Evening journal., 1889-04-20
GREAT FIRE IN NEW YORK
Six Blocks Along the North
River Front Burned.
THE LOSS NOTLEss THANs 100000
Both Of the New York Central Railroad
Company's Grain Elevators, the Rossiter
stores and other Large BuaIings De-
stroyea--one Man Killed.


stores and other Large BumsIings De-
stroyea-one Man Killed.
New YoRK, April 90 The most disastrous
fire that has visited this city FOR years COM
pletely swept the east bank of the North |
river from Fifth.ninth 70 Sixty-fllth streets
yesterday evening. Il destroyed more than
a million and half dollars worth Of proper
ty belonging TO the New York Central Rail-
road company and at least half million dol
lars worth belonging 70 n. X. Fairbanks, Of
Chicago, the Rossiter stores and others
The fire started on the ground floor Of the
Fairbanks lard refinery formerly belonging
TO the W. J. Wilcox lar1 company a build
ing 200 feet square, stretching from Fifty
ninth to Sixtleth street. and facing the North
river Il seems 70 have originated at a spot
where some workmen were putting in a new
lard cooling apparatus, but the exact cause
cannot be learned. The building was old
and soaked with grease, and the flames quick
ly enveloped the whole structure.
One Man Killed and Many Injured.
The $50 employees found escape by the stair
way cut Off and most Of them had to jump
-A'AA "AAN'Naf hAAAAN WtNt lAltAs anu Nnts
Henry Benning was killed outright Tho
unfortunate men we're hurried away to hos
pitfalls as rapidly as ambulances could be pro-
cured. The police Gordon kept back a crowd
Of women, many of whom had relatives in
the building. The building, which contained
also the Rossiter stores, was soon beyond saw
ing. The blaze was most imposing specta-
Gle, and attracted the attention of people IN
Jersey City and all along the Jersey shore,
and of thousands Of passengers on ferry boats
crossing the river for miles up and down. The
six story structure was soon destroyed.
The Grain Elevators Go.
Meanwhile the efforts Of the firemen TO
save the two grain elevators opposite the
factory, belonging 10 the New York Central
Railroad company, had been fruitless and
the great structures were soon ablaze All
the fire engines between Fourteenth street
and Harlem were ON the spot, but the ele-
vators were so situated as 10 be difficult Of
access by the fireman. Twenty-seven sunken
tracks OF the New York Central railroad and
line Of stock yard enclosures interviewed
between the burning factory aud the ee-
vators and the only way 10 reach the build
! ings was along Sxtieth street. where the
heat was too great for the firemen 10 live
in it.
~ AbHiNiH3 vi Aitt NftIltUt however, got
past and into the railroad yard, but there was
only six-inch water pipe there, and with
the engines 80 far away they could do little
effective work. The fire boats, working from
the river side aided by number Of tugs be-
longing 70 the New York Central, were able
TO do more, but not 70 save the buildings
The employees In the elevators kept tie hose
in the building playing as long as they could
remain, but at last they had to abandon their
posts. Elevator A was the first 10 go, aud
its flames communicated 10 elevator b. The
sheds Of they stock yards next fed the flames,
and the conhagration spread rapidly north
ward
The Flremen Almost Useless
When the walls of the factory fell an inn
mense quantity of goods that had been
packed in the Rossiter stores fell outward
into Sixtieth street, blocking the thorough
fare and preventing the firemen from doing
further work through that channel There
never was fire in this city before at which
the work Of the fire department counted for
so litth. II was impossible TO make headway
AGAINST stcb odds The stxessss .S-szS ~
from land and river seemed ridiculous.
Grand Spectacle.
After the fire had swept along the sheds
to Sixty-sixth street it stopped for want Of
further material 10 feed upon. The fire lasted
from about O'Clock until and was witness
ed by vast throng. The police estimated
that the crowd contained over 200 900 people.
The sight was a magnificent one, and there
was nothing for blocks around 10 obstruct
the view. After dark the sky was brightly
lighted up all over the city, miles away from
the fire
The piers and pier sheds connected with the
elevator system were, Of course, badly dam
aged and rendered temporarily useless. and
some freight which they contained was de-
stroyed.
Estimates Of the Losses.
The elevators were each about 325 feet by
l25 feet broad and had a capacity Of over
100000 bushels apiece, but they were almost
empty. Elevator A contained only about
100000 bushels Of oats and elevator B
smaller amount Of barley, making the total
value Of the contents not over $1,000 The
buildings cost respectively, S75O,OO and
S60O,0OO when built thirteen years ago, a
large part Of the cost being for the founda-
tions, which are probably not totally ruined.
The New York Central Railroad company
also owned the factory building in which the
fire originated. They leased it to Fairbanks
II was worth about 100000 The losses on
contents are not accurately known, but Fair
hpAAho Ao1o N 'otAAAeAASA ~ Ep'Nf6tN anu lldk
Of Rossiter & Co.'S customers, comprising a
large number Of merchants, at $3.50, 600 The
owners Of the goods are probably fully in
sured, and Rossiter & Co. themselves lose
but little Fairbanks IS also said TO be fully
insured, and the railroad company kept its
property well covered.
Many estimates place the loss far above
Ss,000,OOO and some as high as 1900, 900.
The police estimate is s., 500, 900 The only
officials of the railroad in position 10 know
what the loss TO the company is are President
Depew and Secretary Worcester. Ar. De
pew is out Of town and Mr.. Worcester saws
he cannot tell until he sees the papers in his
safe today. The property Of the Union Stock
yards was not seriously damaged, owing to
the direction Of the wind being favorable.
While looking at the fire from a window Of
the house 547 West Fifty-seventh street
Mary Murray, an aged woman, lost her bal
ance and fell to the pavement twenty fee
below, and her skull was fractured. Sh,
was taken TO the Roosevelt hospital.
The Chess Tournament.
NEW York, April 20-In the chess con
gress yesterday Mcleod beat j. w. Baird
lTs.ica rnaof Rrrr,, fa<..ss.. l,..4 -