New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-11
PROGRESS OF THE FLAMES.

WHERE THE FIRE WAS FIRST DISCOVERED
INPossIBILITY or SAVING TIE sTABLEs-AT-
TEMPS TO RESCUE THE HoRsEs-soaE OF
THEM BURNED-CoNTRoILLNG THE CROWD
The flames broke out iii the railroad stables about
6:45 D. m. At that time half dozen conductors
and less than twenty stabemen, were in the build
ing. One of the stablemen who was in the hayloft
about the middle of the stable. saw the 1ames first,
and gave the alarm Some Of the mon said afterward
that they heard an explosion, and 1t was Thought
that orc of the gas pipes in the building had burst
On account of the excitement which soon preVaiied
the cause of the fire remained in doubt however.
II was only known, that the flames started about
the middle of the building on the second floor.
Tho stables covered nearly the entire block
bounded by Thirty and Thirtythird-sts
and Lexington and Fourth-aves., the only remain
ing space being occupied by three small houses
fronting on Lexingto ave. at the corner OF Thirty
second-st The building was of brick, two stories
high and strongly constructed. The first
floor was occupied mainly with stables
for the accommodation of the horses, and
with the cars which were not in use on the road.
The upper floor was used for storing hay and grain
The business Office was on the first 1oor oil the
Fourth-ave side Over the stables, on the Lexing-
ton-ave. side were repair shops and a dispcnsary
filed with medicines for sick horses.
SAVING THE HORSES.
The Fourth Avenue Company owns, according to
the statement of J. +. Bonney the General Supern-
tendent 941 horses OF these about $50 were sick
or lame and in the hospital on the Lexington
ave- end of the stable. As near as be
determined last night 200 were employed in
drawing the cars of the company. 1t is therefore a
fair estimate that 75O horses were in the stable
when the fire began. Tho day force of
stablemen had left the place at six o'clock
and hardly more than twelve or fifteen men
were on hand to begin the work OF re-
moving the horses. There were nine exits.
The doors were broken open at once aud all the
sabemen assisted by policemen, drivers, conductors
and spectai iors rushed Bto the stalls and oosed the
horses. All Of the animals in the hospital were
saved with ease, but every minute increased the
danger and difficulty OF the work. The burning
hay sent out binding clouds OF smoke, and III less
than ten minutes after the alarm had been
given the horses became panic stricken ana
almost unmanageable. At first IL was enough to
slip their halters aud turn them out soon they mad
to be led TO the door, and finally blows could hardly
persuade them to move. Fortunately, there was q
convenient place at hand for herding them. Just
north of the stables is roomy- lot which Is com
monty used as wagon nor.S S'rd or,es aS 1Ses Tas
the long tunnel under Park-ave was put TO a new
service Ropes were stretched across the mouth
and were stationed at the Forty eoond-st end
and the horses were turned into it, There they were
safe from fire, and being shut out from the sight
they soon became quiet and docle. Many horses
were led at once to neighboring stables, and at no
time last night were they all brought together.
THE EFFORTS OF THE FIREMEN.
Meanwhile policeman had sent out alarm of
fire from the box at Fourth-ave. and Thrty-second
st. Before the first detachment of fremon arrived.
however, Chief Fisher. of the Eighth Battalion of
the lire Department, who lived in the neghbor-
hood had sent out q second and third alarm III
quick succession. These soon followed
up by special calls for engines and hook
and ladder companies. Twenty-Five fire en-
gines and ten hook and ladder trucks were sum
moned in this manner. When the ircmen arrived
on the spot the flames were bursting from the roof
of the stables and from the windows on
all sides Chief Engineer Bates was soon
in command, and be saw at glance
that it would be impossible TO save the building.
The engines were put TO work promptly, but the
firemen were unable to place ladders against the
burning building, on account of the heat. They
stood in the streets ali sides and directed streams
upon the roof and through the windows. The water
seemed TO have effect whatever aud the fire grew
greater every moment The flames from the roof
snot upward, and a shower OF sparks and cinders
rained upon the firemen until the men fairly quaed
under the storm.
The wind, which had been blowing briskly from
the northwest, was made stronger by the volume of
flame which assembled from the building. The burn
ing cinders were carried 70 height Of more than
four hundred feet and whirled broadcast over the
neighboring houses as far as Sccond-ave. and
Twenty -third-st. The wind was so strong near the
burning building that branches of trees were blown
off and the ground was covered with half-dead
water thrown by the fire engines we're diverted sew
eral feet from their direction. Chief Bates next
discovered that the supply OF water was not ade-
quate for so many engines Ea-niasLnan aI motifs