New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-03
FLAMES FAMED BY A GALE
AN EAST SIDE PIANO FACTORY BURNED
OUT

NE1GHBoRING TENEMENT HOUSES IN GREAT
DANGER-A FIRE THAT WAS HARD TO FIGHT.
The fve-story piano factory of Stul,z & Bauer, at
No 33S East Thirty-frst-st, was burned out last
night The proprietors suffer a loss the building
and stock Of about 10000. which is only partly COW
cred by insurance. The fire proved 10 be the
fercest which the firemen have had TO fight for
long time. and for nearly an hour 1t threatened
great destruction. With westerly wind blowing at
about sixty miles an hour. and the water supply, as
is always the case the extreme edges Of the city
far from adequate account Of the small size OF
the mains. the remen had their hands full, and at
first Chief Bonner feared that the flames would
reach the tall tenementhouses by which the factory
is surrounded on all sides.
The factory is on the north side of the street.
within 100 feet of Ffrsave. Directly east OF 1t. and
separated from it only by brick wall. were two
four-story tenement-houses Similar tenement
houses were in its rear. with space some twenty
FIVE feet wide between them.
1t was almost O'Clock. when the tenement
houses were crowded, when Thomas Brady, of No.
$40 Firstave. while passing along Thirty first-st.,
saw a thin line of flame stretching along the pas
sage at the western end of the building which
leads TO the delivery Brady to Thirty
frst-st and First-ave. and sent out an alarm.
shouting Fire. he There is Waterman
employed in the building but James Mcclure, of
No. 337 East Thirty -seventh-st.. Patrick Mooney
and another man staining near tne DuldlnB,
hearing Bradys shouts, and knowing that the Of
flee of the piano company, where a Waterman
might be, in the of the building. up
to the nearest window and smashed with their
fists All less cut about the hands
and wrists, and Brady received cash In which
an ambulance surgeon had to put three stitches.
BY the time the fremen reached the building the
flames had crept up the elevator shaft in the
centre, and, feeding the woodwork and the oil
end varnish which stored In large quantities
all the factory, had spread through every
obtain adequate streams OF water manned the roofs
east and north toward the tenement- houses. Many
OF the tenants began to remove their goods and
the men assembled on the roof formed a bucket
brigade to protect the WOODWORK from the sparks.
the battalion chief in charge of the first alarm
engines seeing the character of the fire. sent
a second alarm. which brought Chief Bonner and
quick succession, and nearly a Of engines at
tackled the flames water-tower rugged in
the front Of the building: and on the sides and In
obtain adequate streams of water. manned the roof
and windows of the deserted tenement-houses and
drove the flames back. No glass remained in the
but the isolation of the fire was soon complete. In
the factory IL burned fierce.y until long after mid
aisht, destroying the roofs and every floor. but
leaving the walls intact
The fire caused the greatest excitement In the
neghborhood. and the police had much dhiculty In
keeping the fire lines Sergeant Todd who Is IN
moned the reserves Of the East Twenty second-st
squad however. and by them the crowd was Kept
within bounds. !. sa,.o, .
tained The factory closed at $50 p. m. but 1t was
al right when Philip Mahan. the engineer, VINO
visits il at intervals each night. made a tour OF
originated In the basement from the heating APP
Daratus