New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-02
A FIRE IN MASONIC TEMPLE.
THE UPPER STORY BURNED OUT.
LOSSES THAT WILL AMOUNT TO NEARLY $2OO'ooo
ENERGETIC WORK BY FIREMEN.

Room. Members OF the Arabic Order OF the Mystic
Shrine had occupied the Commandery Room until nearly
daylight lighted match cigar carelessy dropped III
of the wardrobes which lined the hall probably had
started smouldering fire. The flames were extending
rapidly when the called the janitor OF the
building He sent out alarm from the box IN front OF
the building at 813 When the first company OF fre-
men reached the building smoke was issuing In clouds
from the roof and from the mansard windows
Tho foreman Of tho company promptly rang n third
alarm. calling eleven engine companies four hook ana
ladder companies division of the Insurance PATROL
six battalion Chiefs Assistant Chief Engineers Shay and
Bonner, and CHIEF Bates who took command OF the
forces.
FIGHTING HIDDEN FLAMES
From the first It difficult task that the fremen
had to perform. The flames burning in the eastern
end OF tho mansard story he roof and IN the dome ana
towers which surmount the building. 1t ninety feet
above the sidewalk TO tho lowest point reached by the
fire. Smoke already filled the upper part OF the struo-
ure and the heat had begun TO melt the cornces OF the
dome and towers Above the OF the knights Tenn
plar and the Austin Lodge hanging ceilings. The
plaster Of these ceilings began to fall after the fire
madc their way up through the building. Lines OF
hose drawn in from the entrance on sixth-ave.
and Tweny-hird-st but II required several minutes OF
hard Juggling before the hose could be dragged up the
starways 10 the mansard story Other lines OF hose
up to the roof of the st. omer Hotel to
the roof OF house In Twentythird-st close to the
Temple. Ladders set on the roofs OF those buildings
enabled the remen 10 throw water upon the flames In
the dome and towers. waer-tower placed in po-
sition in Twentythirdst and from its nozzle power
full stream was thrown into the windows of the Command
cry Room.
| Two fremen OF Engine Company No. 1s, Patrick
Lynch and Samuel Warren who had gone up to the man
sard story were knocked down by falling plaster and
nearly sufocated by tho smoke afterward. They we're
rescued by the other rcmen and IL found that their
injuries not serious. Police Captain Williams, who
/ 1,.1 int Tho
Of saving paintings and reSaia from the flames, was
struck the head by plaster Also but he escaped injury
He and other policemen Of the Twentynnth Precinct car
RED several articles OF value from the building The Cap
tain OF tho Mobiles OF the Mystic Shrine but he said
ho was not present the initiation ceremonies Friday
night Members OF the Insurance Patrol did good service
in saving property from destruction. They stretched
rubber blankets over tho furniture in the rooms under
those In which tho flames raging and took down
and removed valuable pictures from the walls in the
upper stories.
! THE BUILDING FLOODED WITH WATER.
It was necessary for the 1romen to flood the building
with water although the lower stories were pra icslly
FIRE proof Cascades formed each stairway. and
! from the entrances the water flowed like mountain
streams. Tho fire under control In less than two
hours after the remon summoned but 1t continued
to bum in tie beneath tho roof and In the dome
a.. ,crs ur.n nearly Fremen were Obliged to
IL e., freely 10 get ut the hidden flames after they
wers able TO walk IN every part OF the building Water
in meantime was soaking through the several h9oTs
damaging me ptgr a1I ue'f 'c cat end Of the
Tetnpe had burned down far the ceiling 0f the
f,urtn story Everything OF value the mansIrd story
,,'I6 i.J hot bc,r rcaclcd wss destroyed The dome
aud towcr- were burned out. ! ,
At time during the prosrcs: of the fire were tn9
flames visible from the street. They were oh'cureu
completely by the smoke u inc IRE uiI i'Jl Ior' -
spectacle calculated o draw large crowds however u
caused great excitement throughout the Guy ON account
ot the bu.ldn- which It tugaighca WIN u,o, 1
Policemen from the twenty -ilhlu i,,'I,l w, ,, ~
10 cope with the number of alarmed Mason. WHO went 10
vnr-, ul" fire. and the rc'f os rom 'no rir
OF No -iltn-alc and the Twenty h.rl-, surface rlI-
tp@ ,lrynt,d trains IN s1th-avo. were kept running
Many person, lcu the trains at the Twenty ihrd1,,
station 10 look a. the fire. while oth'r' VINO I'iI," ~
hr irs c,hibltcd alarm while the trains were passing
| the Temple.
