New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-02
FLAMES AMONG THE DRUGS.
M'KEssON & ROBBINss STORAGE HOUSE
BADLY DAMAGED.
THE FLAMES STARTED IN SOME WASTE IN THE
| MISUNDERSTANDING SMOKE WHICH MADE


THE FIRE HARD ONE TO FIGHT.
The seven-story printing house and storage
building of the wholesale drug firm OF Mckesson
& Robbins at No. 70 Ann-st., Immediately behind
the headquarters of the firm, was badly damaged
by fire at o'clock last night. The building
stands with a twenty-five foot frontage on the
north side OF Ann-st. running back to the rear Of
an office building at No. 10 Beekman-st., which is
In part occupied by the claim department OF the
Corporation Counsel's Office. Ann-st Is little
than twenty feet broad at that point. and
had 1t not been for the iron shutters with which
the building is fitted throughout the main build
ing of the firm, which reaches from the opposite
side OF the thoroughfare through to Fultonst..
as well as the premises either side OF the store
house. would have been destroyed. The fire
started somewhere in the basement OF the Duiid-
Ing and was discovered by Policeman Tobn, OF
the Oak-st station. who was on post at the corner
of the street through cloud of black smoke
which poured from every part of the building.
Tobin rushed TO turn in hre-aarm at Ann and
William SITS As he returned tongue OF flame
shot from the basement windows and spread over
a half-dozon carboys OF ammonia and suphurc
acid which stood on the sidewalk outside the
building The flames caught the sackcloth wrap
pings at the top of the bottles. and moment later
they burst emitting sitting vapor, which for
moment drove back the fremen and made the
street almost impossible.
When they dashed through at last the fire had
Quilted the englne-room, and spreading upward
through an open hoistway. had extended to drug
storeroom In the second floor and to a packing-to
shop above and running through the printing
department or the fourth and Nth floors. Before
the hose could be rugged. flames had possession of
the entire building including a laboratory at the
top, and the house could not be entered for the
binding smoke.
Battalion Chief Castles responded to the first
alarm. and. without waiting FOR second, ordered
third TO be sounded That brought Chief Bonner.
Deputy Chief Purroy ten more fire companies and
water tower No. q The surrounding buildings were
ually the flames gave way but the suffocating
smoke arising from the burning drugs kept the
firemcn back from the building for more than half
hour.
Patrol No l. driving rapidly into Ann-st was
caught I'm the smoke in front of the storehouse Inc
narrowncss of the street prevented the patrol
wagon from turning round, and. unable TO remain II
A hairs breadth the suspended hose and ladders
which the nremen were cllnging.
II $50 O'Clock before the fire was considered
sufficiently under control TO allow of the reserve en-
glnes being called of
on examining the building then the hremen found
that tho flames had evidently started In a quantity
of cotton waste In the engine-roon in the basement
ali the waste conveyed to the cellar and packed
away In the fre-bOxrs under the boilers.
Chief Bonner estimated the damage done by the
flames at $500 but when IL is thoroughly examined
II will probably exceed that amount by 1900 or
$500 1t is covered by Insurance.