Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-11-06
100000 FIRE
At Corner Of Broadway and Blocker
Street, New YORK.
Narrow Escape Of Several Occupants Of
Buildings. Also Firemen.

New York. Nov. 5-The most serious
fire with which the fire department. OF this
city have had to cope with for several
years. was discovered in the building at
the corner of Blocker street and Broad
way. shortly after 9. this evening. Within
Is minutes one-half of the block between
Broadway and Crosby street, was aflame
The second. third, fourth and fifth alarm
was sounded.
Most of the buildings, which served to
feed the flames, We're old rattle-traps.
The fire started at $40 Broadway, occu-
pied by the Empire State Bank, and
leaped across Blocker street to North and
communicated to the seven story building
at the corner of Broadway, the top of
which was occupied by Bierman, Hiedel-
burg & Co. and the lower stories by the
Manhattan State Bank. Shortly after
there was loud explosion and the walls
of some of the burning buildings toppled
over.
BY 10 o'clock, $40 Broadway was totally
wrecked as was the Manhattan Bank
building. Nos 500 and 63S were badly
burned, but not destroyed. These stores
were occupied by A. l.. Simon 4 Co.,
Adler, the glove man, and Goodrich, a
carriage builder.
A policeman was first told of the fire by
a citizen. Fifteen minutes later woman
ran screaming out of the back building
at SO Blocker street. The flames were so
hot that she could not stay In her house.
A number of others in the place were
apparantly afraid to move out and about
so firemen and policemen ran In and
brought out eight men and women and
two children. Two of the woman had to
be forced to go.
At 9 80 O'Clock, the interior of the
structure from Broadway to Crosby street
on Blocker, crumbled in. While crews
of several engine companies were on the
sixth floor the Manhattan bank building
stairway below caught fire. Five min
utes later the stairway leading to the
seventh floor gave way and fell upon
them.
Some of the firemen were able to climb
to the seventh floor out of danger. The
most of the firemen were hemmed in SO
that they could neither go up nor down.
They shouted to the tiremen in the street
to run up ladders, which was quickly done,
and the imperilled firemen were soon
clambering down to safety.
deputy Chief Reilly was injured about
the head and shoulders and had to be
taken to the hospital. Firemen Lawlor
and Coleman sustained severe bruises and
Commissions. Lawlor was also taken to the
hospital.
At midnight the fire had spent itself.
No fire in this city for years caused so
much excitement.
The damage caused by the fire is esti
mated at $4,000, 900. The Manhattan
Savings Bank building was valued at
$3.50, 600 Eiermap, Heidelberg & Co.,
tailors, who occupied part, bad a stock
valued at $40, 900; Strauss & Co., tailors,
in the same building. will probably lose
90, 900; Flommerfelt & Co., jewelry
firm, S25, 900; other smaller tenants, $50.
900. The Empire State Bank building is
probably worth SIS, 600.
Among the firms occupying it. Chas.
Hecht & Co. cut flowers and feathers,
will possibly lose $3.50, 900; VIM. Burke &
Co, neckwear, $4,000; New York
Feather Co., possibly 100000; other
tenants, $500, 900. In addition, the stock
of Adler & Co., glove merchants, valued
at 800, 900, which was In the next build
ing, was destroyed. In the neighborhood
there were many losses too numerous to
estimate.