Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-12
DANGEROUS BLAZE.
One Million Of Property De-
stroyed in Heart of New York,
Levi p. Mortons seven-story Office Build.
ing Totally Burned-AIl Fire Com
panes Called Out.

New York, Feb 11.--Levi P. Morton's
seyen-story office building, an L-shaped
structure with frontage on Nassau and
Ann streets, and known as the Nassau
Chambers building, was completely de-
stroyed by fire tonight The fremen
had hard battle, and for three hours
after the discovery of the flames, at
$50 O'clock, there was every prospect of
a great conflagration. Every fire COM
pany in the city. from 59th street to the
Battery, was called out, and in a re-
markably short time thousands of peo-
pie had gathered in the contiguous
streets and 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 passer-by discovered the fire and
gave the alarm, but so rapidly did the
flames spread that before the arrival of
the tiremen they had gained great head
way, and second, third. fourth, fifth
and a general alarm were sent out in
rapid succession, calling to the scene a
large number of fire fighters. Mean
while the flames had mounted from
basement to top story of the building
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 chambers the fire
spread to the four-story building ad-
joining, and the clothing store of Madu-
ro Bros, on the ground floor. was
quickly in flames. The loss here also
will be practically complete.
While group of firemen were at
work on the Ann street side OF the fire.
there was a loud explosion, and por-
tion of the building was blown out. Sew
eral of the firemen were badly cut by
falling glass and debris, and call was
sent out, which brought several ambu-
lances to the scene and caused g. rumor
that number of people had been
killed. OF the number injured, Fore
man Edward Pagan of Engine company
- alone sustained any considerable in
| Juries, and even ne after his wounds
| had been dressed returned to his work
| The Murray stationery store occupied
small frontage adjoining the Derby
Desk Company on Nassau street, and
| this concern has very little if anything
left. The upper part of the Nassau
| Chambers was occupied by lawyers and
by offices of q number of manufacturing
concerns. Assemblyman Julius Har-
| burger occupied offices on the second
floor. He lost everything, including a
valuable library
Assistant Corporation Counsel Lesser,
the National Advertising Company,
Smith & Haas, the latter firm occupying
the entire seventh floor; Saunders and
Rosenstein, Johnson e Bailey. publish
ers; Sfmonson & Hudson brokers. and
the Hanway Company, publishers are
among others who suffer severely from
the fire. Acting Captain Linderman, of
the Oak street station, was on hand
early with 100 policeman, who had 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
order and assist the firenen.
The Bennett building at the southwest
| corner of Nassau and Ann streets caught
! fire several times, but the flames were
| extinguished by the firemen and employ
ees 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 blazing. Several of the
! men employed by the contractors hur-
ried to 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 order
ed out every policeman in every station
south of Fourteenth street, who was not
on that duty This took the entire re-
serve force of II precincts. The loss at
! present is estimated at half million,
and the fire is under control The
larger share of the loss will be borne by
the Morton interests, although 1t was
stated that they are well insured in the
Globe and the London and Liverpool
| companies.
| The Derby Desk Company and the
Maduro Brothers are mentioned as the
next heavy losers.
ANOTHER BIG GOTHAM FIRE
New York, Feb. 11.--Opposite Manhat-
tan field. at 155th street and Sth avenue.
fire tonight destroyed the greater part
of the frame buildings that covered half
| the block The buildings were the
Atlanta Casino, the hotel of John G.
Troy, former base ball player, the quar-
ters of the Polo Athletic Club and Kes-
sells summer garden.
| The fire started in the building at
| tached to the Polo Athletic Club and oc-
cupied by the family of Major George
w. Sauer the owner, and spread so
rapidly that half a dozen persons had
narrow escape from death, one man be-
! ing burned slightly. The damage Is es-
timated at about 100000.