New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-01
AFFAIRS IN BROOKLYN.
INSURANCE ON The BURNED BUILDINGS.
cMTIcIsING THE CoNDrCT OF THE FIRE DE-

INSURANCE ON The BURNED BUILDINGS
cRITICIsING THE CoXDrCT OF THE FIRE DE-
PAR1lIENT.
Many persons watched the iremen who were busy
All day yesterday in extinguishing the smouderng
flames in the ruins of the store of smith. Gray d Co..
the scene on SUNDAY OF the most destructive fire which
has occurred for years in Brooklyn The walls OF the
burned building Oh the Nevinsst. side VIII be puiled
down 10 DAY as they are regarded dangerous. The
extent OF the damage could hardly be estimated even
yesterday. Besides the losses to the firm OF smith,
Gray a. Co. and 10 the OF adjacent property,
there were 300 400 persons who had goods stor-
ago In the upper part OF the building Of smith, Gray
Co., which was leased by the Fulton and Fatbush
storage Company. In which members OF the firm are
interested Among those whose property was lost are
many well known people f.. G. MoGatt now travelling
I'm Italy, had furniture worth $4,000 stored in the
building with 81 200 Insurance upon it,
A considerable amount OF damage was done TO the
Johnston building. The tenants OF the upper floors,
including the Young Womens Christian Association
.be City Mission and Tract Society, the Young Kepuo
,an Club and others, suffered damage 70 their FURNITURE
Water also damaged the stock OF PROVISIONS Oh inc
grocery firm OF Johnston brothers on the first moor
and In tlc basement. Tic total loss Dy TIC hio j.
estimated at about three-qusrtes of million dollars
and the assurances a large portion OF It, smith,
Gray & Co. propose rebuild st once. ON the lana
adjoining owned by tie Cox estate In Fultonst plans
are being prepared for fine structure, ana II IS prop
able that il will be speedily put up.
Insurance men criticised the management OF the lire
by the Brooklyn Fire Department with great severity
Yesterday one OF them the vice president OF prom
ipent company, and who always works ana votes
In Brooklyn for the Democratic machine declared tha'
The department exhibited the utmost incompetence 10
handle "a large fire. lie even went so far as 10 say
that the loss on The Johnston Building. at least, was
the direct result of mismanagement. smith, Gray ~
Co. also came In for large share Of criticism Against
them charges OF Misrepresentation were made, ana IL
WAS said that they had given such assurances oil the
frrproof character OF the building to their customers
that many OF the latter had stored their goods without
taking a cent of Insurance
The owners OF the property and the Fire Department
officials conrdiced the statements OF Acknowledgement.
They said that everything possible done. and that
the stubborn character Of the fire. and the lack OF
water tower TO enable streams to be played upon the
upper floors prevented any possibility Of getting 1t
under control.
The damag. to the structure OF the Kings County
Elevated Railway. in FultOn-s. by the wall OF the
burned building falling upon II, will be repaired ths
week Two new Orders have been sent for from the
Oenixve Ironworks, and they will be forwarded as
soon % possible At the point where the accld".il
occurred the structure has four gtders although the
greater part of the road has only three. Only two are
damaged ard the northery track Is used Tor trains
passing In both directions, Switches being put In on
either side of the break. The company is secured ny
Insurance upon the station and structure and also
against loss the interference with trnfhc.
Tho Insurance carried by smith. Gray < Co on ;le
building In a large number Of companies as 1oi-
lows