The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-01-31
GREAT DESTRUCTION.
A TWO MILLION DoLLAR FIRE
In New York--F.vs Large Buildings burned
on BrOadwAy-Ono of the Largest Con-
aaErAtiOns for XsArS-A Fireman
KuIsd-Namss Of the Losers.

NEw YoRK, Jan. 3O.-0ne Of the largest
fires that has occurred in this city fol
years broke out in the store Of Henry
Rogers & Co., at $40 Broadway about Ave
o'clock this morning.
It extended and destroyed the Eve I'D.
joining stores. "Three SKIES" was sound,
ed, and all the engines below Forty.second
street responded.
At 7:l5, Just one and half hours after
the frat engine arrived, the building was
totally gutted and the flames were mount
ing high above the roof. Next flames
were seen to issue from 553 Broadway.
They hrst made their appearance on the
fifth floor and spread rapidly.
A few minutes afterwards q terrific ex.
plosion occurred, followed by shower Of
bricks and iron which fell into the street.
Assistant Foreman Reilly was caught un-
der the bulk OF this falling debris and
fatally hurt; both legs were crushed and
he also sustained internal injuries. Chiet
Shay had @ narrow escape. A piece Of
iron weighing at least l50 pounds fell at
his feet. Several chiefs Of battslions who
were standing around him also had mar.
row escapes from falling misailes. A num-
Der OF fremen, however, received trifing
injuries. The explosion sent sparks high
In the air and they fell in showers on the
adjoining property, while the flames bnrn-
ed fieHcer than bstore. Soon No. 547 began
to burn. At eight o'clock this building
was q mass OF flames from cellar 10 roof
and the upper hoors OF No. 545 were burn
ing, but the flames had been checked at
553, and in the rear OF the burning build
ines which arc numbered 116, 11S, 120,
122 and 1874 Mercer street, the flames were
kept from spreading to the buildings on
the opposite aide Of the street.
The interior OF the double building No.
$40 and 551 Broadway Was like glowing
furnace and the iron front had bulged
dreadlully. The fremen were ordered to
clear, and few moments later the entire
front came down with crash. Fireman
Sheridan jumped from the burning roof
to an adjoining one, and parts OF the wall
tumbled on him. He will probably die.
From this point on the hremen slowly
but surely gained on the flames, and at s |
o'clock the fire was fully under control.
The property destroyed occupies the
west side OF Broadway, between Prince
and Spring streets, and extends through
to Mercer street.
The FIRE insurance sdjusters estimate
the loss at $l,500, 900, but 1t may exceed
that smount. Fireman Reilly died at
noon from his injuries.
The buildings destroyed were valued al
$500, 1000, and on these the insurance is
compsIatively small. The damage to
stock is now estimated at 81 100000. The
ineurances foot up quito that amount, and
are distributed among nearly all the do.
mestic and foreign insurance companies
doing business In New York in sums
ranging from 81 200 to $4,000.
A later estimate by ths insurance sd-
iusters places the total loss at fully s., ,000,.
900. The following is list OF individual
Losses go far as asCertained: Nos 545
Broadway and l16 Mercer street, Stern,
Falk & Go clothing, $50, 600; Max Ksemp.
fer, Innings. $E40, 900; z. K. Wilson & Son,
lacee, $4,000; Robertson & kaufman,
trimmings, $4,000. Nos. 547 1roRdwAy
way and lis Mercer street, F. Bianchi
Co., flowers, etc., $3.50 900; II. B. & F.
Stern, $250,0O0. Nos $40 and 551 Broad.
way and Nos. 120, 122 and l24 Mercer
street, Charles A. Yost & Co., clothing,
$500, 900; Veith & Son, millinery, 100000;
Il. Rogers, fancy goods, Sl50,00O; Nal.
comson & o., clothing, 500. 900; James
L. Luby & Co., $4,000. Nos. 553 Broad.
way and 126 Mercer street, L. Metzger,
fancy goods, $l00 1000; Mitchell & Pecard,
10000; No. 555 Broadway, Jerowski &
Ernst, $4,000; SchwAb K Son, laces,
$4,000; Bustern o., $4,000; Samuel
LawensteiD, $4,000; R. Isaac & Bro,
5000.
A report Is in circulation that ton fire.
men were killed and injured by the falling
walls, and that there are several civilians
buried in the ruins. Inquiry among the
firemen and police authorities fails to con-
firm the report.