New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-15
DRYGOODS GO UP IN SMOKE.
FIRE IN A GRAND-ST. BUILDING CAUSES
HEAVY LOSS.

THE HOUSE OCCUPIED BY FIRM OF DRYGooDs
IMPORTERS AND is DESTROYED WITH ITS
CoNTENTs-Two FIREMEN's BRAVERY.
The big building. No. rs Grand-st, which
with adjoining one at Nos SO and S5 Greene
ST.. is occupied by c. A. Auffmordt & Co.. import
ers. and agents Of foreign drygoods houses, was
destroyed by fire last right. causing loss esti-
mated by the police at about 100000. A fire.
alarm box which was out Of order, and a water
tower which failed to work. were largely response
Bile for the heavy loss Tho Grand-st. building
was wrecked and the stock in the Greene-st house
was slightly damaged by water.
Auffmordt Co.. who occupy the two buildings
divide their premises among the firms for whom
they act. and the personal representatives Of
each firm superintend the distribution Of the
goods consigned to them In care Of Messrs. Auff
mordt from abroad among buyers in this coun-
try On the ground hoor of No. rs Grand-st. were
the represen tatives Of Franz MerZ & Co.. Ger
man dressgoods firm, and above were Hugo
Bondy & Co.. French glove manufacturers. and
Dexter Lambert & Co. silk manufacturers. In
the nearer portion Of the adjoining building was
the foreign glove firm Of August Charles Co.
The offices of John F. Degner. the resident part
ner and manager Of Auffmordt & Co.. were on
the third floor. Lehman Auffmordt. the senior
partner lives in Paris.
1t was about o'clock when Frederick Kind
a clerk in the employ Of Messrs. Merz and II.
Hafeberger the firms bookkeeper. who had re-
manned in the building late to do some work
on the books, detected strong odor of smoke,
and on investigating found flames creeping up
the air-shaft from the ground floor. While
Hafeberger slammed the safe door. Kind Sc
cured the ledger and cash book which they
had been at work. and both ran into the street.
They made for the fire. alarm box at Grand and
Greene SITS, only a few yards away. and pulled
II open, but the alarm refused to work.
Policeman Newhann, OF the Macdougal-st. sta
ton, found them struggling with the alarm and
to the box at Greene and Broome SITS. a
block away That was in working order. but
valuable time had been lost. The iremen arrived
to find the air-shaf: a raging furnace. and the
fire already streaming out of the second and
third floor windows and second and third
alarm were sounded In quick succession
Water Tower No. 1. which came from Cham
bersst. the first alarm was got into position
opposite the building. and the nozzles Of three
engines were attached to 1t. The tower Is raised
automatically by the pressure OF the water.
One stream after another turned into the
base. but the hydraulic gear did not work. FIJI
teen minutes was wasted In endeavoring to raise
the tower. and then the force of the water burst
the nozzles from their sockets, and the tower
was disabled.
fourth alarm. which brings an additional
water tower. was sounded by order of Chief Bon
ner, and until 1t came the fremen settled down
to fight the flames with single streams. Five
got into play but the whole front of the
building sheet Of flames and the fire
was already through the roof.
Firemen John p. Gallagher and James Nc
Nulty. of Engine Company No. II. which had
come on the second alarm. raised an extension
ladder to the third floor window. and mounting
upon 1t directing hose into the opening
where the second floor window had been. when
the water tower failed. Word sent up to
them 10 hold on "a long as possible. and they
held their post Presently the top Of their lad
der twelve feet above them. took fire, but the
men merely drenched 1t with quick turn Of
the hose. and did not give an inch The windows
of the fourth and fifth floors blew out. and
finally the composition cornice at the edge OF
the roof melted, and its fragments rained down
upon the two fremen but in spite Of the warning
shouts of their comrades. they did not move until
the reserve water tower ratified up.
Then, after half hours terrible exposure
to flame and smoke, they carried down
the ladder Gallagher's face where the heat had
scorched 1t and the flame singed it. swollen
until 1t almost unacceptable. His hands
were cut and his helmet dented by falling glass
and wood. and he almost unconscious
McNulty was partially overcome by smoke and
his hands had to be wrenched from their hold
Both men had to be sent to their homes. THAT
was the bravest piece Of endurance I've seen
In my time" their captain said when the men
were taken down.
1t was 10 o'clock before the fire was under
control, and until that time the fremen were out
of sight of the crowds outside the fire lines, 30
thick was the smoke which from the
building.
The property is owned by G. G. Kurecheedt
of the Kurscheedt Manufacturing Company and
the Cotheal estate. Mr. Kurscheedts loss Will
BE heavy but the estates loss Is trif1ing.
c