New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-20

houses and other structures had either vanished
or remained only in blackened walls, chaos
OF fallen grders and smoking piles OF bricks
and stones The loss by the fire is estimated
TO be IS OO0O0C The area covered by IT was at
least two
Hamsell-st was the scene Of the outbreak OF
the fire. which was due TO an explosion IN con
nect!on with a gas engine on the premises Oh
Waller, Brown & Co. mantle manufacturers III
No 30. on that thoroughiare. Their large lac
tory was crowded with girls when the nre
started. and was instantly the scene OF pAl'c'
the frightened operatives. with many screams
rushing to the roof of the building ana thence
crossing to other buildings and 50 erecting
their escape, while the flames were pouring out
Of the basement. In less than quarter OF an
hour the fire had enveloped the adjoining ware
house. and thence the flames leaped across the
street 10 a big paper warehouse. which was
fully ablaze In less than ten minutes.
A GENERAL ALARM SENT OUT.
Rv this time 1t was evident to the fremen
thai they were face to face with great dis
aster. and a general alarm was sent out Ihen
from all the fire stations. even from those tuiy
five miles from the scene or the disas'er' en-
gines were hurried 10 the hre' ana 'he ponce
gathered about the neighborhood IN great iorce'
This display OF strength on the part OF the ponce
was roouired for the crowd, swelling in size
every moment, soon amounted 10 tens vi '"ou-
sands of people, and the firemen needed all pos
~,,.,. .noaaor, ~ action as their fight was one
q, the greatest difficulty. owing TO the narrow
- .ho o1d crooked streets which are the
feature Of that part OF London. and the heisn'
q, the warehouses which cut off the hrehieh
>ror, q fadr chance OF subduing the hames'
The excitement among the onlookers' WIN
crowded every possible point of view, was very
great especially in view OF the fact 'ha' nv
men had repeatedly 10 be rescued by thei 'o,'
rades. by the aid Of the fire-escapes' from 'i'e
buildings which had caught fire after the me"
had mounted to their roofs to fight the names
In adjoining structures
The rescue OF operatives by the hreHef INC
hurrying Of hosts Of clerks. who were trying u
save books and valuable papers and the rush-
ing here and there Of many employees, VINO were
attempting to carry to places OF safety cosby
merchandise or other valuables. added to the
confusion The roar Of the flames was so In
tense and the heat so terrific that several nre-
men were obliged to direct their operations un-
der showers OF water slowly poured upon them
STEADY SPREAD OF THE FIRE.
In spite OF the exertions Of the men engaged
In fighting It, the fire crept on steadily. until
Nichols Square. which Is situated at the far
end OF Hariscl-9t.. was reached.
At a little after O'Clock, dozen hoseppes.
with tweve-foot spread. poured water into
the blaze from opposite roofs from the street
below. and from the burning premises them
selves: but the food did not seem TO have any
eject. The water rushed out Of the windows
and from the ground floor like waterfall. while
the flames leaped higher and higher. and as
the floors fell in the place still blazed. ggan-
tic display Of fire and smoke. TIL the buildings
were completely gutted and the walls heeled
over, to the cheers OF the then almost count
,ess sichtseers
ihe confusion in the streets grew az the fire
extended, and as the shriekins of steam whistles
and the throbbing OF fire engines increased.
1asn BUILDING after building became igniteh