Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-31

--latest TGlegpanS to The Star.
THE BURNING OF HECKERs' MILL.
Big Fire In New York.
HECKKR'S MILLS RIrRNrn

NEW YORK, July 3l.-Smoke was seen this morn.
Water street side OF Hecker's flour min. and at the
same time number OF wOrkmen rushed from the
building. Three alarms OF IRE were sent out and
finally general alarm, as the flames made extra
ordinary Roadway, and In short time II was evil
dent that the whole structure was doomed. The
mill extends from Cherry to Water streets, on the
east side OF Pike street and each OF the two first
named streets 1t extends about 125 feet About 500
men are employed in the establishment. and as
soon as the fire was discovered they were all
manded to rush for their lives which they did. It
is thought that they all escaped from the build
1ngs though some OF the employees believe that
few became so excited that they probably were
caught up In the fiames which spread with the
most alarming rapidity. The nrenen did their
which it originated and which is eight stories high,
but without success.
A strong Dortherly breeze drove the flames from
the Water street to the Cherry street side OF the
building, and they burned through until the whole
OF the buildings, including the one on the south.
west corner OF Cherry and Pike streets, erected
became an absolute certainty that the mills would
be totally destroyed, the fremen directed their eff
burning building, two OF which were three-story
ShantieS, with wooden roofs. The heat from the
nre was SO intense that they were again bafed in
this direction, and these buildings were soon en-
veloped In flames. Nos. 202, 2O4 and 200 caught
fire, and Heckers stables No. 200 were also fired.
Adjoining the mills, on Water street, is the spice
warehouse of Fisher & Co., which will probably be
burned.
About forty engines are at work on the burning
buildings. The flour mill ten stories in height
NARROW ESCAPE OF FIREMEN.
While the fremen were at work inside the old
building was seen to totter and sway. They were
ordered out OF the building, and shortly afterwards
the roof and walls fell in. The firemen had mar
row escape for their lives. One fireman was struck
by some bricks and had his leg broken by ladder.
he was sent to the hospital Two other firemen
We're overcome by the heat and had to be taken
away. The fremen were not able to approach
within 300 feet Of the burning building account
OF the intense heat of the flames.
The great walls OF the building soon began to
fall, and the streets were completely choked up
with the debris. The rumors that lives had been
lost proved, on investigation, to be groundless.
When the alarm OF fire was given. Jno. V. Hecker,
superintendent OF the mill, went up stairs and
found that hole had been burned In
the middle OF the floor. directly behind
a brushing machine used to brush the
dust from the wheat. The men on the
upper stories were compelled to fire escapes
get away from the flames The great tank on the
top OF the building was turned to flood the mill,
but unfortunately there but little water in it.
The The loss to the Heckers' cannot be less than
100000, which is fully covered by insurance. The
boiler OF the mill situated on the Cherry street
side, exploded during the progress Of the fire. but
did no other damage than give every person
around the burning mill good scare.