Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-11-18
A Thrilling Experience of New
York Patrol at a Cellar Fire.

Charles T. Hill, who has been writ
ing a series OF articles on the New
York Fire Department for st. Nicho-
las. brings the series to an end with a
paper on "rhe Fire Patrol" in the
October number Mr.. Hin tells the
following story
An incident that occurred at Sc
we're fire in n 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 base
ment of an immense tireproof building
on Greene street, extending whole
block from West Fourth street to
Washington Place When the iiremen
arrived, half the basement, or practi-
cally half the block, wsts In flames, but
ON account of the freproof construc-
tior of the building the fire was con
fined to the basement. The fire was
burning so fiercely that the shutters
OF the ndSelleuJ WlHupWS NtAt "iiii'S'
red hot and the headlights over the
sidewalk were so heated that the tar
around the glass was bubbllng ana
running in streams across the walk to
the gutter. The construction of the
building was very substantial, and 1t
was almost impossible for the firemen
to make an entrance, indeed, the win
dows and headlights had to be broken
in before they could secure access to
the building and get to work.
The basement was occupied by a
straw hat manufactures, and the cap
tain of No 2 Fire Patrol Zone Of the
first companies to arrived felt sure
there must be a sub-cellar stored with
most perishable stock. How to
reach 1t before the firemen began to
throw water ON the fire was the ques-
ton. II seemed well nigh impossible
70 get into the basement through the
regular entrances and to venture in
while the fire was raging as IL was
seemed almost fool-hardy, but he de-
| termined to reach the cellar at any
/ cost and find out what 1t contained.
After considerable effort he succeeded
in making an entrance on the north
side Of the building fthe main body OF
FIRE was on the south end. and crop
ing his way through the smoke and
darkness, lantern in hand, he found
himself In the basement. The heat
was intense and the air sitting
Ahead Of him in the corner Of the
basement he could see the flames roll
ing about cracking and roaring as
they deyoured case after case of goods
Peering through the thick atmos-
phere. Il 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 basement that he felt sure must
lead TO the sub-cellar II was danger
ously near the roaring furnace ahead
Of him, and he thought TO himself:
Can / reach that and get into the cell
lar and back again before the fire cuts
me one" 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 on
the fire all the time. IT grew hotter
and hotter as he advanced. and the
perspration was pouring from his face
in great beads, and he was almost
suffocated when his hand finally rest
ed on the knob Of the door He opened
II and stepped inside. What a relief
The transformation was almost mar
Vicious for the change from the heated
atmosphere Of the basement 10 the
cool air OF the cellar was like stepping
out Of a red-hot oven into an e-box.
He descended the cellar stairs rapid
ly, and holding his lantern aloft.
looked about him II was as he had
suspected The cellar was filled with
immense cases Of straw hats. and al
though, owing to the frcproof floor,
the fire probably could not descend,
when the many streams got 70 work
the damage by water would be cnor-
nous
He hastily assembled peerlug c1"-
tiousIy out Of the door he found the
fire had not advanced any further lie
then made his way quickly through
the dense smoke TO the street
He reported to the superintendent