Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-20
THE RULE OF FIRE.
NEW YORK CITY SWEPT WITH THB DE-
ST0YBR'S HAND.
Flames Lick up Property Valued at over 100000
AT Least One Live Lost and Many More
Msslng-A Terrible Record
Of Destruction.

NEW YORK, April 19.-The biggest and
fieTcest fire New Workers have witnessed
in this generation swept the east bank OF
the North river clear to-day from Fifty
ninth street 10 what would be Sixty-tifth
street if that street ran TO the river. 1t
destroyed more than million and half
of property belonging to the New York
Central Railroad, aud at least half a
million dollars worth of lard, -four and
the like belonging to other persons, notably
Fairbanks, the great Chicago lard merchant.
The flames destroyed two big elevators
At least once man was killed in his
headlong fight ut the outbreak A num-
bsr were injured Jumping from windows
OF the burning buildings, but in the wild
terror of the conhagration no account was
kept OF them.
LIST OF CASUALTIES.
The police have record Of the follow
ing casualties:
Henry Benning, single, 694 Tenth ave-
nue., workman in Fairbanks refinery,
killed by jumping fem third story win
dow.
John johnson, 5l7 West Forty second
str et, likewise workman in Fairbanks,
sew, rely iDju. ed on the back by jumping
from q window.
Chacles Brown, 6O3 West Forty-third
street, severely injured about the head from
the same cause
William J. Noble, fireman of engine No.
., prostrsted by the heat while at work at
the foot Of Fifty-ninth street.
Edward H TObin, fireman, likewise
prostrated by the heat.
Rumors we're rife all evening that num-
Der of workmen had been caught and
burned in the Fairbanks refinery, but 1t
has bs en- thus far impossible to ascertain
the truth OF them. The fire broke out in
the scutheast corner of the Fairbanks
refinery, where WOrkmen we're busy setting
up new lsId cooling apparatus. When
and how the fire started no one
knows, and probIbly no one ever will
know. Soakei in grease as the old build
ing was, it WAS sflame in an instant.
From the ground floor the fire swept up
ward to the roof almost with the speed oil
thought. The men at work in every story
dropped work snd ran to save their lives.
The stair cases formed glowing chimney,
throwing out fire through every floor. The
windows presented the only the only
means of escape. Pursued close by the
flames,
MEN JUMPED TO DEATH.
Men flung themselves out by scores head
long. and behind them burst ont the
flames. How many there were no one
could tell Those who came out were
picked up and carried away by their
friends, shudderi1g TO think that some
might have been left.
The Fairbanks refinery was soon msss
Of seething flames, which spread to the
grain elevators of the Central railway.
There was DO way for fire engine to
reach the Elevators except along Sixtieth
street past the bnrning building and that
was then almost impossible, and soon was
blocked entirely. Chief Shay saw it and
led his men to a fight for very life to save
the elevators. Soon every hose Was play
ing from some window in the roof The
pumping works in the engine house were
working to their utmost and select com
pany of firemen directed operations. 1t
VAS all 10 vain. The tremendous heat
fcom the fire across the street dried and
warped the woodwork of the big frame
building, though it wss sheltered with
corrugated iron and protected with slate,
il shriveled up like withered leaves.
The covering OF slate and iron rolled of
in great cracking crusts, the flames shot
upwards for hundreds of feet, and burning
pieces of material slid aud flew in all direc-
tions with vicious force.
THE RossITgR STORES
still stood dark and with closed iron shut
ters. bat the water thrown by the firtmen
sizzled and boiled when it touched them,
betray ing the heat within. The northwest
corner OF the wall swayed moment
then it fell with laundering crash. The
falling wall released hundreds of tons OF
stones that rolled out in blazing heap
and dlled Sixtieth street, effectively block
ing it.
II was 7 o'clock when the second
elevator caught fire, and by dark 1t was
entirely CONSUMED. The fire had exhausted
itself and was under control.
Following is the loss in detail: The Ros'
sitter stores contents, 5000, 900; the Wilcox
Co. g stock, $l5O,OOO; elevator A, $780,
COO; elevator B, 375O,0OO; dock o. con-
tents, 5000, 900; dock A, $3.50, 900; the
Wilcox building, 1920, 900; total, S3, 355,-
OOO. The loes to the property of the New
York Central Company il covered by IN,
suIauce in the London and Liverpool and
Globe companies. The Wilcox Co . stock
was insured Tor 500, 900.
FOUR MEN PERIsHED.
At a late hour 1t is stated that four men
were in the ruins of the Wilcox company's
huildiug