The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1882-02-09


of the building: II was passing down th
rear of Nassau street, stairs of 81 Parl
Row, and, when near the foot of the stairs
the flames burst through the new elevato
shaft from the basement. Nothing hat
occurred indicating an explosion up tt
that moment. The flames rushed up tht
shaft like a lightning flash, and almost Al
quickly up the stairway in terrible tor
rent Of fire with dense black smoke, which
almost instantly cut Off all possibility O
egress. Passing back through the build
ing, gave the alarm, I came out on the
Park Row side. The engine room adjoin:
the bottom Of the elevator shaft, and the
fire must have begun there and gained i'm.
petus before any alarm was given. / fear
that the rapidity with which the flames and
smoke filled the narrow stairWays cut of
escape for many occupants of the upper
stories. An old gentleman with white
hair got out of the fourth story window
on the Beekman street side. He stood on
the sill for fully five minutes, holding on
to the narrow piece with his hands. The
flames were approaching him, but he saw
no chance Of escape. The firemen raised
a ladder, out it only reached to the story
below him. The crowd in the street got a
tarpaulin and a score Of willing hands
faced the dangers of the falling debris and
cinders, and a shout went up that was
plainly heard by the old gentleman
Jump! jump for your life! We will save
your But he looked at the sixty feet of
distance below him and could not muster
up courage enough to make the attempt.
He turned forward facing the street, and
with his hands behind him, he stood like a
statue Drawing death. Meantime two brave
men got short ladder and held it up to
him and steadied it while he slowly climb
ed down. just as he reached the long
ladder, the flames burst through the win
dow where he had stood, but he reached
the sidewalk in safety amid the cheers of
the crowd"
When the flames did break out they
ragged with extravagant fury. They leap
ed from the bottom to the top Of the build
ing like flash and rolled upward III great
sheets.
Another occupant said: s'I was In the
office this morning when smelled smoke.
went into the hall and saw heavy vol
ume Of smoke coming up the hoist-way.
went back into the Office and said to two
men who were in the office: The building
is on fire, and you had better get out as
quick as you can,' and grabbed UP my
overcoat and hat and ran into the hall :;
and then the flames were rushing up the
elevator shaft, and also up the well hole
in the centre of the building. ran down
the stairway on the Park Row side Of the
building, for the flames were all about the
stairs on Nassau street, and it was impos-
sible to escape in that direction. [ am
certain that [ was the last man down the
stairs, for I turned about at the doorway
and looked back, and the whole entrance
of the building was apparently in flames.
The two men whom left in the office were
named Stell and Brown, and a man who
gained the roof and escaped by way Of the
Times building shouted to his rescuers:
Other human beings were perishing
there.'"
Carlos White, Of the Pacific Newspaper
Company, had al office on the
fourth floor Of the burned building. He
said: ''You can see / have been pretty
close to flames, as my hair, beard and eye
brows are singed, but | easily found that
after my escape from the building, the fire
was not altogether surprise to me. In
fact, an hour or two before it broke out
spoke to workman in the building and
told him something Of that sort was about
to happen; there was something wrong
with the heating apparatus, although |
can't say just what it was. At all events
the walls about the closets were SO hot that
/ knew there was evidently danger Of
some kind when put hands upon them. :"
One who escaped says: Two men, Stell
and Brown, whom he left behind him in
the burning building must have perished,
and from the screams and cries on the up
per floors and Railways he heard as he ran
along he fully believes ten Or a dozen Wo-
men and girls were caught and We're I'M
able to escape.
-Four or five hundred were in the build
ing when the fire began. Several heroic
deeds were noticed.
The building destroyed was the Potter
building 1t was worth 5000, 900, and was
insured for $175, 900. -
The New York Beltingan Packing Co.
lose $15O,00O, insured for 100000; Willie
stationery, loss $75, 5000; insured.
The destruction Of patents, models, ETC.,
Of the Scientific american, foot up an ag-
gregate. loss of 100000 Competent judges
sum up the total loss, including the build
ing, at 81, 100000. The number of losses
are protligous and it is estimated that IN
he numerous offices in the building fully
800 men, women and boys found employ
nent. A number OF girls were employed
N the two upper stories of the building, in
which were many small printing offices