New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-05
SIJBDUING FIERCE FLAMES.
MANY MEN HURT IN BROADWAY.
BATTALION CHIEF McGILLS LEG AND SHOULDER
BROKEN BY FALL-INSURANCE PATROL
MEN NEARLY sUFFoCATED IN A GEL.
LAR-THE LOSS ABOUT 100000

MEN NEARLY sUFFoCATED IN GEL
LAR-THE LOSS ABOUT 100000
Policeman Sullivan. of the Elizabeth-st. sta'ion'
was examining the doors at No. 392 bio"u""s
last evening. when he was startled py "i"'
seemed to him slight explosion in the upper p'iO
Of the building At the same instant iaise
niece Of plate-glass whizzed by his head ana
was broken into fragments on the sioe"aiA
There was bright fash on the second noor an"
q Aame burst through the window. Sullivan ran 10
send out an ALARM but before he reacheu 'ne ooA
the automatic fire-alarm signal had oeeh seV OH
within the building, and Chief Bonner arrived
with the first engine. By this time the IRE hao
extended TO the third story, ana the SPARKS "eie
dropping to the first floor. Chief bonner sa"
,hat No 100 was doomed to total destruction,
and that there was great danger that the names'
which were being favored by a strong wind, would
no carried through the entire block north OF the
burning structure
Second and third alarms were quickly sent out,
and these were followed by eight special calls.
which brought altogether nineteen engines ana
five trucks TO the lire 80
The building is of brick, five stories high, with
an iron 'front.' and has frontage on Broadway
of 25 feet and depth Of 100 feet to Cortlandt
Alley. There was an unusual draught in the
carried all through the structure. from the cellar
70 the roof. within half an hour. The firemen
were hindered from getting water into the build
ing by heavy iron shutters in the rear, and these
were broken open by truckmen standing on a
narrow fire escape close to the building. When
the fastenings were broken, the shutters
we're thrown violently open by the great pressure
within, and the flames and smoke poured into
the faces of the men and drove them into the
street. Time and again they went back on the
fire escapes at great risk to their lives and finally
got a sufficient number of the shutters open Tor
the fremen to send water into the seething
furnace from the buildings on the opposite side
of Cortlandt Alley. Fireman Feeder, OF HOOK
and Ladder No. 5. blown oil the fire escape
while trying to open shutter. aud was badly
burned about the face and hands.
Battalion Chief McGill and Assistant Foreman
Reilly went up ladder on the broadway side.
The heat was intense and McGlll called TO the n1e-
men to direct hose so that the water would M iali
on them and keep them cool. When they reached
the second story there was sudden Dufst OF
fame and smoke from the window and both men
were thrown from the ladder and 1ell INTO me
street. IcGl came down first and Reilly landed
on top of him. Fortunately for McC'lll, whose
daring and courage at fires has been often com
mended by his supenors, he feIl on ple oi
noso and his life was saved. He had his foot
and shoulder-blade broken however, ana was
injured internally, though 10 what extent Is not not
known. He wanted to remain at the ire. but
Reilly was not hurt
The fire was fought from the front and rear
and il took the streams from the nineteen engines
nearly two hours to bring II under control ana
remove the danger Of its spreading 70 the sur
rounding propertr. The inside of the building
was entirely burned out, leaving only the front
and rear walls standing, and these were damaged
so much that they will have 10 be taken down.
Seven fremen belonging 70 the Insurance
Patrol narrowly escaped from being burned 70
death in the basement in Cortlandt Alley; where
they had been sent by Superintendent Hull 10
cover up the cases Of goods with rubber blankets
While they were at the flames and smoke
came upon them from above and cut OF their
escape fireman heard them call for help ana
a timely shower of water upon them and the
building drove back the hames ana
gave them chance to get out
They crawled out through the cellar door through
the flames and We're all more or less injured.
They are Frank SNYDER John Murphy. Henry
Simmons John Mcknight, Thomas McCoddie,
John O'Neill and John Tabcock.
The first floor and basement were occupied ny
NJ a. c. Meyer. hosiery. loss 100000: the
second fourth and fifth floors by Bacon n Eaton
umbrellas, loss 100000, and the third moor
Jointly by William Harvey & Co., canes and pines
and the Brown Comb Co.. loss $4,000. The
damage TO the building which is owned by D. 4
Baudoine. was S25.OO0. All the losses are said
10 be fully covered by insurance.