New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-01
HECKER'S MILLS BURNED. ,
A LARGE FIRE IN CHERRY AND wATER-sTa

in Cherry, Water and PIke-sts. were destroyed
yesterday by fire which remarkable on ac-
count of its rapid progress and Its overpowerng
heat. small puff of smoke fiOm a seyenth-storv
window of the mills was noticed by persons in
Water-st., at 11:l5 a. m. Five minutes later
smoke pouring from every window on that
floor. An alarm had been raised inside the mills
by John Shower a workman, who was on the
seventh floor near the Water-st. windows. He saw
flames burst out suddenly beneath tanning
machine for cleaning wheat. The building was
supplied with means for extnguishing fires. and
there an arrangement each floor by which
alarm could be sounded. Shower gave the
qured signal four beats gong. and the worK-
men in all parts of the building were informed Of
the fire at cnce. There were several workmen on
the seventh floor, ard they were Joined quickly by
Others from above and below. John I. Hecker. tho
superintendent of the mills. who is a OF the
senior member Of the firm of George Y. llecker u
Co, was in the Office on the second floor when tho
alarm was sounded. lie went Immediately to tho
seventh floor and directed the worklnen in the at
tempt to check the Aal.es. The plugs were pulled
ont of several lines of fire hose from tank on the
top floor and several Babcock free xtinguishers
taken from their stations and put into service
RAPID SPREAD OF THE FLAMES
The exertons of the workmen useless, how
ever. The flames spread quickly that the men
thrown into disorder. They were obliged 10
for their lives before the fire had been burning
five minutes The floors and partitions in every
part Of the mills were covered with layers OF flour
dust, which burned like gunpowdcr Bags OF
-four baking powder and compressed grains
heaped on each floor Feeding upon these highly
infammable materials. the fire mounted TO the roof
through the eighth and ninth stories on the Water
st. side of the mills faster than man could climb
a ladder. 1t reached out in the direction OK
Cherry-st with equal rapidly. There very
little time allowed for the workmen TO escape from
the upper portion of the burning building. and for q
time it was uncertain whether all had escaped.
Several tinsmiths had been at work on the roof.
They all managed TO escape by running down
through hatchways on the Cherry-st side of the
mills.
A fire alarm was sent ont from the box at Pike
ana Cherrys by order of Elisha Soely, the super
intendent of the shipping department. while Super
intendent ITecker and the workmen were making
an Intellectual attempt to check the flames on the
seventh floor Engine Company No. arrived first
in answer to the alarm. The linemen had carried .
hose far the sixth story of the mills when they
were met by the panic stricken workmen. An
effort was made to turn the flames at the sixth
story, but the fremen were Obliged to retreat in
few moments. aud it was with difficulty that they
out third alarm soon he recognized the
danger of the situation. Later when Chief Bates
arrived all the engines below Houston-st sixteen
in ALL were summoned. The firemen were con-
fronted with n blazing building sight stories high.
extending from Pike-slip distance OF 100 feet in
Cherry-st., and having n connecting wing, pine
stories in height, which extended to Water-st. The
immense structure Overshadowed four-story
building ut PIke-slip and Water-st., which was
storage house used by the firm. The height OF tho
mills prevented the firemen from throwing water
upon the flames from the street, and It would have
been madness for them place ladders against the
walls in the hope of pouring streams through the
windows The heat of the fire great that
no one could live near the walls. The flames had
crept downward rapidly until the mills seemed
ready to burst with imprisoned fire. From the roof
to the cellar a bright glare shone from every win
dow at 1l:30 a. III. The walls shook at intervals
as though the buildings we're ready to tall. Fire
men who had been stationed in Cherry and Water
sts were obliged to retreat before they had got
their hose in position The water tower had been
raised in Cherry st., but before the stream from its
nozzle had begun to play with any force, orders
were given to have it dragged back into PIkc-slip.
FAILING or TIE WALLS.
Chief Bates saw that it would be impossible to
save the mills, and gave orders for the fremen to
pour streams upon the adjoining buildings. His
orders were not obeyed too soon, for at 1885 q
large portion of the Waterst wing fell with ter
rifle crash upon the fOur-stOry corner building,
crushing it under the heavy weight. Such rapid
destruction seldom has been witnessed at IRE IN
this city, cloud of dust and smoke mounted far
up into the air, for time obscurlng the view. On
the Cherry-st. side tho flames still rising high
above the roof The wind was blowing strongly
- H.. Eoaf Itkar md Af
flame was driven across CheTry-sl: against . NUM- NUM-
Der of old houses of varying heights. he inmates
OF these houses had taken hight leaving an they
possessed behind them. The direction or the wind
favored the houses IN W .crst. opposite the mills.
and PIke-slip wide that the buildings on tho
east side of tie slip were not III serious danger.
On the west OF the mills, however, were some
buildings which tho reuen were powerless 10
from destruction. Next 20 the mills vas q
ST. to ChcIry-st. distance OF 100 feet. Next 70
that were Il four-story tenement house az No. ~
Cnerry-st., and two-story shop at NO. 4oo
Water-st. Close to the tenement house and shop;
and towering far above them, stood the sailors
Exchange Building. winch extends through Iho
block from Water-st. to Cherry-st. IL ioTInen
barrier where the tremen could nope 10 cneek tio
advancing flames. Exciting scenes were "lthes9eo
m t6e streets near the burning building at noon
Womeu and children, who had been driven nom
their homes III Cherry St, went about crying and
screaming Policemen struggled Will large ctoTHs
which gathered within view OF the NILS. Ihe
frcmen seemed to share the general alarm. III was
feared Tor time that gas generator behind the low
buildings IN Cherry-st would eAplouo, ana stielius
of water were kept turred upon the low building
where the gas meter A number OF telegraph
poles in Piko-slip fell. aud the wires became en-
tangled. Several horses were loosed from their
staiIs in HecLcr stables in Cherryst. opposite tho
burning mills and were rescued with some DIM
Guilty In Monroe-St. and in Mechancs-aley'
narrow lane leading from Monroe-st. 10 Chttry-st,
the occupants of houses began 10 remove furniture
from their rooms.
THE SAILORS HOME IN DANGER
Ten minutes after noon the walls OF the milis were
falling outward one crash following another IN rapid
succession. The flames had enVeopeu tne houses
aiIar.l ~ ID q nd aud