The herald., 1898-12-05
Do Not Prove Fire>Proof When
Put to the Test
NEW yORk'S Two TALLFST BUILDINGS
Burned Just Handiy Story Cottages, But Did Not
Collapse or Fall the Firemen-Loss
One Million Dollars
Associated Press Special Wire

NEW YORK, Dec. An binding rain
storm tonight the massive block of building.
On Broadway, numbers 253 to 259, and in
cluded between Murray and Warren streets
was almost destroyed by fire. Within three
hours more than a million dollars worth
of property was destroyed. The fire began
in the five-story brick building occupied by
the mems furnishing firm of Rogers, Peet
Co., on the southwest corner of Broad
way and Warren streets Adjoining the
RogersPeet building and south of it was
tire magnificent white building of the Home
Life Insurance company, and next to this
was the brown stone building of the Postal
Telegraph company, erected at a cost oil
millions only few years ago.
IT WAS PICTURESQUE
Within few minutes after the discovery
oil the fire the Ro2ers-Peet building was a
roaring furnace, and an alarm had been
turned in which brought out more than A
score of engines. 1t was but short time
when the flames had eaten through the wall
OF the Home Life and were roaring high
above that lofty structure. Thousands of
people had gathered on the scene and the
binding glare of the flames lit up the lower
part OF the city. Even in the downpour
the great crowds of people grew and the
police were called out from many stations
and kept the people back for blocks. Great
showers of sparks were carried in all direc-
tions by the gale that blew sixty miles an
hour. 1t was picturesque fire.
PRIVATE PAPERS LOST
The Home Life Insurance building was
occupied by that company and large mum.
Der OF prominent men in various lines OF
business. Every effort was made to save
the valuable papers stored in some of the
offices, but many of them were lost. The
offices of the rapid transit commission were
or the ninth floor of this building, and it
is believed all the plans and schemes OF
work with which the commission has been
working these many years have been de-
stroyed.
In the Postal building, as well, there were
many serious losses OF private nature,
and when the flames reached the operating
room OF this structure, which they did
within three hours of the outbreak, the
one or two solitary operators who remained
at their posts were compelled to flee for
their lives, leaving unsent messages at the
keys.
The fire burned even more fiercely in the
Home Life building, owing to the great
height of this structure, and in an incred-
IDLY short time the upper half of this mag
niticent building was in flames. The water
towers in the streets were able to throw
their heavy streams only into the lower
part of the structure and the firemen, al
though they worked with great bravery and
untiring energy in the binding smoke and
heat, could do little in the face of such
fierce sweep OF fame and gale. 1t was only
a question of time when the Postal building,
so far as the upper stories were concerned,
went the way of the others.
ESTIMATES OF LOSS
The estimate of the losses by Chief Bon
ner, after midnight, was a million dollars,
with probability OF still further loss
should the fire continue to make anything
like rapid progress AT that hour he be-
lieved he had the fire under control within
reasonable limits. At o'clock, however,
it was still burning tiercely in front, and al
though not observable by the thousands of
people, was burning still more fiercely and
extending lower down in the rear.
An insurance man roughly estimates the
losses at about as follows:
Rogers, Peet & Co., building, stock and
losses TO other tenants, S350,000
Home Life Insurance company, building
and losses to other tenants, $500,000.
The Postal Telegraph company, building
and losses to tenants, 100000.
Losses to surrounding buildings, $4,000.
Chief Bonner thought that this estimate
on the basis of million dollars loss was
about as near correct as was possible to
make.
The Rogers-Peet building was the prop
erty of the Hoffman estate, and was one of
the historic buildings of Broadway. 1t was
erected 35 years ago.
The fire started from three explosions
What caused the explosions the firemen
could not find out. They thought gas had
escaped in some manner in the basement,
and so resulted in explosion and fire.
The Postal Telegraph company officials
say that all their wires have been burned out, |
and that they have no connections from
their building.
The Hardware clubs quarters, which were
on the top floor of the Postal building, were
ruined. Their loss is heavy. The Home |
Insurance building was one of the hand |
soonest on Broadway, and was supposed to
he absolutely freproof. Its summit was
2sO feet above the sidewalk. Leading ar.
chitects OF the country submitted plans for
it's construction.
WHERE 1T STARTED
The fire started in the rear of the base. |
ment of the building occupied by Rogers,
Peet Co., clothing, about 8: Noclock. Two
policemen standing within half block Of
Warren street, heard loud explosion and |
a moment later saw a thin line of smoke |
curling up from the side of the Rogers, Peet
& Co. building. At that time rain was fall. |
ing in torrents and the wind blew gale. An
alarm was sent in, but before the first en-.
gine turned into Broadway the Rogers, Peet
4 Co. basement was roaring furnace, with