New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-27
JUSTICE TUMBLES DOWN.
FLAMES DESTROY PART OF BROOK
LYN'S CITY HALL.


THE STATUE OF THE CuPoi-A AND THE OLD
BELL FArL.-THE LOSS ESTIMATED At $4,000
40 VALUABLE RECORDS HARMED.
Fire Yesterday morning partially destroyed the
Brooklyn city Hall causing a loss Of $500 de-
slroying the bell tower and statue OF Justice and
soaking the building with water from garret 10
cellar.
According to the keeper of the building Dunno.
the tower clock whose faithful hands have told
for years with hardly break. the time OF day TO
Brooklynites. every morning at I o'clock talks
across Court-st. to the tower clock In the Garfield
Building. Yesterday morning the conversation
was as follows according 10 Mr.. Dunno;
What time have you?' asked Mr. Schieren >
clock
just T." said the red-tow'r ticker.
1T il chilly this morning. isn't it?' said the
reform clock. using few seconds TO rub the frost
of !,s chin.
Il should say So" remarked the Court-st. ora
Gle. but is going TO be very hot before night.
And II was hot before night for the city Han
timepece. Forty minutes after that the court-st
tmepece was warming its cold hands over one oi
the most picturesque blazes Brooklyn has seen
in many day. and the works of the muncipai
clock helped To feed the flames.
The earthly career OF Miss Justice. the lmiar'la
lady surmounilng the cupola OF the city Han was
also brought to a close. She had done service Ior
all the towers that have surmOunted the Cly
Hall Of Brooklyn The old bell. too. which has
sonorously rung itself into the hearts OF Brook
lynites-announcing the Fourth Of July, the New
Year and nres-this other old friend went uo""
with Justice and the clock.
The fire started at about 30 and thirty minutes
later dozen engines ihfobbing WIN S''a"-
pressure and putting out nk-coorcd smoke were
forcing gallons Of water the blaze Lines OF nose
were stretched here and there. nmble nremen ran
r.lf.r In
long lines and citizens by the hundred looked on IN
wonder.
The flames started. according 70 James Dunno and
Frank Wc@kes I'm q closet under the stairs close 10
the Common Counc. Chamber on the second moor
Mr. dunno. with his wife AMI four children hVed
on The top npor OF the City Hal on the southwest
side Major Wcescs. the assistant keeper. has
rooms Oh the northwcs; side The daily cleaning of
the premises ls done early In the morning. Mt
Weekes discovered smoke and flame Issuing from
closet near the loot OF the stairway leading rom
the thiri - tho iop Hopr He sent Ia an alarm
over the telephone .n the common Council Cham
bor. and d second and third alarm ~pon followed
At nrst little smoke circied about the base - the
tower ant uas whIskcI away %, the brisk north
wind Then tongue - flame crept ~ through
the tower and the wind swrici and twisted t unit.
4 cnclrclod the cupola. Then came the red g'eam
OF nrc through the windows IN the lower part of the
tower while volumes Of heavy smoke began 10 pour
Tho heat broke the windows. and broad sheets OF
ramo shoi out ani up toward the clock AMI the
statue OF Justice. which MAS aoon "rappri In a
nery shroui
At =, o'clock the tower containing the bell mo
clock and re statue ~ Justice mnged toward
Court st and the h.ll wifh a rash fol 20 the
second noor - the bUilllne. where q, broke 10
pieces Al this time the nrcmen wcr" s~arniing
on she roof and heavy streams were pourci upon
tAc flames. which Wei" under control he'o'" >
The fao...- p Dunno ard weekc. Msre s1fely i.l
which the fire had started Mrs Dunn" MAS pIor-
tratcd from ne shock. and "as paced under Il
M damase to Ne huilii3s iron, the water cyd Is
and bell and fhe ROOF ~ the imn 'iinte centre the
damage hy nIe is not extensive. .
The Mayor. Corporation 'onns"ls ana nc 'i'y
Trcasurcr'S Offices were soaked "i'h water anu
the ceilings VIII doubtless have 10 be replaced
so serious damage WAS done To- any valuable rec
private Secretary ralo,er. IN the absence Of
Mayor Schicrcn in Washington has moved thr
MSyor's ono to Room 80 10. in the basement Of
The s.lyI service Commission has established
temporary offices ln ne Brooklyn Library Bald
ing and Controller Palmer nas moved to the Gar
civ works Commlssionor Whtc hal iorc, Of
thirty men at work on the dehrs as so2h as '' hi
and II is thought that ne roof Will be- Temporarily
repaired to.lay in' 3i''in % ~a,r'' wa,ce .i Wv said
Yesterday that he would wait day or two he'ore
taking any steps 10 rebuild II the tower IL simply
20 be- restored the city VIII be able to DO II. but II
tower Of new design Is decided upon. an architect
Will be- called in.
In isi5 the erection OF the present 'iiy Han was
begun. II Us III feet ons the rear running parallel
Gonrt GG,'ii Sts having Vain Of ic feet Th@ dis
tance from a.. ground 10 the top Of IN" siau" was
| about 10 frDf The hall was finished IN 1873. durns
| ih, Mavoraliv of Francis H. Stryknr AMI when N"
city had "a population ~ 1000" u cost about f.'-
G1 II was not insured. The ben which was de-
stroyci yesterday Was hung IN $50 -,
The only accident reported was The burning OF tne
face OF Major Weakcs the assistant keeper. az he
was running from the building
Nonc of the pictures Of the * Mayors In IN" COM
mon Council Chamber were seriously damaged.
Fire CommissOner BrNmer thinks The IRE WAS
started hy some who struck match IN the
dark closet and threw D; among The waste papers.
Mr. Dunno says he thinks an electric lghi wire
| caused
! YESTERDAY nrc was tho fourth that has occurred
in The CiiY Hail In 1865 FIRE starting in the Vol
I unicor Flremen's room caused 5000 damage. TWO
small fires occurred IN 1872 neither ~ which caused
/ much damage.