New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-08
FIRE IN POLICE HEADQUARTERS.
FLAMES ON THE FOURTH FLOOR CAUSE
ABOUT 5000 LOSS


Commotion reigned In Police Headquarters for
more than an hour last evening over fire In
the building. which started In one OF the many
rooms on the top floor Of the four r-story struct-
ure. The blaze was discovered In a section Of
the building at the most northerly end on the
Mulberry-st. front. which Is devoted to the work
connected with the Bertlon system OF meas
uring and photographing criminals. This de-
partment occupies four rooms. each one or
which Is used for special purposes in connection
with its work Two Of these rooms were badly
wrecked and the others were damaged in
greater or less degree. None Of the negatives,
prints. plates or records Of the bureau were
destroyed. or even injured, and the total loss
to the contents Of the rooms and TO the build
ing will not exceed $1,000.
Mrs Kate Travers, the matron Of Police Head
quarters, was In one OF her rooms, which ad-
joins the Bertilon bureau at $50 o'clock. when
she heard peculiar sound coming from one
Of the apartments her. She thought. at
first, that 1t was made by a cat and later
thought that some one was moving In the place.
As the bureau closed at 5 o'clock In the after
noon she thought 1t strange that any one
should be engaged at work there. She then
sent her young son James to the first floor.
where Captain Titus was in charge. The cap
tain sent Detective Wade upstairs. but before
the detective reached the top floor, Mrs. Trav-
era smeed smoke and herself ran down to
the Office OF Commissioner Smith. who happened
TO he in the building, and told Sergeant OBrten
that the place was on fire. An alarm was sent
by TELEPHONE to Fire Headquarters and In
twnkllng two engine companies were on the
scene.
The doors to the rooms Of the Bertion system
were broken down and fire was found burning
nercely In the room known as the dark room.
which is connected with the room where photo
graphs are taken on the SOUTH and adjoins Mrs
Travers's rooms The main room In the bureau
was also burning and the flames had already
worked their way to the ceiling and flooring
moment after the discovery Of the fire smoke
and flame shot through the roof
The blaze was a stubborn one, for 1t was
long time before the fire was under control, tn
presence of chemicals and other nfammab
materials making the flames hard to fight.
After the excitement was over. II was toun'
that the records. pictures. plates. etc. had peel
untouched by the fire. In addition to the oam
age done on the top floor. small loss was sus
tanned in the stationery department OF tn
building. directly below, into which the mr.
| found its way The water dripped into the pri
| vate Office OF Commissioner Moss. on the thir'
! floor and even found its way into the ONCE o
| Chief McCullagh on the main floor.
1t Is supposed tha. the fire was caused by
| lighted gas Jet which had been left burning neal
the door TO the dark ROOM This gas Jet nae
! been turned with It's bracket, so that II ignite
| the wood of the door.
There was only one person in Mrs. Travers'
nursery. a boy six years old, and ne was re
moved To a place OF safety. No prisoners wer
! in the building at the time.