New-York tribune., 1885-09-13
THE FIRE RECORD.
OIL AND TOBACCO IN A FIERCE BLAZE.
FIREMES AND woRKMEN SERIOUSLY ISJCRRD-THE
DAMAGE $4,000.

OIL AND TOBACCO IN FIERCE BLAZE.
FIREMES AND woRKMES SERIOUSLY NJCRED-THE
DAMAGE $4,000.
A fire which caused serious injuries to three
men and damaged property to the extent OF $75,OoO
broke out soon after a yesterday In the four-sory
marble front building No. 115 Maidenlane The build
ing was occupied by Swan Finch, dealers In oils ana
about dozen employed In the building when
tire flames discovered Mr.. Swan was In the
country Mr.. Finch had been in the office long enough
to open the safe and take out several account books ana
q number Of checks which were spread upon his desk
when foreman OF the press ran into the office
ana said the re had started the fourth floor and
burning the oil presses Mr. Fiach made haste to get
to the sidewalk, leaving the safe open and It's
contents exposed. Other in the building
also got out quickly as possible
and they were lucky TO get out alive Once started ID
rooms where everything was wet with OIL the fire
spread with frightfu rapdity. Before an alarm could
be sounded the building was filed with smoke ma
flames
John Donnelly ONO 155 Prospectst.. Brooklyn, who
employed as pressman on the top noor started 10
when tho other did but the fire got to the stairs
ahead OF him. He then to hatchway and slid down
"a rope TO the ground floor Although his flight occupied
only fow moments his clothes were fire when he
got to tho sidewalk Men dotted their coats and smoth-
cred the flames which enfolding him In time to
save his life. but he burned seriously John seiger
q carpenter, age seventy-two, whose home was
in Fithst., Brooklyn, at work the third floor
and was prevented by the flames from reaching the
stairway. He climbed of front adow and let HIM
self down until he clung with both hands 10 the
window sill. He remained in that postnn few min
while In the street shonted contradictory al
vice TO him. Some men brought q blanket ana hcld u
extended over the sidewalk while they urged MIN 10
drop. Others. who heard the ringing OF bells on aIt
prOaching fire engines shouted, Don't tuInpl" Just
before the hremen reached the building long stcpaa-
der was SO: up below the old man anu ne dropped 10
lie had clung to the window Sill until the flames hal
licked his hands and arms, burning him severely, ana
when he fell ho received severe bruise on one knee
Donuely aBd Seigler taken In ambulance TO the
Chambers Street Hospital and aferward were sent to
Bellevue Hospital
third alarm was sounded soon after tho first COM
panies Uf nrcmen reached the building, tho flames
had extended 10 The adjoining Leaf tobacco warehouse
OF Llchtenstcn Brothers Foreman Thomas Conlin, OF
Engine No 4. went MP ladder In front OF the building
To guide stream OF water from a. liue hose into a
second story window. Tho explosion OF some barrels
OF oil sent column OF flame out OF the window. Con-
lin was overpoS cred By the sudden outburs of rc and
fell from the lader. lie burned severely about his
face the upper part OF his body and bruised IN
falling. He suffered much from this shock after ho
extent OF his injuries could hOt be determined. The
worked hard for an hour before they cond get
The fierce IRE under control. Although
the flames had Taged longer In the
oil warehouse. the heavost damage done in
the buidmg No III. The stock of iraf tobacco was
valued at 100000 and II was dnmaged about
$4,000 by nrc ana water. The insurance on
swan 4 Flnch's loss was estimated 10 $4,000
and they had about that amount Of Insurance. The
buildings which are owned by pcrsons living Ia Canad
the o les that 81 900 was caused by fire and
water the building No. ll9. II were not possible TO
tel the Of the IRE account OF It's rapid progress
after II Was discovered.