New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-25
FIGHTING FLAMES IN SNOW.
HE WEST SHORE FERRY-HOUSE BURNED.
WATER FREEZING AS 1T FELL - ONE FIREMAN
UI-RT

WATER FREuzING AS IT FELL - ONE FIREMAN
HURT
The ferry-hOuse of the West Shore and Wee
bavken Ferry Company at 42dst. and the Hudson
River was completely destroyed by fire yesterday morn
ing. The building is large two-story wooden
structure sheathed with corrugated ron and was sup
posed to be tre.proof. little after z O'Clock
the employees OF tho ferry company and OF
the West Shore Railroad 0he building was their
New-York passenger depot who were at work IN
the building alarmed by strong smell OF smoke
They at sounded the special building signal and left
the place in hurry. The fire engines were promptly
OIL hand but the flames had gained much headway and
dense volumes Of smoke pouring from the doors
and windows fireman sent at once TO the signal
box at Fortieh-st and Eeyenth-ave, but the circuit
was out of order and the box NJ Forty ta!rhst and
Tenth-ave had be used to send cut second alarm
The fire was the most difficult with which the hrenen
had had contend in long time. The weather was in
tensely cold the snow was falling and almost gale of
wind blowing from the northwest sendin the dense
black smoke back into the street in suf0catng masses
which prevented the remen from working as ehectu-
ally as they otherwise might have done. In addition to
this the heavy corrugated iron with which the building
covered prevented thcm from getting at the names
1t was found necessary send out third alarm In
order TO save the Metropolitan Gas Works which mme-
dately adoin the ferryhouse. Among the first OF the
engine companies arrive at the scene OF the hre was
No a. under Captain Cosgrovc. The men Of this com
with the men of Hook and Ladder Company No. 4 at
tempted to make a breach in tho iron roof so as
to reach The flames They werc had at work IN taelr
dangerous position when Captain Cosgrove who fot the
heat growing momentarily greater felt the building
shake
"Jump for your lives men !" ho shouted, aud set the
example himself. His lead followed none too soon,
for the men had barely got safe place before angry
red flames broke in from oil sides or the doomed
building at and portion OF the roof fell n James
II. MCGOWAN, OF Hook and Laldcr Company NO. A.
had his leg broken i'll the fall, and was
taken in an ambulance to Roosevelt Hospital
In the meantime the police boat Patrol and
the fire boat Havemeyer. had arrived at the fire. Tho
Havemeyer devoted her attention entirely 10 saving the
Metropolitan Gas Works. The Patrol, however made
the ice barge Brooklyn her 1eth and running INTO
the dock as near the she dare was soon pouring
$500 gallons OF water minute from her six lines OF
hose into the flames The at this time one OF
sururnc 4uy the spectators Tns water was irceL
tanes M tIey shJt ont between the ice-cOvcrel
portions the roof cast brilliant prsmatic reflections
Jersey just the river re0octei back the flames IN
bnding glare winch while II added materially 10 inc
able to the men who were at %ark IAler the thic1
forth like spectres sbeathed in ice.
~ oIf M ed VIII mani ba The fremcn feared an cx
plOsOn Chief Shay with the All oi the employees OF the
works, succeeded IN 50 TcDiltlug the tank that
when Il took fire II burnel away quietly and tine expo
sion was averted 1t vas only after hours OF hard
cxacue that the fremcn succeeded in getting the
flames sufficient control TO be certain mat they
would spread and was found necessary to Keep
couple engines @ell as the ne boat ana tho Falro
PLAYING the pretty much all day. The nelghbor
hood OF ferry house tbick!y populated tenement
house district immense crowd gathered around
TO see the spectacle. Captain hilalea, with the
resery+s from tac Tventy-secOnd Precinct. and
q contingent from the Twentieth w-rs sufficient 70
keep crowd uurr control and to prevent them from
Interfering with the trcHen.
The hre is supposed to have started in the engine
room Of the house. This situated un Ter small tower
OF lhe water side Of the pier. II was impossible
for TIE remcn Jch this part of the building nom
the shore. u the West shore Odg-as2r0Om there was
quantity OF baggage. INST OF which was saved. Inc
q. mage estimated ~ $4,000 10 tho ferry cOmp1ny
a. GOO 70 the Mctr0p lItI Gas Company ant 500 u
street which were standing near tie hFc Inc
loss Is nearly ali covered by Insurance