The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-18
4 MILLION ~ ISHES.
New York suffers Another Destructive Con-
migration.

NEW YORK, Mar ll.-ShOrly alter o CLOCK
this evening fire started in the cight-story
building at Green and Blocker streets, occu-
pied by Alfred benjamin Il Co.. wholesale
clothicrs. and in two hours the structure was
in ruins. The loss on the building is about
one million.
There were $50 employees in the building
when the fire broke out and great excitement
cn-uod one hundred girls were at work on
the top floor When they saw the smoke
pouring in volumes from tho shaft there was
"a panic Several of them screamed Fire
and the next minute the hundred were scrain-
bling over each other 10 the stairs. screaming
and pushing. They reached the street in
safety The employees on the other
floors had received warning and rushed out
oi the building
TlRFMrN RETARDED.
The frcmen were greatly retarded in their
work 10y the dense smoke which issued from
the cellar. and 1t was some time before the
actual seat 0i the fire could be located. There
NercuuWcrOu- shafts and a!rpipcs IN the build
iur These acted ~ tues. and when the
flames finally broke out they spread with
such raplity that the entire building was
soon cnvolopei in flames. Six alarms had
been sent ont and a score of streams were
turned ou but - no purpose. Flames shot
through the roof fully fifty feet high and out
of the lay window street side. lfcre was
stiff breeze from the southeast which famed
the flames into Jury. II was % sight seldom
witnessed The Aamee reached the cornice mt
the edge of the roof and liyid blue flame,
caused by some chemical in the composition
ot the cornice. encircled the building.
A1pING BLUE FIERY COLLAR.
n gave the impression that the building
had On living blue fiery collar. The sight
WIS terribly grand one.
Al G.tOtle roof tumblcd in to the fierce
!. gf
sparks hyng iu every direction. The fremen
hai already turned the streams on the
surrounding property, and spread
of tl, fire Was averted. Five min
utrs later the side of the building
above the third story fell into Green street.
10 was scarcely minute after the Green
street wall fell when the Bleecker street front
syaved tp and fro and also fell with the noise
Of thunder into the street. There WAS no one
iu fifty feet oi it.
A Amemher of the firm Of Alfred Benjamin 4
Co. SAY. that there was more than $500 600
worth of stock md samples ID the building
when the fire broke out. The building was
worth about $500 900. Both stock and build
ing are total loss. No cause can be assigned
for the fire.
ANOTHER BUILDING DURSTD.
The frcmen were just congratulating them
selves Ou having the fire under control when
itwls dicoycrcd that the rear of the fiye-story
building occupied by HHnmerslough, Saks
a. Co.. ci0tmers. and T.. OConnell x Co..
matters. at go and 100 Bleecker street, WAS on
fre The upper part of the building was
filed with straw goods. Tho flames reached
the upper floors. and IN five minutes It was
evident that the building was doomed The
fireman seemed tired and dcmoralzed
To add 10 their discontinue smoke began
to roll ont of the front Of the Hammerslough
building facing on Mercer street. The build
ing IS lust in the rear of the new ten-story
building occupied by IaWley. Hendal a
Mohn. manufacturers Of hats, The Ham
mcrsiough hullding was completely guttei
Int he flames were prevented from spread
iug The loss on stock in the HaInnerslough
building i, placed az s2Z5.OO0.
80 tins hour midnightl the fire IS stll
burning. though under control.
ASOIHUR BIG FIEE.
NEw YoHK. Mar l7.-lire was discovered in
The six-story building Nos y and 80. Leonard
street. occupied by H. b. Cnilm a Co.,
which is % large warehouse, about q. O'Clock
tonight. The fire was confined 10 The second
and third stories. ia the rear OF tho binding.
'I..4 ile- d. t.1f mated tf l-r0 OOU. insured.