The times., 1888-02-10

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NMESAyNf,SEMNN'S/ visited Broad
|Ll/,|fs1/ISSSsNp way at 5:45 o'clock
WANy1NIvS,SyN Monday morning.
ARYHgF IsS l. was s;lS.,rSs. The mos: flssss .sss
W has occurred in the great
" thoroughfare for fifteen
years. In one and a half
hours despite the sending out OF a general
call for fire apparatus four immense business
houses were destroyed and Others seriously
damaged. The total loss Is estimated at
g., 800 00C. About half an hour after the fire
was discovered an explosion occurred by
which Assistant Foreman Michael Reilly. OF
hook and ladder No. 8, was fatally injured
and several others more or less hurt. The
fire was discovered at 5:l5 o'clock by an Of
fcer Of the Eighth precinct in the basement
of the building $40 and 5jl Broadway, occu-
pied by Henry Rogers. The officer imme-
diately sent out al alarm which was followed
by a second and third, and finally the Ia
nous "three SKIES" or general alarm, called
the engines stationed south OF Fourteenth
street. The streets in the vicinity OF the fire
were soon swarining with engines and trucks.
Chief Shay. with his assistants at once
took command, and directed the various fire
captains and companies In their attack on
the flames. The flames made rapid progress,
eating their way to the roof within few
minutes, and driving the fire laddies on to
the adjoining building for safety. They saw
that the structure was doomed, and immedi-
ately turned their attention to tho surround
ing property.
At 7:i5, Just one hour and half after the
first engine arrived, the building was totally
gutted, and tho flames were mounting high
above the roof. Next flames were seen to is
sue from $50 Broadway. They first made
their appearance on the 9th floor and spread
rapidly
A few minutes afterwsrd q terrific explo-
sion occurred, followed by shower Of bricks
and iron which fell into the street. Assist
ant Foreman Reilly was caught under the
bulk Of this falling debris and fatally hurt
Chief Shay had narrow escape. A piece
Of iron weighing at least 100 pounds fell at
his feet Several chiefs of battalions who
were standing around him had narrow es-
capes from falling missiles A number of
fremen. however, received trifing injuries.
The explosion sent the sparks high in the
air, and they fell in showers on the adjoin-
ing property, while the flames burned
fiercer than before. Soon SAT began to
burn. At 4 o'clock this building was mass
of flames from cellar to roof, and the upper
floors of 545 were burning, but the flames
had been checked at 553, and in the rear Of
the burning buildings which are numbered
lid. ils. 120 100, and l24 Mercer street, the
flames were kept from spreading to the
buildings on the opposite side OF the street
The interior Of the double building
$40 and 55l Broadway was like glowing
furnace, and the iron front had bulged
dreadfully. Tie fremen were ordered to
stand clear. A few moments after the entire
front came down with a crash. From this
point on the firemen slowly but surely gained
head way on the flames, and at O'clock, a
little more than two hours after its breaking
out, the fire was fully under control.
Assistant Foreman Reilly had his legs
crushed and received internal injuries from
which, the physicians said, it was impossible
for him to recover. The firms who lose by
the fire are as follows: No. 545 Broadway,
Robertson & Kaufman, trimmings; z. h.
Wilson, laces; Stern, Falk g. Co., clothing;
II. Kaemper, lin:ngs No. SAT broadway,
+. Bianchi, feathers aud flowers; 449 and 55l.
Henry Rogers, fancy goods; j. L. Libby &c
Co., clothing; Veitch & Nelson. iaucy goods;
c. A. Yost, clothing; Malerlinson & Co.,
clothing. No. 553 Broadway, Jerkowiski &
Ernst, clothing; Mitchell s. Picard, clothing;
Louis Metzger, importer.
The buildings destroyed and damaged and
their owners are: West side OF Broadway,
545 Samuel Inslee, of Calhoun, Robbins &
Co.. owners. 500, ono; 567, j. II. Mahony,
$l51, 900; 40 and 55l, Henry Sibley, of Roch-
ester, $500, ,O0o; 55S, Beekmau estate. Sl7a,-
900: 555, j. j. Astor, $3.50, 900; Isl and $50,
G. T. Detmold, $500, 900, and So. and 5'3,
Henry Sibley, 5000, ,000 East side injured
by smoke, water and falling walls, $50, Hor-
ace S. Ely; 552 and 554, William Astor; l21
Mercer street, owned by Eye and Ear hos
pital.
Assistant Foreman Reilly died soon after
being taken to the hospital
HEROES AT HOSPITAL FIRE.
Fire broke out Sunday night in the hospital
for crippled children, at Lexington avenue
and Forty-sscond street, and for time the
1853 helpless inmates. none of whom over IL
years DID, were in imminent danger Even
before the firemen arrived car conductors
and drivers aud well-dressed pedestrian on
their way to the Grand Central depot rushed
into the building and assisted in saving the
patients. Three men alone rescued nearly
forty. Cripples who had not the use of their
limbs lay on their little cots watching the
flames and their cries were heartrending.
One boy whose legs were paralyzed tried
to roll over the floor to the staircase. All
the children escaped uninjured, but the cook,
who was asleep in the room over that in
which the fire started, was suffocated. The
five was caused by cigar thrown away
carelessly in the servants wing
The Peoria Board of Trade Destroyed.
PEORIA Ills Jan. 3O-The Peoria board