Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-09
IN DEADLY PERIL.
A Thrilling Experience of the New
York Fire Patrol ut IA Cellar Fire

A Thrilling Experience of the New
York Fire Patrol at IA Cellar Fire.
From the st. Nicholas
An incident that occurred at a severe fire
in big business house some two years
ago will give an idea of what the members
of these protective departments have to
face at times in order TO save property,
the fire broke out about midnight in the
basement of an immense fre-proof building
on Greene street, extending a whole block
from West 4th street to Washington Place.
The basement was occupied by a straw
hat manufacturer, and the captain of No =
fire patrol zone of the first companies tn
arrive) felt sure there must be a subcellar
stored With most perisnable stock. After
considerable effort, ne succeeded in making
an entrance, and. cropping his way through
the smoke ana darkness, lantern in hand
ne found himself in the basement, The
heat Was intense and the air sitting Ahead
or him In the corner of the basement. The
could see the flames rolling about, crack
ling ana roaring, as they devoured case
after case OF goods. Peering through the
thick atmosphere, it was some time before
he could discover anything that looked like
the entrance to the cellar; but finally he
spied door about midway in the base
ment that he felt sure must lead to the
subcellar. 1t was dangerously near the
roaring furnace ahead of HIM and H..
thought to himself: Can reach that and
get into the cellar and back again before
the fire cuts me of?" He made up his
mind at least to make the effort So he
walked cautiously across the basement
floor toward the door, keeping his eye IN
the fire all the time. 1t grew hotter and
hotter as he advanced, and the perspirat ton
was pouring from his face in great beads
and he was almost suffocated when Ills
hand finally rested on the knob of the door,
He opened 1t and stepped inside. What
relief! The transformation was almost
marvellous, for the change from the hea led
atmosphere OF the basement to the cool air
of the cellar was like stepping out of a red
hot oven into an Ice box.
He descended the cellar stairs rapidly,
and. holding his lantern aloft, looked about
him. 1t was as he had suspected. The cell
lar was filled with immense cases of straw
hats, and although, owing to the fire-proof
floor, the fire probably could not descend,
when the many streams got to work the
damage by water would be enormous
He hastily ascerded; peering cautiously
out of the door, he found the fire had not
advanced any further. He then made his
way quickly through the dense smoke to
the street.
patrol who had arrived by this time the
fact that he had been in the basement and
his discovery in the cellar. and told him he
only take the men down and cover UP the
stock. The superintendent was at first 10th
to let him do SO, for the situation looked
too dangerous, but finally he gave permits
sion, and the captain gathered his patrol
men about him,r and, armed with covecs,
they followed him to the subcellar to
''coyer up"
By this time the companies that had re-
sponded to the second and third alarms
sent out were atSw ork, as well as the COM
panies that had been ordered into the base
ment; and the air in the cellar was not as
pleasant as when the captain had first de-
scended. The fire had begun to SETTLE"
and the subcellaf was filled with a thick.
murky smoke. Whiieta constant, scalding
drip was falling from the ceiling
In this dim, sttnfnen atmosphere the "a
trolmen went to work with will, spread
ing their waterproof covers over case after
case Of valuable stock. while overhead
they could hear the roaring and cracking
Of the flames. the splashing of the many
now and then duh crash as some heavy
piece of masonry was crumbled away by
the heat. These were conditions under
which few men would care to labor. snd
yet the members Of the patrol were work
ing theoretically, scarcely giving thought
to the danger that hung above them.
At any moment the fire raging in the
basement over their heads might get be-
yond the control of the flremen battling
with 1t. and. spreading, cut on all means
of escape, or the steel and iron structure
OF the building, warped and twisted by the
dreadful heat 1t was being subjected to.
might give way, and send floor after floor.
loaded with 3hsayy merchandise, crashing
down upon them. This and 8. hundred
other possibilities menaced them while