Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-02-01
HoRRlBLE HOLOCAUST.
Terrible Loss Of Life and Property
In New York.
Pitiful Scenes-women Perishing ia the
fIames-Dashed to Oeath-lnei-
dents of the Disaster
Origin Of the Fire.
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE TRAGEDY.
Special Dispatch 70 tse Reqisser.

CURED here for years, broke out this morn
ing shertly after 10 clock, in the building
formerly occupied by the World, in the
flat-iron shaped block opposite the Post
Office, bounded by Park Row, Beekman,
Spruce and Nassau streets.
All the great newspaper offices are in
the immediate vicinity, the Times being in
the same block, and the Tribune and SIN
Just across the street. The flames spread
with wonderful rapidity, and in few min.
utes had burst from the windows and
wrapped the whole building in their. fiery
embrace. The streets and houses were
filed with people, and as it was known
that there were hundreds OF people
employed in the burning building, the ex-
element was intense.
At II o'clock the Times Office took fire,
and for time there seemed little hope OF
saving it, but after a stubborn fight the
flames were subdned, and the building
saved, although considerably damaged.
All the printing establishments in the old
World building were destroyed, as were
most of them in the adjoining buildings.
At II O. o'olock the walls fell in, and soon
after the fire was practically under control.
No fire has ever occurred in this city
which was so full of incident as this. Men
and women, out of reach of human aid,
were seen calling for assistance and going
down to fiery death, With thousands OF
brave men. willing to ris k their lives for
their safety, but too far away to be of any
service. How many perished in the horri-
bic holocaust. it is yet impossible to say,
but il is known that six went down in the
burning building, and that four were killed
by jumping from the windows and roofs.
The fire marshal estimates the deaths at
twenty-five but others who were inmates
OF the building and know the number
of persons employed and their situations
in the building. think that not less than
seventy-fvc found fiery death in the
burning ashes Numbers must have been
suffocated by the dense smoke, and as the
elevators, as usual in such cases, acted sim
ply as a draft for the flames and cut off all
escape, and the fire commenced in the
basement and thus cut off escape by means
of the stairs it is feared that the list of the
victims will be much larger than is now
anticipated.
NEW York, January 3l.-The New York
Times building is burning. The flames are
raging fiercely, and no doubt the building
will be total loss.
Second Dispatch.
The fire reported as breaking out in the
Times office, originated in the building
formerly occupied by the New York World,
| in the same block with the Times building,
| but separated from il by an intervening
| building. Strenuous efforts are making to
save the Tinr., but the fire is spreading
rapidly, and il is feared it can not be con-
| trolled short of the corner where the Times
office is located There is an uncontirmed
rumor Of the loss Of several lives.
Third Dispatch.
Amtulanccs are OH the spot. There is a
| slight snow falling, but the air IS dry and
| crisp with light breeze from the north,
which increases the difficulty OF controlling
| the fire.
The block in which the fire is burning is
an irregular shaped gore, with the building
formerly occupied by the World on its
|
| occupying the northern angle Of the gore.
| The Tribune Office is diagonally across Mas
sau street from the Times building, and the
| Sun Office is on the upper corner OF the
! same block with the Tdbun". The fire has
| been burning fcrcely for an hour, taking
| hold in the top of the buildings and send
| ing up large masses Of flames.
freneus Prime sends the following note
to the Associated ..'.css; The New f"rr
O6Se1Ter has ucen burned out, AID this
weeks issue will b. delayed" The Userr-
, er Office was at No. jgi Park Row, in the
| old World building
There were a large number OF oihces;
stores and advertising agencies in that ana
the adjoining house. In one OF theAe OH OH,
| ces there were number OF women em'
ployed, and il is reliably asserted that
One woman Fell
| or leaped from the roof over Pettingilrs
advertising offices, and was killed. There
are rumors OF other women being burned
in the Office, but these reports cannot yet
be verified.
The pecuniary loss will be very heavy,
both on the buildings and on the stocks in
the stores, including wholesale supplies Of
running machinery. etc.
At IL o'clock the southern end OF the
Gore is mass OF ruins, but it is now
thought the Times Office will be saved,
though the danger is not entirely over.
Fourth Dispatch.
The Times building is saved, out consid-
erably damaged. The flames are confined
10 the Beekman street aud Park Row corn
er Of the block. Only one life lost-that OF
a woman already referred to.
Ftnh Dispatch.
&. ..o,oJ ,,ur knJias uyara rernya rad
in Nassau street OF persons killed by jump
ing from the windows. IL is feared the loss
| of life will be heavier than at first believed.
The building was crowded with employees,
and very few could have escaped by the
stair ways An. old. gray haired woman
was seen in the fourth story of the World
building, appealing for help. Her lips
were seen TO move. but her voice could not
be heard. All who saw her were horror
stricken. The flames ragged about her per
son, igniting her hair and clothing. She
fell back into the flames and was no doubt
burned to death.
A young girl. wearing blue dress, who
was cut off from the stairs, ran to the fourth
story window on the Park Row side, and
stood hesitatingly while the flames and
smoke encircled her. Jump" shouted
the spectators. Casting q frightened look
below,
She Threw HerSeIf Out
and fell ON the stone pavement When
picked up life was extinct, her head being
crushed almost beyond recognition.
A few seconds later negro woman ap-
peared at the third story window OF the
World Office. on the Park Row side and
also Jumped TO the sidewalk. She was
badly injured and taken TO the Chambers
street hospital. Several men and women
saved themselves by
Leaping from the Windows
| in Nassau street When the woman who
was killed jumped from the window there
were two men hanging from the window
| sill by their finger ends. The ladders were
| too short TO reach them, and they were
saved by the fremen mounting on one
anothers' shoulders, and the men let them
selves down with their aid. The scenes at
the time when the occupants OF the upper
floors were making their escape, were often
exciting and touching. Men could be seen
holding the hands OF women, evidently
encouraging them 10 calmness- Three
women ran on to the roof and fell through
the skylight Of one OF the northern build
ings,
Receiving Serious Injuries
A boot-black on the corner OF Beekman