New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-30
A BIG BLAZE IN BROOKLYN.
ABOUT QUARTER OF A MILLION GONE.
BEGINNING IN a LARGE DsY-GooDs sroRE-sAnxs

>HoinNiNG IN LARGE DRY-GooDs sroRE-NAMEs
OF THE VARIOUS LOSERS.
iarge loss was caused yesterday by q 1re which
Orokc out In the dryeoods store Of Edward r. stover
a. bedford-ave. and South Eighthst., Brooklyn, and
extended to several adoipiug buildings In ono Of the
pes. blocks In that part Of the city Slower was
vi the largest dealers in that part Of the city,
ana had been selling goods at remarkably low rates
ior some time He bad advertised special sale for
to-day, with music by the 7th Regiment Band an
attraction. At 10 40 p m. yesterday some people
passing werc astonlshcd by the signs Of explosion
IN the first floor of the store, which blew out tho win
uow and showed the interior to be burning feroely
Ihrec alarms were at sent out and great force
OF men and engines was speedily the spot But
they found tho drygoods house mass OF flames and
devoted themselves to the work OF saving adjacent
structures But the fire had already caught paint
shop next door, the contents Of which fed the fames
and they rapidly extended to several adjoining struct
ures The progress Of the flames was, however,
checked by the huge new freproof building Of the
Clothing firm Of Smith, Gray Co., at the southwest
corner Of Broadway and Bedford-svo, and there the
hremen were able to get the fire under CONTROL and 1t
was practically extingushed after burning two hours
HOW THE FIRE STARTED.
The IRE broke out in the basement OF Nos 403 and
400 Bedfordave fve-story brick building with an
iron 'front.' 40 by 100 feet, owned by Edward Smith
and occupied by f. r. stover His stock Of dry
goods, household articles and fancy wares was dis
played In the basement and the first two floors, the
upper floors being used for storage The building and
contents were completely destroyed The four-story
brick building adjoining, No 451 Bedford ave., was
also burned 1t was owned by W. F. Iippincott. The
first floor was occupied by the paint store OF J. Will
ams, and the upper part by Stewart & Co., manufaot
urers of silk neckwear. The next building, Nos 397
and 800 Bedford ave. was fourstory brick structure,
owned by David s. Brown. The first noor Of No. 800
was occupied by George w. wason's cigar store with
three fats over It and the first floor of No. 3o7
occupied by Louis Turk, dealer in picture frames the
plano OF Z. @. Smith, and the music store
OF Theodore WuIZlr Three families occupied the
fats in the upper floors On the other side of
stovers store, at No. 121 South Eighthst., consd-
ersbe amount OF damage done to the store Of
Gerdo Surcken, dealers in groceries and liquors,
and the fire extended through the middle of the block
TO the liquor store of Charles Lugen. at No. 1os Broad
way, on the south side Of Smith. Cray Co.'s store,
doing slight damage
RUIN BY FALLING WALLS.
The iron front of stovers store crumbed from the
intense heat and the ruins completely blocked bedford
ave. The wall fell so that 1t crushed the one
story extension Of Nos. 131 and 1873 South Righth-s
occupied by tho Union Club Of Brooklyn. Mr. Slower
wss at Concy Island when news OF the fro reached
him. He had driven down early in the day. He
drove at once to Brooklyn, and at Bedford-ave. and
South Tcnthst whore he caught sight of the ruin the
fire had caused, his wagon was overturned and he
thrown cut. The wagon was smashed but he escaped
unhurt. Mr. stover went to Brooklyn about two
years ago from Western city, and opened his store
on the plan OF Macy's and Rldoys in this city, but
on smaller scale. Persistent advertising drow
largo trado but OF late he had kept up interest in the
Place by offering goods figures far below cost at
tain hours OF the day. A Western named Weight
was said to be interested in the store. Tho chief
1nrnod building erected in 1873 at Of
10000. It was occupied for time as the Lycoum
Theatre, and aforward used for various business
purposes until converted into the dry goods store Tho
Eastern District Library formerly occupied the first
door Of the BcdfOrd-aye. formerly FourthstD side.
Tho losses from tho fire will aggregate about
s25O.oO0. Mr. stover's stock varously osti-
mated by the heads of his departments nom 100000
- se5oDoo, but he was said to be ins ed for $50 600
Tho damage 10 the building pla "a ~ the police at
S25 COO but was probably about double that amount
This insurance was 100000 The damage to No. 40l
Bedfordave. was estimated at $4,000 on tho stock
in tho paint stora and the ncckwoar factory, and
$4,000 tho building. The losses at 397 and 800
Bedford-ave amounted to $4,000, each OF the occu
pants of tho fats losing about $1,000. The loss at
No 121 South Elfhth-st was about $4,000, to Nos.
131 and 133 ~ 800. and al No. 1873 Broadway, $500
Slight damage not exceeding 500 each. was done to
several stores the opposite side Of Bedford-aye.
The cause Of the fire Is not known