The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-18
TWO FIRES IN GOTHAM.
Claims stock Damaged Benjamin
Camp any Burned Out

Claims stock ge6-Benj amin &
Comp any Burned Out
INV YORK, March HI B. -Clafin &
Cos day goods house vas damaged by FIRE
/ this evening TO the amount OF 800, 900. The
fire was discovered jest as the store was Be-
ing closed FOR the night and was confined 70
part Of two foors.
BENJAMIN a CO. BURNED oUI.
A fire started, no ons knows how. IL the
ub-basemsut OF the nine-stOry mausard
rooted brick and iron building on the SOUTH
east corner Of Bleecker and Green streets at
$40 O'Clock this evening, utterly ruInsd IL,
and spreading 70 two buildings east Of il,
destroyed them as well as another il the
rear that ran from Green 70
Mercer street Il will be clsssed
among the largest fires ever known in
this city. Over $2.0cO, 900 worth Of value
rolled skyward in smoke and fame In less
than five hours. The building il which the
fire originally started was owned by Msndel
Bros, real estate men. Of Chicago, and was
occupied by Alfred Benjamin & Co., proba-
bly, the largest manufacturers Of fine ready
made mems clothing in the country. 1t was
a stock company, comprising Isaiah Josefa,
A. HOcbstadter, Eugene Benjamin, David
HOchstadter and specials Jesse and Samuel
Rosenthal.
The f rst alarm was turned in at $50
o'clock. a second at rs O'Clock. and then
others followed in rapid succession, until
finally the greater portion of the engines in
the lower part of the city were on the spot.
At first it seemed as if the fremen would
have an easy victory over the flames.
mere was no appearance OF
fire, but thick. black smoke
poured out of the basement and rose in
"A ba f~r.
then blew down in the streets again. max
ing It hard task for the firemen 70 work at
all Suddenly, with hardly a moments
notice, the flames tore their way up through
the building and burst through the roof in
a blaze that could be seen for miles about
Then every floor was attacked by the de-
vouring ele nent, until from the basement
TO the roof the magnificent building was
a fiery furnace.
SPREADING TO THE EAST.
The six-story building adjoining the giant
on the east. occupied by n. H. Rosenstein,
dealer in ostrich feathers, was the next to
succumb to the flames, which then moved
on to the double brick building owned and
occupied in part by Hammerbough, Saks
q Co., clothiers, on the third, fourth,
fifth, sixth and seventh floors,
and by Z. V. Connect q Co, hatters.
on the lower floors. Meantime the fire had
six-story, twenty-five foot front brick
building occupied partly by Rosenstein and
partly by Sylvester, Levacher & Co., man
ufacturers Of hats, caps and furA The
building extended through to Mercer street,
aud the fire speedily forced its way out on
that side Of the structure.
The ROOF FALLS IN.
About Z o'clock the roof of the building
in which the fire started fell in with
crash carrying floor after floor with it in
its des -eut. A few minutes later the front
wall toppled and fell into Blocker street,
and the fremen had to scurrY to save their
lives. Finally but one of the walls of the
building was left standing. Then the roof
Ct Hammersbough's building fell in, but
the walls remained intact. BY 10 o'clock
the firemen had the flames well in hand,
and there seemed to be no danger Of its
spreading further.
THE LOSSES.
The losses roughly estimated are as fol-
lows:
Benjamin & Co., building, S4OO 900 :
stock, S45O.000. They hal nearly 100000
orders for spring suits making up, and in
addition carried large stock Of overcoats
and smoking jackets. The building was
built eight years ago by lsidor Cohnfed,
feather manufacturer. and was known as
"Cohnfeld's folly" Later he failed, and
about four years ago Alfred Benjamin
moved into it. He died about three years
ago, since which time it has been a stock
company.
Hammersbough, Saks & Co. lost, is
thought, 100000 on their building and
$3.50, 900 on stock
M. H. r. Rosenstein lost on his building
$25, 900 and on stock $4,000.
=. V. Connect g. Co., matters, lose
S75. 0OO
The rear building was owned by DIR.
Macy and was valued at $4,000.
Sylvester Levacher & Co., matters, lose
100000
M. V. Schwartz and other tenants in the
rear building lose, it is estimated. $155, 900.