New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-09
FIRE BROKE UP THE BALL,
THE BIG WASHINGTON HALL IN PATERSON
BURNED.
THOUSANDS OF CARTRIDGES EXPLODE IN THE
BLAzE-MUCH EXCITEMENT AND sE'EhAb
NARROW EsCAPEs-LOss s15oOoo.

NARROW ESCAPES-LOSS s15o,0oo
Washington Hall, the largest business block
in Paterson. n J., was burned to the ground
early yesterday morning. 1t was brlcK p'hld-
ing, 1OOx2OO feet, fronting on Broadway with
Washington-st at the side and Fair-st. in the
rear, and was three stories in height with man.
sard roof on the Broadway front, and two stories
in the rear. The sidewalks made OF brlcK
arches filed in with frame panels, and tbs WOOD
was burned out, leaving rows Of tall BRICK arches
standing. like the ruins Of an old Roman VIA
duct The tottcrng walls were pulled down LATER
aS they mcnaccd people passing by. small
brick one-stOry annex the east was also de-
stroyed as was Boyle Brothers large new three
story frame mineral-water and bottllng factory
in Fair-sf The Van Barcom Flats were slightly
DAMAGED Plate glass windows block away were
broken by the heat and the flames shot up
hundred feet. lighting up the whole city
Thousands left their beds and iockcd to sec
the biggest fire that Paterson has had since John
Rvle's silk mill and lot of tenement-houses were
burned overt twenty years ago. t1rebrands were
carried to the Passaic River four blocks away and
fell sputtrring into the water, and on scores OF
roots men were Busy with pals to fight against
the danger from fhc showerng cmbers.
The fire spread with great rapidity. When it
Red Men was going on in the big ballroom, ono
of tho largest halls in New-Icrsey. Fortunately
il was intcrmission. and many of the dancers had
conc ont 10 ncighboring eating houses for supper
Those who stayed behind smoke appear near
the bandstand and then tongue Of flame shoot
M through the waNed floor of Georgia pine JHst
then an explosion. probably Of gas sent the plat
form flying into the air IN a mass OF tlmbers.
Two or three women who remained to save their
,hawls had a narrow escape. Some tainted ana
Patrolman Albert Nagce carried one down the
stairway and went back and rescued another
The family of the auitor. William c. Smith.
had living rooms I'm the building. All rushed ont
ir their uiehtclothes. Smith was counting some
rent money for Katz Brothers. owners oi Inc
buildinc. lie fed in n hurry and left the cash
behind There was about $500 Of II. ana II
was burned There was a panic in nclshborne
fats and dwelling houses, and people IN night
attire were soon taking refuge with nciehbors.
THE arruory of Compauic, \ and B, lst Battalion.
National Guard. was in the Washington Hail
bnildinr. In the basement were stored about
p 600 rounds of cartrid-cs. both blank and ball.
i, the Calling gun dctacnmcntS quarters were
scycnty-fvc rounds Of blank ammunition Inc
ammunition in tie blazing building went oil Ike
rscls Of nrrcrackers i'm a bonfire. and as the
thousands of spectators heard the rafting NolI'Ns
there was n rush backward. Nobody was hurt'
however. hv bullets.
Washington Market as il was then called. was
hulIt about twenty years ago bE a Stock company
for a public market. The enterprise 'aieH anu
tie main floor WAS Tcmodellcd into stores va
. the econd hoor was me RI'"o 0a'i' "'N' =,
s,,,ller an3rfucnts supper and cloak rooms. II
s"'''','' ~, many notable Gatherings.
/ haH p'ch 'I" S'''' va NM ,Lo
both social and political. few months ago the
company s,d the building to k'E BTo'ne[S, Io,cnc
,'e"'IS' "I ,,urao,a was used as the drill
u '"''' NV "'- ,,.,'a,,,cs which had their
room "i I'd. Ii''t H. p,,,r, ot Trade oc-
cpcl handsomely h'cd quarters N "1o,"er, piiI IN
OF TIE stIlrtuIr. lie iAI'r i"'I" i',' & " ,,,ti'
iDc en- WIZ. t', MAS WeIsi,rs inyariable resting
place when De- came u, ''' E"t,nhon were also
/ "I i"'4t ''i' - 49, ..I...d
lie entire thud floor. under the iS inaH9"iu m
rooi, Vas called ~. john il'l! anu o'CuF, 'oE
l.uuhoc Ipl-c. No. -0, OF ffrrh39"nN VIZ L
/ S'aricr ol ttc Royal Arch, NcIa tommand'ry
..'lI, r',..r .lI other bodies. The lodge
r'.-"'n ,ii, trrri,.cd and the plpc-or2an
I''. , ~, C,.t NJ BOO
The principal losses and lnsuranceS are a' Iol-
/ lows. , .,,,.
kat, trother. on huild,n- and annex f''oOo, |ith
d.a ~ ooo m The 'lanrnc'cr. 1000 m the W Nr,s ,,
each IN tlc California, The l.oP ,,,., u' ~ 900 IN
Sow Htmp-lrc. aud tnc n',' ,,, - 900 m the
,.. IT, ."1. 1,o 1 thr NaiiouaI. of Ncv York, and
tloo '1' T,,,ln VI ' nu irnuic. los, covered by in
- t 1000
State of Sew Jersey. ON "atIhS gun nn' =, oo u,
" lau q smith. Ianl'pr. loe- 800 on i"IhI'"'"'
no insurance. ,........ ,,,..,,c, fine corner stor,
H.. &. mn one -'ul,l, - U" -" 30 an The Homo.
,,cor.o NcVcn produce; lo,, $1,000 insurance.
/ 800. %, ooo with -mou