The Portland daily press., 1898-02-12
NASSAU CHAMBERS BURNED.
Fire in New York Last Evening Which
Threatened Dire Destruction.

New York, February 11.-Levi P. Nor
toms seven story office building and l.
shaped structure with frontages on Mas
sau and Ann streets and known as the
Nassau Chambers building was complete
ly destroyed by fire tonight. Thelfiremen
hadsa hard battle and for three hours
after the discovery of the flames at 6.3O
o'clock, there was every prospect of a
great confiagration. Every fire company
in the city from 59th street to the
Battery was called out and in remark
ably short time thousands OF people had
gathered in the contiguous streets ana
Broadway.
The Derby Desk company occupied both
the Nassau and Ann street stores and the
basement of the building where the fire
originated was occupied by the Herald
Cycle company. A passerby discovered
the fire and gave the alarm, but SO rapid
ly did the flames spread that before the
arrival of the firemen they had gained
great Roadway and q second, third,
fourth, fifth and a general alarm were
sent out in rapid succession, calling to
the scene large number of fire fighters.
Meanwhile the flames had mounted from
basement to top story of the building and
were shooting high in the air, sending
out an illumination that could be seen for
miles around A high wind prevailed
and showers of sparks were carried In
every direction. From the Nassau cham
bers the fire spread to the four story
building adjoining and the clothing store
of Maduro Bros. on the ground floor WAS
quickly in flames.
While a group of firemen were at work
on the Ann street side of the fire, there
was loud explosion and portion Of the
building WIS blown out. Several were
,ls IL h, l,x-d x,sv AL, L.
number injured, Foreman Edward Pagan
of Engine Co. No. 10, alone sustained
many considerable injuries and even he
after his wounds had been dressed re-
turned to his work.
The Murray stationary store occupied a
small frontage adjoining the Derby Desk
company on Nassau street and this con-
Germ has very little If anything left.
The upper part of the Nassau Cham bers
was occupied by lawyers, and as offices
of a number of manufacturing concerns,
Assemblyman Julius Hamburger occupied
offices on the second floor. He lost every
thing, inclu ling a valuable library. As
sistant Corporation Counsel Lesser, the
National Advertising company, Smith
and Hass, the latter trim occupying the
entire seventh floor, Saunders and Rosen-
stein, Johnson and Bailey publishers,
Simonson and Hudson, brokers and the
Hanoway company, publishers, are among
others who suffer severely from the fire.
Acting Captain Linderman of the Oak
street station was on hand early with one
hundred policemen, who had great diff
Guilty in keeping back the vast crowds of
people who had congregated from all
parts of the city. The entire reserve
forces of the Old Slip and Oak street
stations were called out to maintain ordor
| and assist the frenlen.
The Bennett building at the southwest
corner of Nassau and Ann street caught
fire several times but the flames were ex-
tinguished by the ffremen and employees
of the building. A scaffolding on the new
Syndicate building on Park Row was
| ignited number OF times also and once
the woodwork on the gath floor was blaz-
ing. Several of the men employed by the
contractors hurried 10 the building when
they learned of the fire and kept the
flames under control
1t was found necessary to call out more
police and Inspector Cross ordered out
every policeman in every station south of
Fourteenth street who was not on duty.
| The loss at present is estimated at hall
| a million and the fire is under control.
The larger share of the loss will be borne
| by the Morton interests although it was
stated that they are we'll insured in the
Globe and London and Liverpool COM
| panies.
The Derby Desk company and the
Manduri Bros, are mentioned as the next
heavy losers.