The new North-west., 1882-02-10


who were In the Office, ..the building u on
fire and you had better get out just as soon
as you can" and grabbed my hat and over
coat and ran ont into the hall and then the
flames were rushing up the elevator SHAFT,
and also up the we'll hole In the center Of
the building. l ran down the stairway on
Park Row side Of the building, for the
flames were all about The stairs on the Mas
sau street side, and 1t was impossible TO es-
cape that way. am certain that ] was the
last man down the stair, for turned about
a. / reached the doorway and looked up
stairs, and the whole entrance 10 the build
ing was apparently In flames. The two men
whom left In the building were named
otell and Brown.
A score of men stretched blanket under
the window on Park Row, and some we're
saved who were shut off from the stairs.
Others refused TO jump and were taken down
by ladders. One woman sprang out and
went through the blanket.
A girl stepped from window In Beekman
street at the call Of fireman, but was una
BILE to reach him, 50 be held out his hand on
which she stepped and was safely lowered.
A man who yentured loo far into Theatre
alley, toward the burning bnilding,was over
come by smoke, but was dragged TO place
OF safety. There were several instances Of
firemen being temporarily overcome by
smoke, but all recovered.
The Ttrf, Field aud Farm, which occu-
pied portion Of the building, had the finest
sporting library In the country, some OF the
books being very valuable. Tie library was
the property Of Col. s. B. Bruce and Leslie
Bruce. The manuscript for the years stud
book In process of compilation was destroyed.
The loss to the concern Is put al $4,000.
The loss of the firm of 5. M. Pettingiil q
Co., advertising agents, Is estimated at $780,
600.
Among the occupants not heretofore emu
merated are Jacob J. Storey, patent solicitor;
X. Tribal, school books; Burke, Frazier q
Conneil, patent solicitors, who are supposed
to have perished; A. j. Todd, patent law
yer, and his clerk, James III. Hamilton,
burned. The building, corner Park Row
and Beekman street, was occupied by the
New York World from 1860 until Its re-
moyal to new quarters few months since.
Ii was known as the Porter building and was
erected by its owner at cost of 100000,
but 1t was old, and the total loss In its de-
struction was not over 100000. II was in
sured for $4,000. Among the tenants the
New York Betting and Packing Co. lose
sI50,000; insured for 100000. Willy Wal
lacks, stationery, loss $4,000; insured. Tho
destruction to patents, models, ETC., of the
Scientific dmericaa foot up 100000, the
loss OF which Is sustained by private persons,
patentees and inventors, whose models We're
In the keeping Of the firm. The Scientific
American Is the property of Mum q Co.,
patent agents.
Competent judges sum up the total loss of
all property, including the building, over
S1,O00,000. Total insurance, $50, 900. The
secretary oft board Of underwriters said
the losses are scattered about among 50 many
insurance companies, that no single COM
pany will be much affected. The building
has been long regarded Us hazardous, and
insurance men have hesitated to accept large
risks for occupants.
J.J. German, President of the Board Of
Fire Commissioners, says IL Is impossible 10
begin TO search for the bodies now, and Is
afraid that 1t will be hours before anything
can be done in that direction. The ruins
will be TOO hot to walk upon. Then there
are standing walls to tear down. 1t Will
not be safe to commence the terrible work
Of exhumation until they are leveled.
From all that ! can learn, the loss Of life
must be frightful. Firemen early on the
ground inform me that about thirty men
and women were seen ar the windows on the
Park Row front and that an instant later the
same windows were ablaze. This leads me
TO suspect that the number of lost Is much
larger than Ii generally believed. ! should
not be surprised 70 hear that from sixty to
seventy-fiye perished. II II mystery to
many why the flames spread 80 rapidly, but
account for It from the rubber betting
stored In the cellar and the first floor was
cemented In sections by naphtha. TO that
infiamable stuff attribute the rapid spread
Of the flames.
LATER-The loss Of life, In the light Of
information held by the police at o'clock,
promises to be much less than was feared.
1t Ii not thought that more than five or six
perished. II has been ascertained that the
fifth, or top door, was untenable. It's only
occupants besides the janitor, were half .
dozen plumbers and carpenters, who were
partitioning rooms heretofore occupied by
the World into Offices. The workmen got
out safely, and the janitor, getting bewilder-
ed, stumbled and rolled down stairs, which
doubtless saved his life. There seems TO Be
no reason to doubt the judgment Of the
steadicst observers that most got ont by way
OF the stairs, windows or reof
The number OF losers is prodIgions. 1t is
estimated that lii the innumerable offices In
the building fully five hundred mei,, women,
and boys found employment. A number Of
girls were employed In the upper stories Of
the building, In which there were many
small printing-ofIices and bcok-bindsries, It
Ii almost certain they perished. I heard
screams on tie upper floors ~ ran along
the hallway, and fully believe ten Or dozen
women and girls we're caught on the fourth
door and unable TO escape. never saw fire
spread 50 quickly There was probably four
hundred or i've hundred people In the build
Ing when the fire broke out. Three men ap-
pearcd on window sill, but while the lad
der was being put In position one Of the men
dropped In the hope of catching 1t, aud MISS
ing bis aim fell 10 The street, Ills head strik-
Ing the cufbstone. lie was fatally injured
With The aid of ! desk and score of stall
wart arms, Tie ladder was placed directly
undeythe fas; nf one mar. lie was young
man and nearer the flames, but with ! dis
play of bravery that called forth cheers from
1.-The mustItudtls who saw the act, bic stretched