New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-27

HARD FIGHT AGAINST FLAMES IN LONG
ISLAND CITY
THE DEPARTMENT BADLY CRIPPLED-A BOY
SAVED FROM DEATH BY En-
MAYOR GLEASON

MAYOR GLEASON
For time last night the entire block In Long
Island city bounded by Vernon and Borden ayes.
and Third and West SITS. was threatened with
destruction by fire The crippled Long Island
City Department struggled with the flames, but
could make but little Roadway against them.
Finally a truck and crew from Greenpoint. under
District Engineer Gallagher arrived at the place.
They we're soon reinforced by the tireboat Body.
With this aid the flames were fought back and
put out. but not until property worth $4,000
had gone up in smoke.
The fire broke out at few minutes before
II o'clock in the sash and planning mill OF
Colligan e. Duncaster. This old frame
building filed with lnhammabe dry wood Before
the alarm could be given the flames had spread
over the entire building. Close TO the first build
ing stood a similar shop. owned and occupied By
]. II. bronson, sash and blind MANUFACTURED
This burned rapidly as the first building. ana
by the time the fremen arrived the flames had
attacked the livery stable OF Charles Sheridan.
Next 70 Sherdan's stable was the three-story
dwelling house Of Charles c. Weed. Here tho
flames were mastered after a stubborn fight,
the flremen from Long Island City and Brook
Ign combining their efforts saving the sur
rounding buildings.
Colligan K Doncaster's building stood tho
corner. The other buildings faced in Thrd-st-
To the rear of them were the buildings in Boz
den-ave All the buildings in the four streets
are Of wood. with the exception OF one or two
in Nernon-ave. Dronsons shop was No. 4s
Third-st.. Sheridans stables We're No 80 Third
ST. and Weeds house was No "a Thrd-st. The
two Woodworking shops were filed to the roof
with dry wood and valuable machinery. The
machinery is total loss. The high wind carried
the flames rapidly and despite the fact that the
men Of the neghborhood rushed To Sherfdan's
stables to save the horses. they had hardly
gotten the last animal out when the flames at
tackled the building This. like the other build
ings was of wood. The horses were led away
and stabbed wherever accommodations could %
found.
The horses had just been rescued when the
Brooklyn fremen arrived. They found the rev.
men of the Long Island Fire Department strug-
Cling against great odds One-third or them
were crippled by the fires of Saturday night
and Sunday morning There are only fifteen
men in the department at any time, ana the
ten who were able To respond "a. the alarm coulo
do little. Volunteers had taxed the lines. but
they We're not skilled in fighting the hameA
BY 1915 the fire was practically under control.
Among the first at the place Of the fire was
ex-Mayor Gleason. After seeing that the horses
in Sheridans stables were sure To be saved ne
entered the house owned by Weed lie ascenoed
rapped on a door. There was no response. so ne
kicked the door in to there was no one IN
side TI. was rewarded by finding boy named
CofTey asleep on a bed. The lads parents were
away on visit. and had left the little fellow
asleep. BY this time the lower part of the house
was afire Mr. Gleason took the boy in his arms
and carried him downstairs through the thick
smoke They reached the street in safety. MT.
Gleason took the boy 10 his office In f'ront-st,
and put him to bed a couch His parents re
turned later and wild until they found
their. boy safe.
The property and buildings which stood on &
were owned by James McMann. formerly WELL
known horseman. He at one time owned Laura
Temple and Lady Thorne. two OF the best-known
horses Of their day.
The losses are almost impossible to estimato
accurately Mr.. Payne the insurance man.
whose otflc, Is in the same block, said IL would
not fall short Of 10000
Three fires broke out in Long Island City m
the morning and kept the badly crippled fire de-
nartment busy The fire OF the w. j. Matheson
Sumac Works broke out again. shortly before I.
h,,t was speedily got under control. Supernten-
don't shaw now estimates the loss TO be SlOO000
covered by insurance
The flames at the ruins or the old Fox man
sion at No 800 Vernon-aver which was de-
strnve6 on Sunday morning. also started afresh
Yesterday 4 third fire was put out IN the cellar
~ Joseph Granieri. tailor Of No. S2S Jackson