TIL Io~- ANp T. ,rRANcr.
Tho DAMAGE 10 the building by the fire viii not It Is as
sr,d by the trustees exceed $4,000 but the damage
y water will reach least 100000, since nearly all oil
the mastering In the building must be taken down. INC
Temple T. insured for 100000 in the following comp'-
les; 1900
Iomm,r'M ..nr naSn 5000 Fire Association Of
LONDON LONDON and Lanca. ImPeraI...... 10000
11,fgTacturers Total. .............. 500 900
The furniture Of the building wns Insured for $4,000
In several companies and the organ In the Grand Lodge
Room for $500 iu the Clinton and United States com
rapc. The books IN the library cases we're injured only
P,I, Nv thc water witch cnmc through the piastcrng
Tic once. Of the central safe Deposit Company ana the
Garfield National Bank were nood'd VII" ""'i' O' '
damage Wac hLgut
HE TEMPLE ASD TIE LODGES THAT USE H.
,rn, T,mpo was dedicated ON June ?. 1873. The fund
wifi, which Il was erected started more than thirty
five vc,r. ago II Increased slowly until about 1865
when I'm tho opinion " the Grand Lodg 1t had reached
s,,n sufficient 10 Justify tho fraternity 10 begin work
uuou the structure Ground was purchaser, pans "'IS
oacrrd and on June =, 1870. the corner soho was .
by lame. Gibson the Grand Master IN. llu IAI VI
.cture j. granite Tho ground ho0r Is OccuPIeu ny
tie Crutm safe pepo5t ComEHyi II H59n lss ond
| tLr GARFIELD National Bank. on the twenty thllu 81
side and by william II. Eoomr, Iehi hs'ut, n'lu i -
H. Howell, manufacturer ana dGaIrr hh9olu ,IuP,
mrut on Ihc SiNth-aFc Side. Tue OlccS oi te GlA,
Master and Grand Secretary ana Ine ha 81 tn9 SI% r
Lodge occupy the second moor ne INN az, ti "a
door are devoted to the library, and tho oHOWluB us'
and ehap,er i""' and Clinton On tho dnh door
arc HE CommaudcTy Room, the Austin Room han''
in honor OF the deceased Grand secrctt}-ohd uinns
Iii win Kitchen and closets. The COmmandery Room
&C. Tho eastern wall OF which the fire IA supposed To nave
oiitnnt. and rcc,lias onhe following COMMUNICATES:
AdcIphic CGur de Lion. Palestine Morton lorh' mil
40 he dncst In the building. Hero assembled Kane,
, Prince Of Orange. Holland New orh' '' N''"o'''
K9$al a,n gItted the rooms on the fifth story, de-
stroycd the dome. and Threatened TO pat tI1 Co
UGrv succecded I'm saving It's banners ana nearly All
OF uniforms and rGgaa C9 a er o thu c5,tiss
Wc saved most OF their rcgala Every l0ige ID tnS
binding Of which there are ninety AVE. ma lnsufai'o
ces npon its furniture and property. These pouces
rrsnge from $3.50 TO ~ 900 ench. -, r,.o,,,,,.
Pratt one OF tho trustees OF the Temple This IemplS9
with the cost about ~ 100000 we nay os o G
onr Indebtedness to $55oOOO suppose me ioss Oh ' ~,
, bnding and furniture will not faA lar shor' vi
$4,000"
LOSSES IN SEVERAL PLACES.
MEcUANICsvILLE, Iowa, Dec. 1.-Enterprlse
Block with several sorchouses was 36f nn 'n'' HUI"
, ng The loss Is S25 900; Insurance so'ooo
Tuoy n w. Dec l.-Messrs. Smith y PTlIhes drug
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