New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-06

ten minutes after the discovery OF the flames.
He added: Two years ago ordered the Hotf-
man estate; which owned the building at the
corner OF Warren-st.. TO put iron doors on the
landings at the elevator shaft. and on the WIN
dows and doors opposite the shaft on the war
ren-st. side. The estate objected to doing THIS
but we insisted. and IL was lucky we did Those
iron doors saved the adjoining buildings In war
ren-st. Ii looked at one time during the hre
as II they were doomed II. at IL O'Clock lasl
night, YOU had offered TO sell me that block for
$40. exclusive of insurance. | wouldn't nave
bought it,"
COULDN'T KEEP CROKER OUT.
Soon after o'clock yesterday Richard Croker
accompanied by Andrew Freedman. approached
the line Of ropes from the uptown side. Not
withstandng the strict orders given to allow
no one to pass the line Of police. all Of these
who recognized Mr.. Croker stood ASIDE. and
with Mr. Freedman. he was permitted to go
beyond the ropes The pair had advanced about
ten feet inside the ropes when Foreman Rus
sell. of the Building Department. whose word
about the ruins is law. advanced, and. after
greeting Mr. Croker pleasantly, said: MT
Croker. you cannot pass"
Mr.. Croker smiled pleasantly Deputy-Chet
Croker. who is a nephew OF Richard Croker
who had charge Of the fremen at the runs
heckoned to Mr.. Russell and the latter changed
his mind You can go by. Mr. Croker ne
said.
Mr.. Cro',er and Mr.. Freedman walked along
gingerly on the park side, and Mr.. Croker looked
nervously up at the lettering walls OF the
building He walked along to the southern
ropes at Murray St and passed on down town
When Deputy-Chef Croker was asked why he
allowed Messrs. Croker and Freedman to pass
the ropes when al others were barred. he said
with smile, We couldn't keep him out"
LESSONS OF THE FIRE.
Fire Commissioner Scannell saw the fire on
Sunday night and yesterday he expressed him
self as greatly pleased with the heroic work
done by the department. AS to lighting fires in
high buildings. the Commissioner said:
Il do not believe there is a strictly freproof
building in NewYork City to-day. Our depart
ment is seriously Handicapped in fighting a fire
on the upper floors Of these buildings by the
fact that We cannot get the water up there. The
great pressure bursts the hose. and the stream
is not effective | am glad there was no loss OF
life or other casualties. but think the fire is
lesson to all our citizens"
Chief Bonner has always contended that New
York skyscrapers freproof only until a
good fire appeared beside or in them. After
Sunday nights experience he was more firmly
Of that opinion than In speaking Of these
buildings yesterday he said.
This fire simply emphasizes the fact that the
department is greatly handicapped In getting at
a fire in the upper floors Of such tall buildings.
EFFECT on FUTURE RENTING
W. J. Van PEI. Of the firm Of George r. Read.
the agent for the Heme LIE Building. was
asked yesterday what effect the fire would have
On future rentals or that ana Otner puilh-
ines.
None at all" replied Mr. Van Pelt IF any
thing at all is demonstrated by that fire it is
that man is great deal safer from fire on
the top floor Of "A skyscraper than on the ground
floor Of lower and more old fashioned build
ing"
Ellis W. Gladwn secretary OF the Home Life
Insurance Company. yesterday estimated the
cost Of repairing the building so 70 put it
into as good shape before the FIRE at about
Sl5ON0 He said that work would he begun
as quickly as possible al once If the insurance
could be- so quickly adjusted and the Building
and Fire apartments allowed the work 10 be
resumed.
CLEARING AWAY THE DEBRIS.
No time was lost yesterday morning in begin
walls Of Rogers Peet & Co.'S establishment
Gangs Of men under the direction Of the Build
ing Department. were soon engaged in strngng
wire ropes by means Of which the walls will he
pulled bodily down. It Is probable that this
work Will be done at any early hour this morn
ing when there will he few pedestrians around
4 great mass Of charred beams under the
building fell with crash soon after il o'clock
yesterday morning and many workmen became
so frightened that they rushed from the build
ing and out over the ropes. This fall of the
beams weakened the walls Of the already tot
tering building There were about fifty work.
men who stampeded. and they returned with the
greatest reluctance.
THE TENANTS BURNED OUT
Following is a list Of the tenants burned out
in the Home Life Insurance Company's Build
aged by water: