New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-19
A BIG WEST SIDE FIRE.
LOSS OYER TWO MILLIONS.
WALL PAPER FACTORIES AND DWELLING
HOUSES DESTROYED.
Thirty CITY LOTS BURNED OTER.


AND POLICE RESERVES CALLED OUT
NO SERIOUS ACcipENTs-LAcK Of
WIND SAVES Much vALr-
AELE PROPERTY.
\ fire. such as has not been seen in New-York
for many months. burned up four large factory
buildings and dozen dwelling houses in Forty
first and Forty second SITS. west of Tenth-ave
last night, and destroyed property valued at
more than s2OoO,OOO. The blaze lighted up the
entire west side Of the city, and the glare OF the
flames could be seen at a distance of several
miles. Firemen from all of the engine houses
between Fourteenth and Fifty-ninth SITS. were
called to the fire, and worked like heroes for
three hours. while thousands of citizens ilocked
To the scene and blocked the streets and ave-
nues. where they We're held in check by strong
police lines II was fortunate for the city that
there was not high wind to spread the flames
still further the fire was at one time beyond
the control OF the frcmen.
Fortunately there was no loss OF life either
and no accidents of Importance attended the
fire.
1t was about $50 D. M when the fire
discovered in an extension Of the wallpaper
factory Of Nevius Haviland. at the south
west corner Of Tenth-ave. and Forty-second-st.
The extension was In the middle Of the block.
and ran back. behind row Of five dwelling
houses. on the south side Of Forty-second-str to
the big wallpaper factory of William Camp
bell. at Nos 5lc to $50 West Forty -second-st.
Before any alarm was given the flames had
spread to Campbell's factory. which ran
through the block to Forty y-first-st.. and to the
main buding Of Nevus & Haviland. Both
factories were five stories high. and filled from
roofs to cellars with highly lnfammable ma
tcras Fire shot through the buildings with
great rapidity.
\ WATCHMAN ALMOST OVERCOME.
James Sexton. 4 night watchman in Camp.
bells factory. was on one of the upper floors
when the flames started In the adjoining ex-
t l.sion and he barely had time to jump down
to the ground floor before the factory was in
flames lie fell near the door. overcome by the
smoke. and narrowly escaped being burned to
death. Policeman Kcar I'm Fortyhrst-st. had
seen the smoke. and Fad sent call for the
nrcmcn from the signal-box at Fortieth-st. and
Tcnth-ave. Then he had run back t. The Forty
nrst-st entrance to Campbeli's factory He
broke open the door and dragged Sexton out.
Flames were bursting from all Of the win
dows Of the two big wall paper factories when
the first companies Of hremcn arrived. \
second alarm was rung instantly. That was
followed a few minutes later by third alarm.
The first battalion chief Of the Fire Department
to arrive at the fire sent out fourth alarm.
chief Bonner vas soon in command Of the
nremcn and he sent calls for engines and
water towers until the entire available force
"f tho department in two districts south Of
Central Parl, had arrived. Meanwhile flames
were rising high above the roofs Of the factories,
and the buildings were shaking with impris-
oned heat Families were fleeing In terror
from the i've dwelling houses between the
factories. as the houses had already taken
fire. The water thrown by twenty or more
engines seemed to have no effect upon the
flames which continued to spread. The smoke
of tn. burnings rose To great height I'm the
air. a. there little wind To carry II away
and u was filed with countless sparks and
glowing fragments of paper. making IL appear
like an immense cloud Of fire.
+ BIG CROWD WATCHES THE FIRE
Crowds Of excited people poured along the
streets and avenues leading 10 the connagra-
ton Police reserves from several precincts on !
the West side Of the city sent To assis, the |
men under the command Of Captains Price and |
Schniu, berger In keeping the crowds in check !
Later Superintendent B,rnes went to the fire. |
Tn. police could barely restrain tho vast multi
tudc ~ citizens from cncrOaching upon the fire |
men. Psop. were PACKED closely In the |
streets that The police could not drive them !
back.
III. ire spread rapidly that before . D. ~. |
The five dwelling houses, Nos. iO2. J0i 500 j0s |
and SO West Forty-recond-a'. w"re well ablaze.
and the hremcn saw that the houses could not |
be- saved.
Tne IA ne, also had CROSSED to tho south side
,f lortv-iii.,t-st and were ,..,urinc tn. big
.abnct factory Of George a. Schastey at Nos
,06 and j0s. From that factory the fire soon |
.pi,.ld To- Oh" pf TN" two larger buildings of |
Paul Pryibil. tl" MAJ hinis The tive machine
hops wer" six stories high ard divided by an
,llcy Thr next to Schastey's factory was
II Nos ia - JlG West Fovy-drst-st. and 1t
Vas soun burning. Then the hremcn were
- the cabinet factory which made work IN
he urighborhood dangerous \ stable in tn,
ear Of the factory caught fire at the same time.
Policemen tri"c To rcscue the horses. but eight
II the animals had To- b. lrfi to their fate and
we're burned up with the stable
THE FIRE SPREADS WESTWARD
There fears that the big brewery Of
David Stevenson. at Fortleth-st. and Tenth
tve would take fire. and many horses from
hc stable adjoining the brewery were turned
oosc IN the avenue. From several tenement
,orscs in Forty y-irst-st.. between The avenue
I'D the burning factories. many families car
led their most highly priced household
Irticlcs believing that the houses were doomed
- destruction West of Campbers factory
hrec houses took fire. on the south side of
&c, and they were destroyed.
The big brewery of Valentine Loewcr. on the
,orth side Of Forty-iirst-st. west of the factory.
vas in danger but was saved.
The roofs and walls of the four factories were
alling fast at $3.50 p. m. and the frequent loud
rashcs sounded Hike cannonadng. The fire
nen were driven back and compelled to throw
tr~ams of water on the other buildings They
aved from serious injury the tenement houses
II ty-first-st.. west Of Tenth-aVc. and also
,revehtcd the flames from crossing the avenue
nd Fortv-second-st.
81 Raphacls Roman Catholic Church in For
let HIST. which nearly adioined the rear of
factory. caught fire. but the firemen
rotectcd the church from serious harm. \
encmen. house between Loewer's brewery and
'ampbells factory In Fortyfrst-st. vas de-
iroyed. and two tenement-houses in the rear
t il were nearly wrecked
MARROW ESCAPE OF AN ENGINEER.
II. \. Hibberd. the engineer Of engine No "a.
ad narrow escape from death. The wall
ronting Tcnth-ave fell suddenly and carried
nth it an electric wire. which struck Hibberd
glancing blow. from which he received "A
ere shock Fortunately he was only slightly
nd 10 ,,t..l.. al