The herald., 1896-12-26
New York Skyscrapers Reduced
to Ruins
DAMAGE is HALF A MILLION
Which Falls Mostly on the Insurance
Companies
A San Francisco Printing Company
Celebrates an Anniversary BY the
Destruction of it's Plant.
Associated Press Special Wire

ASSOCIATED PreSS special wire
NEW YORK, Dec. 25.-Fire this morn
ing destroyed two big buildings on East
Thirty-third street, partially destroyed
the New York Polytechnic hospital and
compelled the removal of its patients,
drove a score of families from their
homes in adjoining buildings and did
$500,000 damage. The structures which
were destroyed were fiye-story build
ing at 221 and 223 East Thirty-third
and a big six-story building at Nos. 21S
to 221, used as a factory building.
The lower floors of 211-213 were used
as offices and display rooms for the Kali
denburg Manufacturing company, which
occupied with it's factory the basement
and first and second floors of the fac
tory building. The company manufac-
lures pipes and smokers articles.
The third, fourth and fifth floors front
of 2li-213 were occupied as offices by the
Sebastian Sohmer Piano company and
the Gibson Piano company, allied con-
,cerns, which had their factory in the
upper floors Of the factory building
The rear part of the upper floors of Nos
211-213 were occupied by the snuff fac
tory of Adolph Pinner. 1t is believed
that the fire started in the snuff fac
tory. "
A part of the top floor of the factory
building was occupied by the New Eng
land Car Spring company.
The fire on East Thirty-third street
had been burning from to o'clock be-
fore real alarm was felt in the Poly
clinic, though the patients knew there
was fire in the neighborhood. Sud
denly the roof of the hospital, which is
on Thirty-fourth street, burst into
flames. The physicians in charge at
once decided to remove the fifty-eight
patients, and the Delaware hotel, near
by, was placed at the disposal Of the
Polytechnic officials. A squad of police
men began the removal of the sick peo-
pie, and all were carried out in safety
In the tenement house west of the burn
ing buildings lived four families. These
were all removed to places of safety.
The roof of the factory building fell
within an hour after the fire was dis
covered. The wall to the west tumbled
down upon the tenement house. The
east wall went down on Schuller's hotel.
The loss is we'll covered by insurance.
AT SAN FRANCISCO.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 25.-Fire this
afternoon destroyed the plant of Fran
els, Valentine & Co., one of the largest
printing firms in this city. The fire
broke out in the basement occupied by
the Commercial Light and Power COM
pany and spread to the first floor, where
the Ruswell Book Binding company was
wiped out. The upper floors We're oc-
cupied by Francis, Valentine & Co.
Their presses, which were insured for
$50 1000, We're slightly damaged, while
the stock and wood cuts were nearly de-
stroyed. The total loss will probably
be under $50,O00. Two years ago today
the same building was burned. That
fire was more disastrous, for the Call
was burned out and the building had
to be reconstructed.
Today Peter McCabe, a fireman, fell
from the two-story building adjoining
and was badly hurt. No bones were
broken, but internal injuries are feared.
CHURCH AND CLUB HOUSE.
WILKESBARRE, Pa, Dec. 25-Fire
destroyed st. Stephens Episcopal
church. one of the largest edifices of
| this city. this morning. Westmoreland
| club, adjoining, was gutted Cause OF
| the fire unknown. Loss, 5000, 900.
THE DEFECTIVE FLUE
OAKLAND, Dec. 25.-Dr. ]. w. Rob-
ertson's sanitarium was partially de-
! stroyed by fire at o'clock this morning
| 1t was occupied by thirty patients suf-
fering from nervous disorders. The first
care was for the patients. many of whom
were still in bed. There was great con.
| fusion, but all were safely removed.
The house was formerly Livermore col.
lege and, while only two stories high
occupies large area. The insurance
will probably cover the loss. The dam.
age will be under $4,000. A defective flue
| caused the trouble.