New-York tribune., 1895-02-15
THEY ESCAPE OVER THE ROOF
CAUSED BY FLAMES IN THE
MERCHANTS CLUB.

nooK AND LADDER MEN ALMOST OVERCOME
THE DAMAGE ESTIMATED At se5oco. CHIEFLY
BY WATER SOMETHING ABOUT THE
ORGANIZATION
The promptness ~ the Fire Department In
dealing with a fire which started in the cellar OF
the Merchants Club. at No. 3S7 Broadway at 6
a. m. yesterday prevented n heavy loss. The
club occupies the suh-ccar cellar and first and
= eond h1ors Of the siX-siory building.
Above the clubrooms arr the premises of H. 4
Loz.cr & CO.. the Cleveland BICYCLE Company,
W. T. smith x sons manufacturers Of carpets
and rugs. the Brussels Tapestry Company and
Barnes Il Boyer manufacturers Of chenille cur
tains and there are connections with the prem
sos Of the National Automatic Alarm Company.
at Thomas-st. on the south side, and "A siX-story
building occupied by Hotz & Freystedt and
Rcgensburg Il CO.. liquor-dealers. and other
firms.
The fire started somewhere in the kitchen OF
the club which is N the cellar. II was discov-
cred by Demetr Carajiale Greek. VINO is sec
Ond cook. The man turned In fire alarm as
soon as possible. Three engines and hook ana
ladder company were on the spot in few
minutes. Nothing could be seen inside the door
way save smoke but the first chief on the scene
promptly sounded a second alarm which brought
CHIEF Bonner Deputy-Chlef Reilly and more en-
gines around In hurry
The smoke hal penetrated the entire building
by that time and had extorded t. the buildings
on each side 1t had awakened Charles Van
dyke the bookkeeper of the Cleveland Bicycle
Company. who sleeps IN the premises. but was
So thick ON the stairs and In the Railways that
he founl it impossible 10 get down, and rushed
TO tht. window. He appeared there half dressed,
on the third floor forty feet above the pavement
shouting To be rescued and the fremen put up a
ladder. down which he made his way to the
street The janitor. Frank Lane his wife and
two children. who 1--we above the premises of the
National Automatic Alarm Company. next door
were also reused from their beds by the sitting
smoke. and hearing the Changing OF the engine
bells In Broadway, wrapped themselves up in
blankets and made their way to the roof The
1remen tn I'm and, shouting that there was
no danger showed them how to get down by a
back way into Thomas-st
Still nothing OF the fire could be seen. but the
smoke poured from the cellar and prevented
the liremen from getting down there 10 examine
into the extent OF the outbreak 90 Chief Bonner
ordered "A third alarm. Five minutes afterward
thirteen engines were flooding the basement Of
the building The streams they turned in quickly
placed the cellar three feet deep in water and
cffectually drowned out the fire. BY o'clock 1t
was thoroughly under control. and the reserves
were called ,h.
The premises of the Merchants club where
for many years the drygoods men have dined.
were badly wrecked by water and the valuable
pictures and upholstery soaked and stained by
water and smoke. The firms In the upper part
OF the building suffered considerable damage
from the smoke, which penetrated everywhere.
and the damage throughout the building will ex-
.aI MnEfn nf
the loss will fall principally on the insurance
companies.
The crew OF Hook and Ladder Company No.
had narrow escape from fatal asphyXiation at
o'clock while working in the cellar The heavy
smoke alone sufficient to overcome them.
but the sudden bursting Of number of gas
pipes prostrated them completely. No explosion
followed the breakage. but the volume Of pol