators recovered from
the excitement caused by the fall OF the
wall when it was rumOred that fire
man had fallen into the burning build
ing. but the muster of the companies
later showed that all men were present
..xcept those taken 20 the hospital.
,oon afterwards the walls on
Fiftieth street iell with crash.
The flames leaped across the street,
threatening the houses there. The Occu-
pants fed. and thief, attempting to
enter one, was speedily nabbed and
hustled Otr to the police station. The
firemen gave their attention now entire
ly 70 the surrounding property, the
stables being mass OF ruins. BY ten
O'Clock all danger of a spread Of the fire
was over and a number OF the engines
were sent to their quarters, the others
remaining TO pour water on the dying
flames. The loss il estimated at about
$3.50. 200: insurance, S27, 900.
Chief Fisher, at the Eighth battalion,
was injured in the back by falling
wall, and Fireman David Classy was Sc
riously injured. Mount has a wife aud
four children. He was buried under
the ruins, and when discovered was
living with heavy iron girier across
ms chest. His skull was fractured and
several ribs were broken. IL was al
most 3 o'clock before the road got fairly
in running order, the cars being started
from Fiity-eighth street At that hour
the tiremen were pulling down what
fragments remained OF the walls, and
the flames were entirely subdued.