The evening world., 1891-11-24
SHORT OF WATER At FIRES.
Flames Destroy Over 100000
Worth Of Brooklyn Property.
Residents OF Two Districts Put In .
Night OF Terror.

Flames were still blazing at 10 o'clock this
morning In the great double building at 2d2
and 2U4 Court street, brooklyn, which caught
fire shortly before midnight and at one time
threatened general conHagration In that
part OF the city.
owing to the failure OF the water supply
the firemen were almost powerless at first,
and the fire gained such headway that when
two streams were finally brought from the
firc-b boat Seth Low, away down in the East
River. 1t was found impossible TO save the
building.
The two adjoining buildings at 286 ana
28O court street. were also attacked by the
flames, and were saved from total destruc-
tion with difficulty and only after much dam
age mad been done.
The blaze from the burning buildings
lighted up the entire southern part OF Brook
,yn, and rcoplc In the neighborhood turned
out OF bed In the early morning hours to
watch the fight being made by the nremen.
Many families residing In the immediate
vicinity were panic-stricken when II was
learned that the scarcity OF water had so
greatly interfered with the work OF the lire
men that they were hardly attempting to
save the building.
While the big blaze on court street was IN
progress another fire broke out about
| o'clock in a four-story tenement-housU AT 81
Union street, only few blocks away.
The same diiliculty in obtaining water was
met with here, and the building was entirely
destroyed. A number OF families were
rendered homeless.
| The court street fire started In L. Nelson's
cigar-storc in 2G4, and rapidly spread to tho
adjoining crockery store OF Mel clifford on
the ground floor OF 262.
The entire upper part Of the double build
ing. comprising three fioors, was stored with
furniture and other infammablc material,
| land street.
| IL was when the flames reached this part OF
the building that they became absolutely
uncomfortable. The building was an un-
usually deep one, and extended towards the
centre OF the block about two hundred feet.
| The whole OF this space became raging
mass OF flames, which shot upward hundred
feet or more into the air, carrying with them
clouds Of burning sparks and Cinders.
The brick walls IN the rear stood for time,
and 1t wa, this alone which saved the row oi
twelling-houses which closely adjoned the
burning building.
This morning there was u big wide gap
extending clear through the block, and The
residents or the neighUorhood realized what a
narrow escape tney mad.
The loss TO the owner OF the building IL
estimated at $4,000. Nelson's loss is
81 900 and Clifrord's $4,000. The damage
To the building ut 2B6 Court street, owned by
John RoefahIer, or $50 Second street, Is
Sl5, 900, and August Schmidt, who occupied
the first and second iioOrs as liquor store
and dwelling suffers $4,000.
on the other side or the ruins in the white
marble building known as the Grand Union
Hall The southern end Is Quilted compile tely,
The owner, Samuel L. shaw, OF New York,
loses 10000, and Jacob Endris, who had a
restaurant on the ground moor, is damaged
$4,000.
The tenants In the building at 83 Union
street who were burned out were NicolC
Magalen and Tursa COnstanza- The damage
there is estimated at $4,000.
Fireman Richard Trap, OF Engine No. =
while standing on an awning at 28O Cour'
street, iell TO the street and was badly
bruised about the body. lie was taken to hi
mothers home, 100 summit street.