New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-08
THE ROAR OF FALLING WALLS.
FLAMES FIND EASY PREY IN A PRINTING
HOUSE.
wERTHER & ALDRICH'S ESTABLISHMENT DE.
sTRoYED - DANGER FROM ELECTRIC
wIprSA rrprMAN IrIupFn
wIREs-A FIREMAN INJURED.

HlHES-A FIREMAN INJURED
A aerce and destructive fire, Involving the loss Of
large amount Of valuable property bazed for more
than hour last night in that part of Thirteenth
ave. mostly given over to lumber yards and ice
houses. Shortly after O'Clock Gustave Bugdhsl
the watehman at Werther & Adrich's Empire Print
ing Works, fve-stOry red brick building ~
Thrteenthave. and Janest., was was startled by the
sight of flames which burst from a window on the
southwestern corner Of the second floor The room in
which il is believed that the fire broke out was used
partly as an Office and partly as press ROOM
Bugdhal sounded alarm and Engine No. from West
Seventeenth st. was on the spot inside of minute.
AS originally constructed the building occupied
frontage of 100 feet in Thirteenthave and extended
back about fifty feet. Werther & Aldrch had found
IL necessary to begin the building of an extension TO
Twelftlst. The whole Of the south wall had there
fore been taken away the floors being shored up with
boards and crossbeams. Thus the flames found an
easy prey Three alarms were sent out in quick sue
cesson and fourteen engines and five hook and ladder
companies made a desperate battle with the names
The boats New Yorker and Zophar Mills came to the
rescue the former sending two and one half 1nch
stream of water into the building. Their efforts had
no effect on the fire, which quickly had the whole
building at its mercy. The flames shot high up into
the sky and Illuminated the district for miles around
Many thousands of people rushed to the spot and
perchcd themselves on the lumber piles of A. II.
Decker which are Immediately opposite the building.
On the east side OF ThIrteenth-ave, at q height OF
fifty feet from the ground the Western Union
Telegraph wires. As the flames shot out Of the front
windows of the building the telegraph poles were
scorched and then caught fire. Along the cross trees
uoUL souu S cIBA w org u09rS9nIQ 10 suree'ls uei
one by one the wires fell TO the ground and at each
street corner policemen stood guard to prevent the
crowd from trcading on them.
The flames had been blazing for about half ON hour
when the roof fell in with a deafcnng crash few
minutes later without the slightest warning, the north
front Of the building fell forward into the road
way all the fremen happily escaping without
injury A third rumble and roar ana Crash
marked the fall Of the hinge mass OF machinery rom
the ground floor into the basement.
Eight men were at work in the building on the thiTd
floor when the fire broke out, but it was said ny John
Leonard the engineer Of the building, that they had all
elsly made their escape and had been accounted for
Only one accident was reported. A fireman, f. D.
Worth of Engine No 30, who was playing on the
flames from the lumberpile the Twelfthst side OF
tho bnildng was struck by the nozzle Of hose aud
his nose was broken. lie was taken TO ST. FlhcenVs
Hospital .,,, A.. 4no
The cause Of the fire is unknown. 1t said that the
buildng was twenty eight years old ana was fornerN
occupied by A. II. Wellington Co., who SOLD II 10
Verther & AldrCh. The latter firm has occupied II tOt
about fourteen years In the building was about
5 900 worth Of stock and the machinery was valued
at 100000 The loss Is fully covered by insurance