New-York tribune., 1885-03-30
A PRINTING HOUSE BURNED.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN BLEEcKER.sT.
LOSSES NEARLY HALF a MILIIoN-DASGER PROM
FALLING WAIIa

LOSSES NEARLY HALF a MILuoN-DAYGER FROM
FALLING WALLS.
The alarm 27S rang out on the signal gOngs
in the fire houses yesterday at $50 y. m, and thu
engines which required to a nrst alarm from
Beecker and Mott SITS. went to that place. Chief Shay
OF tho Fire Department OF the first men TO
arrive, and he found that fire broken out In tho
boer-room OF the six-story brick building 32, 80
and 36 Beeckerst. occupied owned by schumacher
IL EttIinsr thogrsp piers and printers. Breaking into
the burning building, the remen found that the base
ment wac burning mass. without delaying with tho
second, o third alarm was sent, and brought eleven
engines and four hook aud LADDER companies Special
calls answered BY five additional engines. IL
found impossible to light the fire by going the
ment. and holes cut in the skyghts the side
walk The draft famed the flames into fierce activity
and drove them back to the large elevator shaft In tho
Of the building aud In instant dense volume Of
smoke rushed Up through the building Flames quickly
followed, aud IL soon evident that the building
doomed.
Captain Murphy and Sergeant Horbelt of the Four
teenth Precinct found that their reserves not
Sufficient TO hold In check the immense crowd which had
been attracted by the aames aud help tecgraphed
for The Of the Tenth, Eighth, Fifteenth and
Seventeenth Precincts arrived Tie tcnements at
Nos. 303 and 305 Mott-st. cleared OF their
occupants was the building 40. 80 Bleecker-st
When the Hames had got into the upper part OF tho
building thcy made rapid headWay On the top or the
middle building immense water tanks. each
Weighing five TONS About 740 O'clock their weight
too heavy for the weakened roof, aud with
thunaerng crash they down through the burning
house
At tho time the water tower doing excellent
service Bieecker-st, and Engine No. 20 working
steadily In Mottst Tie falling OF the tanks weakened
the walls on the Mot-s sde and they began to bulge
out and crack omnOusy Ihe street below
crowded with rub ercUated nremr bat they still kept
at work. loud crack followed By shouts OF warning
cleared tho space just In time to prevent serious loss of
lie. large OF the wall fell into the street
When the dust cleared away Engine No. 20
surrounded by debris but still pulling with
diminished energy. Ihe water tower not lucky,
however, and was nulled away disahled. Turee men
1t escape injury, though how they di IL Is
a yStety. nuIDer Oi bruised and legs the
only result OF the seamper and these caused by
stubles over the cut telegraph wires which encountered
lie streets. The ang Of the roof aud portions OF tho
wall enabled the bremen to reach the ranes with
effect, anu they soon had the fire sufficiently under
the Of the
St BarnaDas Home for destitute with children.
at No. 302 Muberry-st great danger Tine.
aud It's kept readiness leave the house
at moments notice, but fortunately there was no
necessity tlclI DONG Dr. Cyrus Edison
others OF the Health aud Police officials hurried Police
headquarters and made preparations for saving their
records IN the haDes reached that building which
at Oue'time seemed imminent.
Schumacher Ettlnger put up the building which was
destroyed about three years ago. II iron and
brick building, and had frontage OF 50 feet
Beecker extending rack 100 feet In Mott st. They
had large quantity valuable machinery and consii
cradle quantity OF stock in the shape OF abels They
estimate their damage at 100000 10 the building. aud
people principally boys and thrown out VI
mploy nent by the fire.